Dos and Don'ts if You Might Be Pregnant

by Kevin Smith Author

If you think you may be pregnant, you're entering an exciting stage of your life. Some women can be nervous or even scared if they feel they may be pregnant. Don't worry, you'll just need to start making some adjustments in order to care for this upcoming phase of your life.

First of all, you should visit an OBGYN to start prenatal care for women in Daytona Beach, Florida. Here are some other dos and don'ts that you should follow.

Do:

Get a pregnancy test at an OBGYN's office. They can give you a more definitive result than at at-home test would.
Start taking a multivitamin, prenatal vitamin, and/or folic acid. Once you get a positive pregnancy test, a doctor can start recommending a vitamin brand and dosage for you.
Tell your doctor about what medications you're taking. Some medications are harmful to pregnant women and the developing fetus. You may need to replace or stop medications, but don't do this without a doctor's consent.
Avoid radiation, pesticides, pets, and harmful chemicals like paint thinner. All of these can harm your baby.
Tell your doctor about any challenges in previous pregnancies or difficulty getting pregnant. They can identify problems and prevent future ones so that you have a complication-free pregnancy.
Eat healthy foods, especially foods that are high in iron and calcium. Produce, whole grains, and dairy are good for pregnant women.
Drink plenty of water. You need to stay hydrated as your pregnancy develops.
Avoid undercooked or raw seafood, meat, and eggs. Always wash your food before you cook or eat it.

Don't:

Be afraid to gain weight. Pregnant women can gain a healthy amount of weight to accommodate the baby. Your doctor will supervise your weight gain to ensure that you stay within a healthy range.
Take hot baths. As comfortable as they may be, hot baths, showers, hot tubs, and saunas are bad for pregnant women.
Smoke, drink alcohol, or do drugs. These substances can cause birth defects, miscarriages, and more. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor for advice.
Step exercising. Healthy levels of exercise are good for you and the baby. Ask your doctor for a good exercise regimen to follow.
Under-rest. You need to get a healthy amount of sleep, especially as your body changes during the pregnancy. Try to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night.
Delay visiting a doctor. Prenatal care for women in Daytona Beach, Florida, protects you and your baby from health risks and increases your chances of having a complication-free pregnancy.