Congratulations! If you are reading this, you are likely expecting (or know someone who is!). We are going to be discussing healthy pregnancy tips to own your pregnancy. 

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Inspira Health.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

From the moment you find out that you are expecting, tons of thoughts flood your brain.  The goal that we have here is to quiet those thoughts a little and help you come up with a creative plan of healthy pregnancy with tips that are specialized to fit your lifestyle. You really need to have a plan for all three trimesters of your pregnancy (we’ll get into owning your birth experience in another post!).

What do I mean by own your pregnancy?  Well, it’s quite simple. You should be in charge of all aspects of your pregnancy and this experience should be joyful for you from start to finish.  We are going to share with you 10 tips for having a pregnancy experience that you dream of having. 

Now, we know that if this is at the beginning of your pregnancy, maybe only one or two people know, so it’s really your own thoughts that are all over the place.  Once you get further along and tell more people, lots of people start having opinions and ideas with what you should or should not be doing with your own body and pregnancy. 

We don’t want this to be overwhelming for you, especially when it comes to others, so the best thing to know is to tell yourself from the start and often throughout that this is your pregnancy and you are going to do what you see is best fit for both you and your child. 

10 Healthy Pregnancy Tips

1- Find a practice that is onboard with the lifestyle that you live. 

As soon as you get a positive pregnancy test, you should make sure that you find a practice that will suite the pregnancy that you wish to have.  For example, if you know you want a natural birth without an epidural, a midwife may be something you consider.  

It’s important to try to get prenatal care as early as you can.  You will be checked for a variety of things like blood pressure, weight, lab work, and urine sample, all to make sure you have a safe and healthy pregnancy. As well as an ultrasound to get close to an accurate due date for you. 

The sooner you are able to build a trusting relationship with your care provider, the better you will feel about this aspect of your pregnancy. 

2- Make sure that doctor or midwife is able to assist in delivering at the hospital of your choice 

In addition to the first tip, you want to make sure that the hospital that your care provider has rights to assist in delivery with, is on board with your pregnancy and birth plan. Check into their c-section rates, rooming in policies and rates of breastfeeding success and more if those things are important to you. 

At hospital maternity centers, like the three Inspira Health offers in southern New Jersey, they believe that you should have it all. From high-end amenities to award-winning nurses, they want to provide the best experience for expecting mothers.  

3- Ask questions and then ask some more

Part of owning your pregnancy and making healthy pregnancy choices, is to ask all the questions.  And if you don’t remember an answer, don’t be afraid to ask again.  Remember that this is supposed to be a joyous occasion for you and if you aren’t sure of an answer or not sure why the answer would be what your practitioner says is the answer, ask follow up questions.  You are paying someone to fully understand you.

This also goes back to the first healthy pregnancy tips idea above.  If you feel like your concerns or questions are being dismissed or not answered to your liking, never feel like you have to stay.  Find another care provider that is going to allow you to own your pregnancy your way. 

4- Eating for Two 

I know. I know. You get pregnant and then the joke is always, “it’s okay, you’re eating for two.”  While you are actually eating to feed two, you want to make sure you are fully nourishing your own body and your growing baby with the right nutrients.  This doesn’t mean that you should have a half dozen tacos every night because you used to eat three and now you double it. 

You want to make sure that you are making healthy choices like plenty of water,  as well as enough fruits and vegetables.  Fully cook food, limit caffeine and avoid a lot of sugar. Your care provider can come up with a plan for you for the right tip of diet, especially if you have food allergies or preferences, like a vegan or pescatarian diet. 

5- Exercise

If you didn’t exercise before, you are probably already rolling your eyes at me when you read that.  But unless there is a concern, you should try to get regular exercise during your pregnancy.  This can actually help ease some discomfort of pregnancy.  30 minutes of exercise a day is perfect and it can be anything from taking a walk or swimming safely.

Never overdo exercise, especially if you weren’t active before pregnancy and avoid contact sports and activities that may make you fall. Talk with your provider about a plan that works for you. 

6- Take the Nap. Go to bed early!

As a mom of two, I can’t recommend this enough.  Bank those sleep hours while you can; however, sleep is extremely important while pregnant.  Pregnancy is demanding and it’s normal to feel more tired than usual.  Take the nap when you can if you are feeling tired and try to make a habit of going to bed around the same time every night (not 2am though!). 

7- Take Your Vitamins

If you didn’t take vitamins before getting pregnant, it make be hard to remember now. The best way to remember is to set a reminder in your phone to go off at a time when you know you’ll always be able to take it.  

Ask you care provider what prenatal vitamins they recommend and take it regularly to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients that your growing baby needs. 

8- Avoid the Big No-Nos

There are definitely a few things that you want to avoid while pregnant.  No smoking, illicit drugs, or alcohol. 

Depending on your dietary preferences, you also want to avoid listeria that can come from eating the following foods: 

• deli meat and hot dogs
• raw or undercooked meats (like sushi)
• raw eggs or recipes that call for raw eggs
• soft cheeses like feta, Brie, and bleu cheese

Ask your care provider for a full list of foods and other products to avoid during your pregnancy. 

9- Track Your Mood Levels

It’s normal to feel swings in your moods as your hormones are drastically changing during the 9 months; however, it’s not uncommon for anxiety and postpartum depression to happen during the prenatal time and not only after giving birth.  Talk with your care provider about any concerns you have often and never be afraid to ask for help. 

If you have thoughts of suicide, please contact your care provider right away or call 1-800-273-8255 24 hours a day. 

10- Indulge in Self-Care

Once baby comes, your time is going to be even more limited.  Take the time now to get your hair done, get a prenatal massage, go on a last (or few last) vacations with your significant others and just enjoy the time you have before baby makes their arrival.

We hope you found this healthy pregnancy tips to own your pregnancy helpful!  Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite tip is or if you have another helpful tip, we’d love to hear that as well! 

Thanks to Inspira Health for sponsoring this series of posts about owning your pregnancy your way.  We will be sharing more with and from them over the next few month, including the opening of their brand new facility in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. Stay tuned for the fun!