Pregnancy is an amazing period in the life of every woman. In anticipation of the future baby, there is a lot of free time that can be used to good use. So what to do during pregnancy? There are many things that a woman simply did not have time to do in her daily life. And during pregnancy, she can develop intellectually, gain new skills, engage in needlework and just get carried away shopping in children's stores.
What to do during pregnancy
During this period, a woman makes many plans. She wants to do a lot. All future mothers want to do only useful things for their baby, so the question often arises “What can and cannot be pregnant?”. It should be noted that these requirements can be divided into fictitious and real. Many signs remained an inheritance from grandmothers and great-grandmothers. For example, pregnant women should not sit on an empty bucket, hold a cat in their arms and watch a funeral. In our time - this may seem ridiculous, but some signs have good scientific justification.
Cats are carriers of a disease such as toxoplasmosis, which is especially dangerous for women with weak immunity. Other pets can also suffer from this disease, but this is not a reason to send their pets to their mother in the country. It is enough just to visit the vet clinic and pass all the necessary tests, and if you need to cure this disease.
In ancient times, women in position were not recommended to sit on the doorstep. It was believed that on the threshold of the house there are evil and good forces. Now it’s difficult to talk about the existence of evil, but sitting on a draft is dangerous to health.
Many modern women still adhere to the ban on cutting hair during pregnancy. It was believed that because of this, the child will grow up “with a short mind”. Also in those days, they were sure that the life force was contained in the hair, so trimming them could lose it. From a medical point of view, it is impossible to prove or refute this theory.
On the other hand, during pregnancy, under the influence of hormones, hair begins to grow faster, become thick and shiny. The only thing, doctors do not recommend expectant mothers to color their curls and do perm (straightening), especially in the first trimester. Chemical fumes adversely affect the body, so they can cause an attack of toxicosis.
And what can and cannot be pregnant from a medical point of view. There are only a few categorical prohibitions:
- Smoking. It should be remembered that at this stage, the mother and her future baby become one. All harmful substances (nicotine, carbon monoxide) that poison the body during smoking, react with hemoglobin and pass through the placenta to the baby. It turns out that instead of such necessary oxygen, the child is poisoned by a whole set of chemicals. Children of smoking mothers have a syndrome of increased activity, as well as problems with mental development.
- Alcohol consumption. Until now, scientists argue that it affects more strongly: the presence of alcohol in the body or its amount. So through the placenta dangerous toxins get to the baby, which affect the nervous system, growth and development of internal organs. Alcoholic beverages are especially dangerous in the first and third trimester of pregnancy.
- Stressful situations. In the modern world, a future mother cannot completely protect herself from any negative influences, but their impact can be reduced. So short-term stress does not particularly harm the condition of the child and the pregnant woman, but long-term stress can cause exacerbation of toxicosis, insomnia and rapid fatigue. And the hormone of stress passes through the placenta to the baby, which can affect genes and liver health.
- The use of drugs and herbs. The list of pharmacological preparations approved for use by the future mother is extremely limited. Therefore, before using the drug, you need to consult a doctor and carefully study the instructions. It is better not to use medications during this period without special need. Since this can lead to abnormalities in the development of the fetus and even miscarriage. The same restrictions exist for medicinal herbs.
- Weight lifting. The permissible weight for lifting a pregnant woman should not exceed 2 kilograms. Since this can lead to a miscarriage, it is especially dangerous for women with uterine hypertonicity.
These are only the main limitations, other recommendations appear in each case.
What to listen to pregnant women
In ancient Greece, people knew about the healing properties of music. Modern scientists have proven that music appeared earlier than speech. Sound is able to understand not only the human brain, but also every cell of his body. The body adjusts its vibrations to music, and can also change temperature, pressure, anesthetize and reduce stress hormone. Music for pregnant women can not only bring the expectant mother back to normal, but also improve the well-being of her baby.
If a pregnant woman wants to cheer up, relieve fatigue, then energetic classical music will suit her. For example, Tchaikovsky “Waltz of the Flowers”, Strauss “Waltz“ The Blue Danube ”, Vivaldi“ The Seasons. Spring".
If the expectant mother is inflated on the contrary, too active and constantly in a hurry somewhere, then such compositions as Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Sibelius's Sad Waltz and Albinoni's Adagio are suitable for her.
