Pregnancy & Your Body
Self-Care During Pregnancy
It’s important that you take care of yourself and your body during pregnancy. Your pregnancy will benefit greatly from your personal attention to your health. It will also improve how you feel! Here is a list of things to do for optimum health.
This is not a substitute for the advice of your health care professional. No Insurance? Not a problem. Heartbeats Women’s Center can connect you with Medicaid and Physicians in your area accepting new Medicaid patients. Make your free appointment today!
- Take prenatal vitamins with a meal.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Do not try to lose weight during your pregnancy.
- Get plenty of calcium through foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and fortified juices.
- Get plenty of iron. Meat is a good source of iron (see your doctor for other choices if you are a vegetarian).
- Eat frequent small meals to help manage nausea, keeping something in your stomach at all times. Make sure to stay hydrated. Nausea usually subsides after the first trimester.
- Avoid alcohol and try to quit smoking. The use tobacco, alcohol and other illegal substances are strongly discouraged during pregnancy; contact your doctor to find out if any of your current prescription medications are a risk factor for your baby.
- Get plenty of rest – naps can help.
- Do not take any medications unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
- Stress – External factors, such as an abusive relationship, can put your pregnancy at risk; seek professional assistance immediately, such as from the National Domestic Violence Hotline.