What should be considered during pregnancy?

You are pregnant and want only the best for your baby, who is developing in your belly. Many things that were still a matter of course in your daily life just a few weeks ago now seem potentially risky to you, and you may be asking yourself: May I do that? Don't worry, you don't have to wrap yourself in cotton wool completely in the coming months. Nevertheless, there are some things you should pay particular attention to now. We have put together an overview of the most important Do’s and Don’ts for pregnancy.

Yes, definitely

• Take folic acid in time: Folic acid is involved in all cell division and growth processes of the body and is therefore especially essential during pregnancy. Your increased need for the vitamin cannot be met solely through diet. Therefore, it is important to start taking additional folic acid from the beginning of pregnancy or, ideally, already during the planning phase of conception. In the article “ Why folic acid is so important for pregnant women “ Find out in detail why the vitamin is especially essential right now and how you arrive at the recommended amount of folic acid.

• Pay attention to a balanced diet: Once you are pregnant, you nourish your baby through the umbilical cord with and supply it with all the vitamins and nutrients it needs for its development. "Not twice as much, but twice as good" is the motto for your diet during pregnancy. What you should pay attention to and which foods you should avoid are explained in the article "" Proper Nutrition During Pregnancy "read exactly."

• Check your vaccination status: As soon as you find out that you are expecting a baby, it is worth visiting your general practitioner and taking a look at your vaccination record. While you should avoid immunizations with live vaccines, a flu shot is especially recommended during pregnancy. This way, you can prevent an infection that could potentially be dangerous for you and your baby.

• Engage in sports: When you are pregnant, you can not only continue many sports without concern, but they can actually be very good for you and your baby. Regular exercise strengthens your cardiovascular system, which is now under particular stress, and prevents many pregnancy-related complaints. In the article "which sports are particularly suitable and what modifications may be necessary as your baby bump grows", we will tell you. Sports during pregnancy ".

• Have sex: If you feel like it, contrary to many concerns Sex during pregnancy nothing stands in the way. ;) Only if bleeding or pain occurs, you should contact your midwife or your gynecologist. Otherwise, the rule is: if being together brings you happiness hormones, then your baby is also doing well. Due to the release of the cuddling hormone oxytocin, which also stimulates contractions, some moms even swear that sex has triggered the labor. But don't worry: this effect can only occur when your body and your baby are also ready for birth.

• Give yourself peace and relaxation: Your body is currently performing at its best, so you've certainly earned a little extra break. Nothing relaxes you more than a massage? That is still possible – with some modifications: Towards the end of pregnancy, you should no longer be massaged in a lying position on your back to avoid jeopardizing your baby's supply. Your belly should, if at all, only be gently massaged to prevent premature contractions. Many midwives or professional massage studios offer special pregnancy massages tailored specifically to your needs.

• Heben Sie Ihre Beine an: Indeed, in the truest sense of the word. By elevating your legs from time to time and drinking plenty of fluids, you can prevent heavy legs, thrombosis, and discomfort. Varicose veins prevent. Compression stockings also counteract these unpleasant pregnancy-related symptoms.

• Pay attention to your dental care: The hormonal changes during pregnancy cause your body to be more richly supplied with blood. Your gums are also affected, and inflammation can occur more quickly. To prevent this, you should now pay attention to especially thorough oral hygiene with a soft toothbrush. Do you suffer in the first months from Morning sickness and if you need to vomit, you should wait about half an hour before brushing your teeth. During this time, the stomach acid can neutralize in your mouth, and the sensitive enamel will be less attacked when brushing.

• Preparing your postpartum period: The postpartum period offers you and your partner the opportunity to get to know your little explorer at your own pace and to find your new rhythm as a family. Cooking, laundry, and other household chores take a back seat for now. This is a good reason to indulge your nesting instinct even before the birth, prepare everything for the arrival of the new family member, and, for example, ensure healthy and quick-to-prepare meals through batch cooking. In the article “ All about the postpartum period and its significance “ reveals LILLYDOO Midwife Sissi why the postpartum period is so important and how you can prepare for it.

No, better not

• Consume alcohol and nicotine: Even small amounts can negatively affect your baby's growth and harm their development. During pregnancy, you should absolutely avoid cigarettes and alcoholic beverages completely.