What is good for a pregnant woman? Here, the singing “to oneself” has the same effect as the tunes to the voice. It calms and tunes all the biological processes taking place in the body of a woman and her baby.
You can also use the well-known method of tinting. To do this, you just need to pull one sound:
- for relaxation, you can stretch the sound mmm;
- for a light massage of the throat and thyroid gland, you can sing the sound aaaa;
- for concentration come in handy sound oooh;
- for awakening and inclusion in active work it is necessary to sing the sound and-and-and.
Scientists are sure that future children in the sixth month of fetal development not only hear sounds, but also have their own favorites. So small music lovers prefer to listen to melodic, calm sounds. They will be delighted with blues, jazz, folk. And among the classics, the kids choose Mozart and Vivaldi.
Listening to music for pregnant women, not only a woman receives a lot of positive emotions, but also her baby. It has already been proven that sound vibrations strengthen the child's body and have a beneficial effect on intellectual development.
Hiking
The benefits of walking for pregnant women are invaluable. During this period, the load on the entire female body increases, especially the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Walking is simply an action that strengthens the heart, lungs and blood vessels.
Regular walks heal the body and create the right mood for childbirth. If during pregnancy the woman preferred to walk a lot, then she does not gain much weight and gets rid of it faster after the birth of the baby.
To get the maximum effect, you need to follow several rules for hiking:
- Before you start, you need to choose the right clothes and shoes. A tracksuit should be lightweight and not squeeze internal organs, and suitable sneakers will help you choose in a sports store.
- If before pregnancy the woman did not go in for sports, then it is better to start walking training with a small load. And how much do you need to walk during pregnancy? The duration of the first walk should not exceed half an hour.
- During walking, the back should be even, legs move from heel to toe. And the arms are bent at the elbows and work intensively.
- The best place to walk will be a park, it is desirable that there are many trees and shrubs around. But the paths near the roads for hiking are not suitable.
- It should be remembered that this is not a struggle for survival. Therefore, pregnant women must take a bottle of still water with them. Liquid should be drunk in small sips.
- During such a training, the pulse is usually controlled. To do this, use a special device or periodically stop and measure the number of heart beats per minute.
- After walking you should take care of your legs. You can have a relaxing bath or light massage.
In the first and second trimester of pregnancy, you can actively engage in hiking, and in the third - any load should be reduced.
Expectant mother should make walking a part of everyday life. Therefore, you can just leave the car in the parking lot and go on foot to the house, or go out a few stops earlier. So walking during pregnancy will be a pleasant addition to everyday life.
Yoga during pregnancy
The expectant mother is still worried about the question: "What to do during pregnancy?" The answer to such questions will be yoga. This is a set of exercises that train certain muscles very gently, develop proper breathing and stretching, and also solve many problems that arise during pregnancy (such as heartburn, shortness of breath, increased tone).
There is a wealth of yoga material to work out at home. The main thing is a sincere desire to become healthier and help the baby to be born. If a woman did yoga for pregnant women at home, then she will be able to more easily tolerate birth pain, always remain calm and balanced - through the use of asanas (special postures) during the birth process.
If it is difficult for a woman to study at home, then she can safely enroll in a group for pregnant women in her city. In this case, there are many advantages. An experienced instructor will teach a woman how to correctly perform one or another asana. And also in special groups, a pregnant woman will be shown only those poses that she is allowed to perform in her position. And the main advantage is communication with expectant mothers. So a woman will be able to find not only new acquaintances, but also possible friends for her child.
Aqua aerobics for pregnant women
Water aerobics is the best way to replace active shaping and fitness. Since during pregnancy they will have to be abandoned. Do not get upset, water exercises help strengthen all muscle groups, and also create the necessary physical activity.
During exercises in water, a woman can load certain parts of the body. A pregnant woman who does water aerobics will always have a beautiful and toned figure. The main advantage of the complex of water exercises is the preparation of the body for future births.
In addition, body weight decreases in water, so the expectant mother relaxes her muscles and she feels lightness, freedom as before pregnancy. In the aquatic environment, joints and ligaments are reliably protected from heavy loads.
During water aerobics, the most effective exercise is performed - holding the breath in water. The expectant mother inhales, then dives and exhales into the water. Such an activity is very useful both for a pregnant woman and for her unborn baby.
