During pregnancy, all of the focus is on the growing baby. This is understandable; however, it’s important that pregnant mothers take time for themselves as well. In this article, we will provide 3 self-care tips for pregnant women from your local Plano chiropractor.
The Importance of Self-Care During Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, significant levels of stress are being imposed on your body. For instance, your bones and muscles have to adapt to support your extra weight. This often results in joint pain, sore muscles, and other orthopedic issues.
Furthermore, hormone concentration shifts dramatically throughout pregnancy. Throughout all of the different phases of gestation, different hormones result in different effects, all with the goal of helping the baby to grow. These hormones are necessary for the process, but they can also lead to painful issues. For example, relaxin and progesterone can loosen the usually stiff joints of the body. This is especially true with regard to the pelvis. Because of the effect of these hormones, many women can feel pelvic pain throughout pregnancy.
Last but not least, pregnancy can have dramatic effects on a mother’s mood and psychological state. These effects can range widely, with some women experiencing very different emotional dispositions throughout the pregnancy process.
For all of these reasons, it’s critical that pregnant women take care of themselves so that they can decrease their discomfort and stress, leading to a healthier pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Top 3 Self-Care Techniques for Pregnant Women
In this section, we’ll review the top self-care tips during pregnancy from your local chiropractor. Try these techniques out and see what you think!
Tip #1: Take Care of Your Feet
Many women will experience swelling and discomfort in their feet throughout pregnancy. This is normal, and not something to be overly concerned about. With that being said, it’s important to ensure that your feet are as comfortable as possible during pregnancy.
During all of the stages of pregnancy, you can care for your feet by wearing comfortable shoes that can accommodate swelling as it occurs. This will serve to reduce pain and enable you to be as mobile as possible.
Tip #2: Complete Regular Exercise
When your body is going through the massive changes characteristic of the pregnancy process, the last thing you’ll want to do is exercise. However, regular active movement during pregnancy can help to improve the health of both the mother and the baby.
Luckily, you don’t need to do very much to reach the minimum exercise levels for good health during pregnancy. For instance, walking for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, has been shown to be effective in improving health.
If you haven’t exercised prior to pregnancy, discuss your options with your doctor. They know you and your health situation the best, and can help you determine the best way to move throughout the next nine months.
Tip #3: Eat a Healthy Diet
During your pregnancy, you will likely have many different food cravings. Giving into some of these cravings may not be problematic. However, if you only want to eat candy during your pregnancy, you’ll need to avoid this temptation. Make sure to include a range of foods and nutrients in your diet to foster the healthy development of your baby and to look after yourself in the best way possible.
Some key nutrients during pregnancy include folic acid, vitamin D, choline, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin C, and the B vitamins.
Good nutrition is key for healthy growth and pregnancy. Don’t neglect this area of health before, during, and after pregnancy.
Bonus Tip: See Your Chiropractor Often
One of the best things you can do for yourself during pregnancy is to see your chiropractor on a regular basis. Chiropractors ensure that your spine is in proper alignment throughout your pregnancy so that everything can progress in the best way possible.
If you’re looking for a new chiropractor in Plano, TX, come see the professionals at Keystone Chiropractic. Book your appointment today.
