Planning For A Healthy Pregnancy!

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I remember being pregnant like it was yesterday. I actually miss being pregnant believe it or not. Yes that last month of pregnancy was brutal, but I really didn’t have a bad pregnancy. I attribute it to following a belief of what is best for you is best for baby. Today, I thought I would share some of what I did to keep myself happy and healthy during pregnancy. I’m sharing these as part of an amazing partnership with March of Dimes, the leading nonprofit for the health of moms and babies. They are observing Birth Defects Prevention Month this month. This is an annual event in which March of Dimes partners with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to generate awareness among women of childbearing age, families and health care providers about actions they can take to help prevent birth defects.

In case you didn’t know, birth defects affect about 1 in every 33 babies born in the United States each year (120,000 babies) and are a major cause of infant death and lifelong disability. We know that not all birth defects can be prevented. But we also know about things that can help increase a woman’s chances of having a healthy, full-term pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Here are 5 things I did to keep me and my baby healthy during my pregnancy. I’ll also share 5 tips that March of Dimes recommends women do to be a healthy mom and have a healthy baby.

1.  First thing I did was I found one of the best doctors in LA to deliver my baby. My doctor delivers celebrity babies on the regular! I wanted the best of the best. I made sure to always make every visit and test I had to have during my pregnancy. March of Dimes recommends you see your health care provider for a pre-pregnancy checkup. Be sure to discuss all your medications, including both prescription and over-the-counter medicines and any vitamins and supplements.

2. I made sure to take all my vitamins and supplements before and while I was pregnant. I started taking prenatal vitamins while we were trying for a baby. I then took a prenatal vitamin, folic acid, vitamin d, prenatal DHA, and a probiotic during my pregnancy. I had low vitamin D, so my doctor told me that I had to take more vitamin D. Your doctor will tell you what’s best for you to take during your pregnancy. March of Dimes recommends you take a vitamin supplement containing 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, even before you become pregnant. If taken before and in the first weeks of pregnancy, folic acid, a B vitamin, is proven to help prevent serious birth defects of the brain and spine. It’s also a good idea to eat foods that contain folate, the natural form of folic acid, including lentils, green leafy vegetables, black beans, and orange juice. March of Dimes also recommends foods made from enriched grain flour, such as bread, pasta and cereals; and foods made from enriched corn masa flour, such as cornbread, corn tortillas, tacos and tamales. I was strict about what I ate and what medicine I took. I was not afraid to ask anyone and any place what was in the food I was about to eat or if the medicine I was taking was safe to take while pregnant. Did you know you shouldn’t eat cold cuts during pregnancy because you can potentially get listeria? I cut out a ton of foods during pregnancy and I didn’t even drink teas or caffeine during my pregnancy. I was pretty anal about what I ate while pregnant and I’m pretty happy I did. I have a large and in charge healthy big baby boy to show for all my hard work.

3. One thing I wish I had done before I got pregnant is to be in better shape. I was pretty out of shape when I got pregnant and I gained even more weight while pregnant, so it made my final months of pregnancy not so great. For the next baby I have made it a goal to be in tip top shape before I get pregnant. March of Dimes recommeds you get to a healthy weight before you get pregnant too!

4. Another thing I made sure to get before and during my pregnancy was vaccinations. I got the whooping cough vaccination during my pregnancy because my doctor recommended it and it helped give my baby some immunity to it as well. You never know what your baby can catch in the hospital. Just like March of Dimes recommends, Make sure your vaccinations are up to date! Ask your provider about vaccinations you need before pregnancy, including the flu shot and the pertussis (whooping cough) booster. It’s also a great idea to make sure vaccinations are current for everyone in your family to help prevent the spread of harmful diseases.

5. The obvious and most important thing I did while pregnant was I watched what I put into my body like a hawk. I have NEVER smoked and I think no one should. I also don’t really drink alcohol, so it’s not something I missed drinking while pregnant. Obviously March of Dimes recommends women to not smoke, drink alcohol or use harmful drugs during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy can cause dangerous chemicals to damage the placenta and/or reach the baby’s bloodstream. No amount of alcohol has been proven safe during pregnancy, and its use can cause major birth defects. Opioid use in pregnancy can cause neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and premature birth in babies. If you need help to quit, talk to your health care provider or contact any of the following: gov (1-800-QUIT-NOW); National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, (800) 622-2255;  or the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, (800) 662-4357.

These are some steps you can take to try and have a happy and healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Nothing is obviously guaranteed in this world, but it doesn’t hurt to try and do anything and everything you can to make sure your pregnancy journey goes smoothly. You want to be able to enjoy those baby showers while you’re pregnant and you want to do all that you can to get to a happy and healthy bundle of joy. I feel so blessed every day to be able to look at that adorable little happy face each day. All that I did while pregnant to keep me and my baby healthy was so worth it!

I hope these tips help you on your baby journey!

For more information, visit CDC’s website at gov or March of Dimes at marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support.

This post was sponsored by the amazing folks at March of Dimes! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks for supporting amazing organizations like this one who keep this Brite & Bubbly party going!