Staying Healthy During Pregnancy

Being pregnant can definitely take a toll on your body. I’m more than half way through my second pregnancy, and I definitely want to finish this one out strong and healthy. In my first pregnancy, I gained 60 pounds, had horrible skin, and felt miserable. I cried almost every single day during my last trimester. I just can’t afford to gain that much or feel that bad again. Sure there will be days when I give into cravings, but for the most part, I want to eat as well as I can. In an effort to make this experience more enjoyable, I’ve been focusing on a few things to help me stay healthy during pregnancy the second time around.

1. Exercise

I didn’t focus on exercising when I was pregnant with my first, and it showed. I’ve been walking for at least 30 minutes to an hour, 3-5 times a week to get in some cardio, and staying active has definitely helped me feel better and have more energy. Be sure to get moderate exercise when you can, and definitely talk to your doctor about your routine.

2. Drink plenty of water.

Drinking water and staying hydrated is always important for your health, but during pregnancy it’s crucial. I try to get 64 ounces (8 8 oz. glasses of water) a day and an extra glass more when I work out. I can tell when I haven’t had enough when I start to feel sluggish.

3. Keep your skin moisturized.

The stretching of the skin is serious business when you’re pregnant. I’m trying to keep my entire body moisturized as much as I can. I like lotions and oils, but drinking plenty of water also helps my skin stay hydrated, too. When you’re pregnant, your face and skin will most likely be changing due to the flood of hormones, but keeping your skin clean and moisturized should help with any skin snafus in the long run.

4. Get plenty of rest.

It’s been really hard keeping up with a toddler/pre-schooler during this pregnancy, but it’s helped me stay active, that’s for sure. Because I’ve been more active this time around, I’ve had to really listen to my body when it tells me to rest. You have a lot going on when you’re growing a baby in your belly and getting rest is so important! If I need a nap when my little takes a nap, I take one. My bedtime has shifted as well. I go to bed earlier than I used to, and it’s made a world of difference. I know these nights of eight hours of sleep will serve me well once I have a newborn interrupting that for a while (a long while).

5. Focus on eating healthy foods.

This should be a given, but it’s quite possibly been my biggest struggle. I’ve had more cravings this time around than ever before, not to mention that I’m always hungry. My doctor has recommended to eat three small meals and three small snacks throughout the day to keep my hunger and cravings in check. I do indulge every now and then, but here’s a sample of what my menu looks (a modified version of what BabyCenter.com suggests) when I’m really focusing on eating healthy.

Breakfast

1/2 cup watermelon or berries

Two eggs scrambled with 1/4 cup mushrooms and bell pepper (made with a teaspoon of olive oil)

One slice of whole wheat toast with 1 teaspoon of butter

1 cup of decaf coffee with vanilla unsweetened coconut milk or 1 cup of orange juice

Snack

One large apple or banana with a tablespoon of almond butter

Lunch

One medium baked potato topped with 3/4 cup chili with beans and 2 tablespoons grated low-fat cheddar cheese

1 cup spinach salad with 1 tablespoon blueberries and 2 tablespoons light salad dressing

Two multi-grain crackers

1 cup low-fat milk

Snack

1/2 cup baby carrots

2 tablespoons of hummus

Dinner

1/2 sliced tomato and 1/4 of an avocado, sliced

4 ounces grilled chicken

1 cup cooked brown rice

1/2 cup cooked green beans

One multigrain roll

One orange

Snack

8 ounces low-fat vanilla yogurt

Two graham crackers

All of this adds up to about 2,200 calories and contains all the nutrients that you need: grains, vegetables, fruit, milk, meat & beans, and oils.

Most importantly, when choosing foods, I have to read the labels. A few of the items above (like the coconut milk and yogurt) contain an ingredient called carrageenan. Lately, there has been a lot focus on the science in food, and there has been quite a bit of misinformation spewed around the web about carrageenan. However, carrageenan has been deemed safe by all government guidelines. Here are a few things you should know about carrageenan and the science behind it:

• It’s regulated and deemed safe to be used in food all across the world (United States, Europe, China, Japan and Brazil).
• Carrageenan is minimally processed and can even be extracted from seaweed in your own kitchen. All it would take is a little salt, alcohol and mixing in a blender to release the natural ingredient.
• It helps food last. With ingredients like carrageenan, nutritious, healthy foods and drinks can be delivered all over the world.
• The science in maintaining foods is important because it allows foods to be made and delivered to billions of people across the world. If we didn’t have it, we’d have to eat most foods as soon as they were made because they wouldn’t have a shelf-life. Thankfully, we have access to healthy foods for longer periods of time.

Staying healthy during pregnancy is one thing I owe to myself, my growing baby, and to my family. By focusing on these things, I hope to have an easy third trimester. And I have a good feeling that I will.

What do you do to stay healthy during a pregnancy? 

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Food Science Matters, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #foodsciencematters http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Let’s stay connected! Be sure to follow along here:
Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // Bloglovin // Pinterest // Snapchat: kristy7graces