Being pregnant is a wonderful experience and one that every woman should enjoy. For some, however, that ‘glow’ never materialises and they feel grotty from day one. Whilst your health advisor will have plenty of tips to keeping you feeling well, it’s important to accept that as we are all unique individuals, our pregnancies are going to vary wildly too.
Morning sickness is a common curse and for many is the first sign of pregnancy. This usually dissipated by the third moth, but for some carries on long past that, and isn’t restricted to the mornings. Avoid anything that has you feeling nauseas and sip plenty of water, ginger biscuits are excellent for keeping that sickly feeling at bay so always keep a packet in.
It is no coincidence that dental care is free for all pregnant women; it is a time when extra care needs to be taken. During pregnancy, we are inclined to eat and drink more during the day to keep us going, which can play havoc with our teeth. At the first sign of toothache take a trip to your dentist and take advantage of the free treatment. Swollen and bleeding gums are very common in pregnancy, and you shouldn’t automatically presume you have developed gum disease. The swollen gums can leave pockets between the gums and teeth where food fragments can become lodge, so take special care while brushing, especially around your wisdom teeth.
Do not eat for two! This is an old wives tale which will cause you to gain more weight than is good for you and make the last few moths extremely uncomfortable and you may find that you have difficulty getting around. Sticking to a healthy, balanced diet is the best thing for both you and your baby.