Legacy MyChart
A healthy pregnancy is a key to a healthy baby (and mom). Pregnancy takes a heavy toll on a woman’s body, which can lead to health complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes and even miscarriage. But by following doctor’s recommendations, you can have good outcomes.
Dr. Vian Nguyen, director of OB/GYN Services at Legacy Community Health, offers seven tips for a healthy pregnancy.
1. See your doctor regularly and don’t skip any appointments. This is the only way your physician can identify problems with your blood pressure or lab tests and address them quickly.
2. Continue your prenatal vitamins. You need them to help cover any nutritional gaps in your diet.
3. Drink at least 64 ounces (eight glasses) of water a day.
4. Exercise at least 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes, to keep your heart and weight healthy.
5. Eat five-to-six times a day — three well-balanced meals and two healthy snacks. To be safe, the FDA recommends that pregnant women eat no more than 12 ounces of fish per week. Avoid swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish, which are all high in mercury.
6. Use mosquito repellant with DEET during mosquito season. This will protect you from mosquito-borne viruses, such as West Nile Virus and Zika.
7. Avoid taking over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies without asking your provider first. These could cause pregnancy complications.