• Enjoy too much sun: Due to hormonal changes, your skin is more prone to pigmentation spots and more susceptible to redness during pregnancy. It is also believed that sunlight breaks down folic acid, which is so important for your baby's development. Therefore, pay attention to proper sun protection and prefer staying in the shade rather than in direct sunlight.

• Drinking too much coffee: Don't worry, you don't have to give up your coffee to wake up. Just make sure not to consume more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day. A larger amount could harm the development of your child.
  Sitting for a long time: Especially when your belly gets bigger, uncomfortable back pain can occur from sitting too long. You can prevent this by moving around from time to time. Your midwife can show you special exercises for everyday life that are good for your body and help get your circulation going again.

• Allow hustle and stress: In some situations, you may not be as resilient as before pregnancy and may react physically and emotionally more sensitively. A hectic day from time to time is not a problem, but ongoing stress can negatively affect the development of your baby. Therefore, try to avoid hectic and stressful situations that could be transmitted to your baby as much as possible in your daily life (scroll back up to the point "Rest and Relaxation" under "Yes, absolutely";).

• Get X-rayed: The radiation your body is exposed to during an examination can harm the development of your child. You should postpone exams, unless absolutely necessary, until after the birth.

• Clean the litter box: Yes, you read that correctly. In Dealing with cats and especially their feces pose the risk of toxoplasmosis infection, which can be extremely dangerous for your child. Your doctor can determine through a blood test whether you have already contracted toxoplasmosis and are therefore immune. If not, you can have your furry roommate vaccinated against the virus. Until then, your partner should take over the cleaning of the litter box.

• Take certain medications: Certain medications can harm the development of your baby. This can include, for example, chemically decongestant nasal sprays, whose vasoconstrictive effect can also influence the uterus and, in the worst case, even trigger labor. Usually, you can safely use nasal sprays that contain salt or seawater, Dexpanthenol, or selected pregnancy-compatible ingredients. Consult your doctor to find out which medication you can take and which ones you should avoid.

• Follow a diet: Even if many women first have to get used to the fact that their body changes during pregnancy and the scale shows one or two extra kilos: you should avoid dieting during this time. Your body is now providing your baby with all the essential nutrients for its development, which may not be sufficiently available during a diet. A gesunde Gewichtszunahme is completely normal, and at least a part of the additional weight that your body has gained during pregnancy to nourish your baby will automatically be lost after birth and the associated hormonal changes.

• Painting walls: The Baby Room to shine in new glory before your little explorer moves in? You should probably leave the painting to someone else. Besides not overexerting yourself during the renovation work, inhaling the solvents and chemicals contained in conventional paint over a longer period can harm your baby. If you still want to paint the nursery (with many breaks) before the birth, opt for chemical-free lime or clay paint instead.

• Attend loud concerts: Music can have a calming effect on your little explorer, even before he is born. However, you should postpone very loud concerts until after pregnancy: extreme or regular noise above 90 decibels can harm your baby and even lead to congenital hearing loss.

Maybe, under certain circumstances

• Flying: You need to travel for work or want an undisturbed
  before the birth. Babymoon spending time together with your partner? As long as your pregnancy is uncomplicated, there is usually nothing preventing you from taking a flight. However, flying with a baby bump involves some restrictions. What they are and how you can prepare for the flight, you will find out in our article “ Tips for flying during pregnancy .

• Nail painting: Many nail polishes contain chemicals such as solvents and plasticizers. So far, there are no studies on the effects these may have during pregnancy. If you want to play it safe, you can opt for so-called “free nail polishes,” which deliberately omit certain risk substances and allergens. When choosing nail polish remover, also make sure it is as free as possible from solvents like acetone. Gel and acrylic nails are generally not recommended during pregnancy, as they contain even more chemicals than regular nail polish.

• Hair coloring: It is suspected that harmful chemicals from hair dye can enter the bloodstream through the scalp and thus harm the unborn child. Whether these substances actually reach the baby is controversial. If you want to be on the safe side, it is best to switch to highlights for the duration of your pregnancy, as the dye then does not come into contact with your scalp. Even better is dyeing with purely plant-based hair color, which can be used without concern.

Even if the list of things to consider now seems long at first: you only have to give up a few, and thinking about your little explorer will probably not be too difficult for you. Many things can also be done with a baby bump with a little modification, so you can enjoy your pregnancy carefree. We wish you all the best for the exciting months ahead!

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