Parents – September 2019

ADVICE AS YOUR CHILD GROWS

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Keep your weight in check.
The middle of pregnancy is often billed
as the sweet spot: Nausea subsides, your
miscarriage risk lowers, and you sprout
a baby bump. But the return of a
heartier appetite after weeks of morning
sickness can cause some women to
put on pounds too rapidly. Ideally, you
should be gaining a half pound to a
pound per week. However, a study of
more than 8,000 expectant mothers by
the National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development found that
73 percent gained more weight than was
recommended. One reason: Moms-to-
be assume they’re eating for two, when

Bond all day.

Skin-to-skin contact right after delivery

is known to enhance attachment, and

in fact, you don’t need any additional

calories in the first trimester and

require only about 300 extra per day

in the second and third. Pack your

day with fruits, veggies, whole grains,

and lean protein to stay on track.

Take test results seriously.

Between 24 and 28 weeks, you’ll have

a glucose-screening test for gestational

diabetes, which develops if your body

fails to produce and use all the insulin

it needs. Treatment includes dietary

changes, blood-sugar monitoring, and

in some cases, taking insulin. It’s

essential to keep gestational diabetes

under control; otherwise, you can

have a higher risk of preterm birth, high

blood pressure, preeclampsia, and a

cesarean, as well as developing diabetes

and heart disease later in life.

At the same second-trimester

appointment, you’ll also have your iron

levels checked. About 17 percent of

expectant mothers in the U.S. develop

anemia, usually midpregnancy. The

symptoms can include feeling weak,

tired, or dizzy, but you may not notice

any changes at all. To resolve anemia,

you’ll need to take iron supplements

and eat iron-rich foods like red meat,

black beans, and leafy greens.

Find your balance.

As your belly grows, your center of

gravity shifts and you may feel unsteady

sometimes. In addition, your increased

blood volume may cause a drop in blood

pressure, leading to dizziness. Be

sure to stand up slowly from sitting, stay

PREGNANCY

HOW TO

Handle

Second-Trimester

Surprises

by LISA SINGER MORAN

0 –6 MONTHS

HOW TO

Wear Your Baby

With Care

by JENNIFER KELLY GEDDES

hydrated, and eat frequently. Doing

pregnancy-safe exercises that target

your core and thighs, such as yoga poses

like Goddess and Table, can also help.

Optimize your sleep.

You may struggle to find a comfortable

position, especially because lying on

your back isn’t recommended. Nasal

congestion, which stems from the

increased blood f low during pregnancy,

may also get in the way of shut-eye.

Your best antidotes are a pregnancy pillow

and adhesive nasal strips to keep your

nostrils open. Any discomfort you’re

experiencing now will subside after

delivery, when there will be a joyful new

reason why you can’t sleep at night.

Sources: Mary Rosser, M.D., Ph.D., ob-gyn and faculty

member at Columbia University, in New York City;

Rebecca Booth, M.D., ob-gyn and author of The Venus

Week; Meri Treitler, a trainer at Mommy and Me

Fitness, in New York City.

PARENTS 145 SEPTEMBER 2019