3 Things You Should Do During Your Pregnancy

Have you recently found out that you're pregnant? Is this your first pregnancy? If so, you are probably excited and a little nervous. Having a baby is a big responsibility. There are many things you'll need to do during the pregnancy to ensure both you and the baby stay as healthy as possible. An obstetrician will help ensure that you get the recommended pregnancy care services to maintain optimum health.

As part of your pregnancy care, here are three things an obstetrician will recommend that you do.

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight

After finding out you are pregnant, you might think you can eat whatever you want. You figure that since you are eating for two, it doesn't matter how many calories you consume. This couldn't be further from the truth, however. Gaining too much weight is not healthy, as it could cause the baby to become too large. An overweight baby makes for an uncomfortable pregnancy and more complicated labor and delivery.

Also, if you gain too much weight during pregnancy, it will be harder to lose the extra pounds after the baby is born. The CDC recommends that underweight pregnant women can safely gain up to 40 pounds. Women that are overweight should only gain up to 25 pounds during pregnancy.

2. Take Prenatal Vitamins

During pregnancy, your obstetrician will recommend that you take a prenatal vitamin. These special kinds of vitamins are made specifically for pregnant women to ensure they get the proper nutrients during pregnancy. Not only are prenatal vitamins necessary for the woman, but they are also necessary for the baby.

Prenatal vitamins are a good source of folic acid, which helps to prevent birth defects in the baby's brain and spine. A good prenatal vitamin also contains Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, calcium, zinc, iodine, and iron.

3. Undergo an Ultrasound

As part of your pregnancy care services, your obstetrician will want you to have an ultrasound done at the appropriate time. An ultrasound ensures that your unborn baby is developing properly in the womb and that the baby is in the correct position in the uterus.

Other benefits of ultrasounds include the following:

• Confirm the number of babies inside the womb.
• Evaluate the amniotic fluid levels.
• Determine the baby's gestational age.

When done at the right time, an ultrasound can also let you know the gender of the baby. If your obstetrician has any concerns for you or the baby during pregnancy, they might recommend frequent ultrasounds during the remainder of the pregnancy.

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