According to reviews, water aerobics for pregnant women helps the baby to take the correct posture before childbirth. If the baby does not lie correctly in the uterus, then special exercises will help him roll over.
Doctors say that future mothers who were engaged in pregnancy in the pool, easier to give birth. This is because the baby will go along the birth canal correctly.
Watching movies and TV shows
Currently, the film industry is developing at a tremendous pace. Now you can find a movie of any genre without leaving your home. Of course, the expectant mother should not get carried away enough so as not to leave the house until the last episode of the season ends. However, this is a very good way to distract in bad weather. It is not recommended to view psychological dramas, thrillers, horrors.
Expectant mothers ask themselves: “And what films should pregnant women watch for their mood?” In this case, you can choose comedies, detective stories and historical novels. Such films do not have a negative impact on the psyche of women.
Reading during pregnancy
Many women during pregnancy decide to study all the known literature on the upbringing and care of the newborn. Here are some books that really deserve the attention of every expectant mother:
- Komarovsky E.O. "The health of the child and the common sense of his relatives." This book contains step-by-step practical tips on how to care for your baby and maintain his original health.
- Komarovsky E.O. "A Handbook of Sane Parents." In it, each parent learns the stages of development of the child, at what points to pay attention to, what vaccinations and tests need to be taken at one or another age.
- Mark Weissbluth "Healthy sleep is a happy baby." This book will reveal the secrets of the second need of the baby after eating. After reading it, parents will understand what needs to be done so that the child sleeps all night.
These are just a few books that will become a real find for modern parents. It remains to find the answer to another question: "What should a pregnant woman read from fiction?" And here, for reading the future mother, any books are suitable where there is no violence, murder and other horrors. It should be remembered that during this period it is better to focus on positive aspects, laugh more and present beautiful stories of heroes.
Where to go to rest
Pregnancy is a great time for a short trip to the sea. And the question always arises: “Where to go to relax a pregnant?”. The first thing to consider is the general condition of the expectant mother. If there is even the slightest deviation, then doctors do not recommend moving away from home more than 50-100 km.
If complications are not observed, then you can think about long trips. The dry climate of Crimea, as well as Valdai, Seliger and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, will beneficially affect a pregnant woman. If you want to go abroad, you should choose countries with a familiar climate: the Baltic states, Turkey (Marmaris), France, Croatia, Spain (Catalonia).
It is not recommended for pregnant women to go to Africa, India. There you can catch infectious diseases that can threaten not only the health of the expectant mother, but also her baby.
After 26 weeks travel farther cottages are not recommended. If you still need to go somewhere, then an exchange card is taken with you on the trip.
Hobbies for expectant mothers
Needlework during pregnancy is not only a good pastime, but also as a result, useful things are created for the baby or household. Pursuing a hobby, a woman relaxes, becomes calmer and distracted from extraneous thoughts.
Some women say that needlework helps them cope with toxicosis. Perhaps this is due to the shift of attention from one state to another.
The most useful types of needlework are knitting and embroidery. In this process, harmful components are not used, and it brings the maximum relaxing effect.
How to make money on maternity leave
Many women on maternity leave do not know what to do at home. I want to be useful, and not sit on my husband’s neck.
So, how to make money during pregnancy? In the modern world, this problem is solved very easily, it is enough to have access to the Internet. If a woman is an excellent specialist or a good student, then she can write essays, term papers, and diplomas. She does not have to meet with the customer, you can always find an intermediary who will help you choose interesting topics and pay with dignity.
The most popular way to earn money for expectant mothers is copywriting. Now you can go to a special site and write about everything you like.
What to do during pregnancy? You can earn money on needlework. The woman made an interesting toy, photographed and posted on the Internet. Now you can wait for orders.
You can also work in network marketing. Every expectant mother spends a huge amount of time in antenatal clinics and hospitals. Now this can be used, communicating with other pregnant women, you can accidentally offer company products.
What else to do during pregnancy? A woman can improve her skills, and after the decree, get promoted or do her job faster. So blind typing on the keyboard will help you type several times faster. Professional development books will bring new knowledge and make up for the missing.
Pregnancy is a time when you can learn new skills and develop existing ones. And it happens, looking for activities to your liking, a woman finds what she really likes and can generate income. You should never stop there, because you can develop with your child.