How to Make Your Pregnancy Healthy & Comfortable

Being pregnant can be one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. However, it can also be a time of stress. The body changes rapidly during the nine months and the extra weight, fluid and enlarged size can be uncomfortable for some. In this blog, we share four ways to make your pregnancy healthy and comfortable so you can look and  feel better physically and mentally while waiting for your little one to arrive.

1: Avoid unpasteurized cheese

Hard cheeses are generally pasteurized but soft cheeses like brie, feta, blue, goat and camembert are not. Unpasteurized cheese could contain bacteria called listeria. It’s not very harmful to healthy adults – at the most you’ll feel like you have a mild flu. However, listeria can cause listeriosis, an infection that can be extremely harmful or fatal to a fetus.

2: Avoid alcohol

There is no safe amount of alcohol when pregnant. As with everything else the mother eats or drinks, alcohol passes to the baby via the umbilical cord. A developing fetus exposed to alcohol may develop lifelong behavioral or mental issues called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs for short).  Alcohol can also contribute to stillbirth or miscarriage.

3: Make a reasonable pregnancy and birth plan

The emphasis is on reasonable here. Having a guide or plan of what you want to achieve during the pregnancy and what type of birth you want helps you feel in control and empowered. However, it is important to leave room in your plan for the unexpected. You may wish to have a natural birth surrounded by three generations of the women in your family, but a complication could send you right into the emergency room and result in a c-section. Make a plan, but be flexible.

Many birth plans include stem cell banking. This process harvests cord blood and tissue from the umbilical cord. Cord blood and tissue can be used by your child later in life to fight more than 80 diseases including some forms of cancer. It is the ultimate health insurance for your child. HealthBanks uses industry-leading cell processing technology and state-of-the-art cell storage systems to store our customer samples here at our Irvine, CA headquarters.  Combined with a price match guarantee across the industry, Healthbanks continues to lead the cell banking industry.

4: Maternity wear

The thought, and cost, of maternity wear is a concern for some women.  When you have clothes that fit as your body changes, you are much more comfortable. The good news is that you’re not alone when it comes to maternity clothes.   Maternity clothes will be at the top of your mind during your 2nd and 3rd trimesters.  Often times, second-hand stores, borrowing from friends, and getting a few pants and skirts that can be matched with non-maternity oversized tops can get you through those final months.  Deciding to purchase a few key items such as tops or bottoms that have elastic fabrics can feel like a big relief for expecting mothers, especially for extended periods of sitting.  You don’t have to buy an entirely new wardrobe to look and feel good, but a few select pieces can make all the difference!

The excitement of pregnancy can be hampered by not feeling well and being uncomfortable. Eating natural, nutrient-rich foods and avoiding certain types of foods along with alcohol will protect your health and your baby’s future health.  Making a birth and pregnancy plan that is realistic, reasonable and flexible is key to easing the mind and reducing stress during this exciting time of your life.  If our team can help, please feel free to reach out to us at: 888-379-2670.