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Staying healthy during pregnancy is imperative. If you are planning to get pregnant, it is wise to devise a plan with your doctor. Prenatal vitamins ensure that your body has enough folic acid to help your baby and provides you with the nutritional content you need to stay healthy. You can also discuss proper diet and exercise to train your body and mind in advance.

If you have an unplanned pregnancy, stop taking any birth control or prescription medication immediately and consult your doctor. Herbs or vitamins that you think are harmless can be bad for your baby, so make sure you discuss anything that you are taking in detail with your doctor.

Depending on your health, you will probably be prescribed a prenatal vitamin with larger doses of folic acid that normal. Your doctor may suggest you take calcium supplements or iron also. Beware, some women do not process iron in vitamins, I am one of them. I need to get iron from the food I eat. If you experience any reactions from the vitamins you are prescribed contact your doctor immediately.

If you are a smoker, now is the time to stop. Smoking during pregnancy increases your risk of having an ectopic pregnancy (the embryo becomes implanted in the fallopian tubes). Smoking also doubles a women's risk of having placenta complications which can not only jeopardize you life, but the life of your baby. Aside from you health, smoking causes low birth weight, slows fetal growth, and ups your baby's chances of being born with a cleft palate, a mental of physical retardation, and increased risk of asthma and behavioral problems.

Any drugs or drinking should be curbed immediately for your health and your baby's.

While you are pregnant, it's easy to get caught up in the "I'm eating for two" syndrome, however a pregnant woman only needs about 300 additional calories a day for the healthy development of her baby. Be sure that your extra calories aren't empty calories with no nutritional content. They should be extra whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and proteins. Your consumption should be of nutrient dense foods.

During pregnancy, it's also important that you find a consistent exercise routine. Speak with your doctor about what exercises you can do and when. Walking is a non abrasive exercise that has a multitude of health benefits. Other great forms of exercise are swimming, biking, yoga and Pilates. If you enjoy cardio, find an exercise that gets your heart pumping, but avoid bouncing up and down.

Your body is your best indicator if you've exercised too much. If you feel dizzy, shortness of breath, heart palpitations or a pain in your pelvis, it's time to stop and rest. If you notice any vaginal bleeding, high blood pressure, or your water breaks consult your doctor immediately.

Exercising not only keeps your body in peak physical form, but it also has a lot of other benefits. During pregnancy your hormones are out of control, so endorphins from exercise will help boost your energy level and contain your mood swings. Exercising will also relieve backache and reduce constipation. Women who work out throughout their pregnancies have easier deliveries because of stronger hearts and muscles and regain their prepregnancy bodies more quickly.

Learn more about this author, Molly Carter.
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