Showing posts with label childbirth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label childbirth. Show all posts

Best Foods to Eat While You Are Pregnant

No matter how healthy your diet may be, you might have to change it a little while you are pregnant. Some foods you may want to eliminate altogether, while others, you will want to increase in your daily menu. In our modern research, we try to figure out more about health, food, and nutrition during pregnancy. In order to do this, we need to learn more about the very foods that we eat and how they affect our bodies.
For example, you might ask what impact vegetarian diets, red meats, strong cheeses, organic foods or others may have on how your baby grows during the nine months of pregnancy.


Foods You Want to Eat
During your first trimester, foods that have a lot of protein, are the best foods that you can choose to eat. By consuming more protein you will be giving your baby the main building block of all cells. Protein is especially critical, since your tiny unborn child develops their major organs in these 3 months.
Vegetarians
Any vegetarian diet should be filled with foods that contain protein for cellular growth and development. You may be surprised at the variety of vegetarian protein that is really available. Beans with rice very high in protein and come a colorful variety.
Meat Eaters
For non-vegetarians, turkey, beef, tuna, and finally chicken have a high level of protein per ounce ranked from most to least. If you are on a vegetarian diet, beans and rice are excellent protein sources when combined. If money is tight, two eggs or peanut butter are other options.
For a fast, handy snack, vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, can have protein by grabbing a small handful of natural almonds with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Almonds are packed with vitamins and minerals that help you ensure that your baby gets exactly what nutrition it needs the most.
Organic Foods
Organic foods also need to be carefully selected, since they may be prone to have more natural residues. However, if they are grown locally, these foods may be better for your body since it is more used to the immediate environment. Be sure to check where and how they are grown, such as being a hybrid of two or more strains of foods.
Foods You Want to Avoid
There are certain types of fish and cheese, that may actually be bad to eat while pregnant. These are foods that you may want to check out, before heading to your favorite seafood restaurant or fixing yourself a sandwich. Check with your medical provider before munching on raw sushi, oyster, muscles, octopus, and similar raw fish.
Cheese
In addition, some strong cheeses may carry bacteria that could hurt your baby. Blue cheese, feta, wine cheese, Manchego sheep milk cheese, and others that have a potent aroma often require getting used to for adults, let alone a tiny fetus. You will most likely want to take these foods off your menu, at least while you are pregnant.
Sugar
Foods high in sugar take your body on an energy roller coaster, stressing both you and your unborn child. Pregnancy takes an enormous amount of energy already and may suffer by extreme energy swings. If you must have something sweet, try foods such as applesauce, grapes, or other raw fruit. Use spices to add flavor to fruit to make it have more taste. Do avoid honey as it has a bacteria that can hurt small children.
Healthy Food Makes A Long Term Difference
Through all stages of your life, eating the proper foods makes a difference to your overall health. But, during pregnancy it is absolutely critical to the normal growth of your baby. Making a list of the right and wrong foods to eat can help you and your baby stay on a nutritious track.
By making a careful selection for your menu, you help to ensure not just a safe nine months of pregnancy, but a safe start so your baby can grow those first teeth and strong legs to walk on.
 Pregnant

Packing Your Hospital Bag – What Do You Need For A Hospital Birth?

Hospital bags are often left to the last minute, as there are so many other preparations required for a new baby. At the end of 36 weeks your baby is full-term so could arrive at any time, this is when you should have your hospital bag packed, if you have not already done so.

Where to start?
Do not panic. Here We have compiled a list of essential items for your birth bag; this list is a culmination of midwives' suggestions and mother's feedback. Do not forget that partners love to be involved. You could delegate some, or all, of the task of putting your hospital bag together while you relax in preparation for the big day.

What to pack in your hospital bag?
Some people pack a whole suitcase for their hospital births and a few are unprepared and just manage to bring themselves. This list covers the essential items you should take to support your hospital birth and why. There is also list of suggested luxury items afterwards which mothers have found comforting and relaxing to have with them in hospital:

Essential Hospital Birth Bag Items
During Labour
  • Sponge - For cooling mother during labour
  • Lip Balm - Thirsty work can leave you with dry lips
  • Bendy straws - Makes it easier to drink from glasses or cups if you are focussed on labour
  • Hair band - To keep hair out of your face
  • Tissues - There won't be a dry eye when your baby arrives
  • T-shirt/Spare top - Useful for either the mum or the birth partner if their top gets soiled or wet during the birth.

After Labour
  • Nursing Pads - Useful whether you choose to breastfeed or not
  • Flannel - Soaked in warm water and placed on your perineum after the birth to relieve soreness
  • Pants - Either cotton or disposable pants which you are willing to throw away after use
  • Maternity Towels - Absorbent Mat (you can also buy disposable changing mats instead)
  • Great for protecting the bed, chairs, car seat.  Useful for when waters have broken and also to use in the first 48 hours after childbirth.

What Do You Need For A Hospital Birth?
Wash Bag
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Shampoo / Conditioner
  • Body wash
  • Hairbrush
  • Deodorant

Baby Bag
  • Baby grow
  • Newborn nappies
  • Baby hat and mittens
  • Hooded baby towel
  • For wrapping up your baby when it's first born
  • Cotton buds or wet wipes

Luxury Hospital Birth Bag Items
Home from Home
  • Night dress - Which does up at the front so you can breast feed your baby easily
  • Lavender oil - Lavender promotes relaxation and is a popular choice of oil for use in labour. It can be added to massage oil, or to water and sprayed around the room
  • Music and music player - To create a calm ambience for you to labour and give birth in
  • Dressing gown
  • Slippers
  • Relaxation
  • Massage oil and massager

And finally...
Don't forget to put your baby seat in the car so that you can take your new baby home safely and start enjoying the new addition to your family.
Kate Pryse-Lloyd 
What Do You Need For A Hospital Birth?