This can be a fun part of your journey. You may be feeling better and have more energy. Perhaps your nausea is gone and your appetite is back. You may be glowing and looking great. Enjoy and be sure to take good care of yourself!
- Try to remember to take your prenatal vitamin every day. Look for one with DHA – which helps the baby’s brain and eye development.
- Calcium rich foods are your friends –– They’re good for you and great for the baby. Try to get 3 servings each day of milk, yogurt, cheese, or green leafy vegetables.If you don’t tolerate dairy, or have a lactose sensitivy, then try mozzarella string cheese. It has less than 1 gram of lactose. If you’re lactose intolerant, then try a calcium fortified juice or a calcium supplement.
- Start sleeping on your side now –– The right or the left side is just fine as long as you’re off your back. Body pillows can make for a much more comfortable night’s sleep.-If you wake up on your back, don’t worry, you’re body is telling you it’s time to turn over.
- Ask your provider about Kegel exercises –– Unfortunately you may start to leak urine in the 3rd trimester or after the baby’s born. Knowing how to do these exercises now can help prevent leaking or at least reduce it. (Sorry, no one ever warns you about this, but it happens, so be prepared.)
- Start a journal –– Writing letters to your baby with your hopes and dreams for your future together is something your child will love to read later. It’s also a great place to complain and whine, not everyone has an easy pregnancy or loves the changes that their body is experiencing.
- Try to exercise –– Walking around the block is a good start. Try to work up to 40 – 60 minutes each day. Exercise increases your stamina and endurance, helps your body prepare for delivery, and helps you feel better.
- Drink plenty of fluids –– You may have noticed that you feel a little warmer than usual and you may tend to sweat more than usual. Every woman is different, so you may need more or less than a friend. Don’t drink so much that you’re running to the bathroom every hour, but try to drink 4 – 8 glasses of water each day.
- Sign up for prepared childbirth and breastfeeding classes –– These may fill up early, so check with your hospital or provider about availability. Do take a breastfeeding class before you and your baby try this new skill, you’ll be so glad you did. You can also get my Personal Guide to Breastfeeding for more information and support.
- Have a good sense of humor –– Or talk to a sympathetic friend if you’re wondering what happened to your body. You may be changing in ways that you never imagined. Your new body and the changes you’re experiencing are completely out of your control and can be difficult to deal with.
- Nurture yourself too –– You are nurturing a new life and that takes a lot of energy! We sometimes forget to take care of ourselves, yet now’s the time to do just that. So if you’re feeling tired, rest and put your feet up. Take time to do the things you like, let go of being perfect and be kind to yourself.
You can get a lot more tips and information from my Personal Guide to Pregnancy
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