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How to Feel Your Best When You’re Expecting

Naturally, when you’re pregnant, you want to feel your best so that you can ensure your growing baby is healthy and well. But any expectant mother knows a lot can get in your way. Morning sickness, fatigue, aches and pains, and many other obstacles can quickly throw you off course. What you came to know as “healthy” will likely completely change over the course of your pregnancy. This is a time of adjustment, to say the least. 🙂

Remember to give yourself a break and to allow your body time to rest and renew as much as possible. Here are a few tips to help you get back to feeling your best:

Exercise. At some point during your pregnancy, you’ll probably feel like all your energy has been zapped. A great way to combat fatigue is to exercise. WebMD.com recommends going for low impact routines such as swimming. It also notes that yoga can be a big help.

Prioritize sleep. From heartburn to leg cramps to frequent trips to the restroom, with so many possible interruptions, it’s no surprise that the National Sleep Foundation reports that 78 percent of women say they had difficulty sleeping while pregnant. The NSF provides helpful tips for coping—for example, cut down on heartburn by avoiding spicy foods.

Factor in some “you” time. Yes, there’s certainly a lot to do when you’re pregnant. But getting some time to relax is just as important as tackling those items on your to do list. Each day find time to rest your feet and recharge.

Get therapeutic. Aches, pains, and stress are par for the course for expectant mothers. Thankfully, there are therapies that can help you relieve all three. Madeformums.com notes that acupuncture can alleviate “sickness, constipation, back pain, insomnia and anxiety.” According to the American Pregnancy Association, prenatal massages can help expectant mothers manage anxiety and depression while also addressing muscle and joint pain. Just be sure to find a masseuse who is certified in prenatal massage.

Limit salt and sugar. An important step in feeling great when you’re pregnant is knowing what can make you feel not-so-great. As HuffingtonPost.ca explains, two such factors are salt and sugar. Salt can lead to swollen hands, feet, and ankles while sugar can cause you to bottom out. It can also put you at risk for gestational diabetes.

Be sure to always take care of yourself. When you focus on your overall wellness (and allow for new definitions of wellness!), your baby will benefit, too.

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