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
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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.