Early Preparations for a Happy Pregnancy and Healthy Delivery
Today, we are happy to present guest blogger Katie Moore, who shares with us her tips for preparing for a healthy delivery. Read on for some great ideas and links to important resources…
No two pregnancies are alike, and no two women will experience the same symptoms while waiting for the newest member of her family to arrive. While some of this comes down to unavoidable issues, like age at conception, fitness level, previous medical problems, and the complexities of biochemistry, there are steps that can be taken to make pregnancy a happier experience. Everything done to increase the health of mom during pregnancy will show compounded benefits when delivery day arrives.
Exercise
Those with a history of physical fitness will likely have less worries during pregnancy, and less complications during delivery, and it is important to discover just why this is true. Fitness is a combination of cardiovascular endurance and body composition. Greater circulation means better blood flow and delivery of both nutrients and oxygen to all body tissues. A leaner body composition means more efficient use of nutrients and oxygen, and muscle tone directly impacts the rate of return of venous blood to the heart.
Lacking physical fitness at the time of conception does not doom a woman to an uncomfortable pregnancy, however. There are plenty of opportunities to get the moderate-intensity aerobics at the recommended amount of 150 minutes a week. Yoga, aerobics, and other exercise classes are offered specifically for pregnancy, and these can provide a great introduction to a set of skills that will prove valuable throughout life.
Childbirth Preparation
It is tempting, with that common symptom of fatigue, to put off making preparations for delivery until the date gets close. However, starting early offers some definite benefits. There are many birthing options to explore, and it is up to mom to decide which is best and then choose a facility that supports the decision.
Today’s deliveries and birthing options are allowing for mothers and partners to be more active participants; new trends, like water birthing, hypnobirth and acupuncture, are becoming commonplace and embraced by the medical community as alternatives to medicine and encourage mothers to manage, instead of mask, the pain. Some optional procedures, like cord blood banking, may require extra research and setting up arrangements ahead of time. Cord blood banking is the process of collecting the baby’s umbilical cord blood immediately following delivery and storing it at a private facility to potentially be used in the future to treat medical disease.
The hospital overnight bag can wait to be packed until 3 weeks before delivery, since including favorites of mom-to-be like CDs, PJs, comfy pillows, etc. – it would be a shame to have to unpack the bag every time mom wants one of those items. Getting the nursery ready and car seat installed for the trip home can begin any time. When getting ready to install the car seat and prepare the nursery, mom should enlist the help of her partner or family member so as not to overexert herself.
Starting early with preparations and a safe exercise program can make pregnancy and delivery both more enjoyable. Envisioning the delivery mom wants and making it happen are results of careful research and awareness. With so much to do, it is best to begin early.
Katie Moore is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche. If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26.
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