Taking Care of Your Body During Pregnancy

1. See your dentist

All the hormonal changes in your body when you are pregnant can really compromise your oral health. During pregnancy a woman’s gum tissues are more susceptible to the bacteria in plaque and that can lead to inflamed and bleeding gums. This is sometimes referred to as “pregnancy gingivitis” and can be prevented by maintaining proper oral hygiene during pregnancy. Make sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste- more if you are snacking on a lot of sugary foods. You should also floss once a day and visit your dentist regularly for professional teeth cleaning.


2. Visit your Chiropractor

Pregnancy is hard on your body and having that adorable baby-belly can cause some serious backaches and hip pains. Chiropractors are trained to work with pregnant women and having a chiropractic adjustment during your pregnancy is perfectly safe. Your chiropractor can help keep your spine, hips and pelvis flexible, balanced and comfortable.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy has been shown to help all sorts of pregnancy related issues:

• It can help you remain healthy and active
• It can help control your nausea and vomiting
• It can help to stop premature contractions
• It can reduce your need for pain medication during your pregnancy and during the labour and delivery as well
• It can facilitate the turning of a breech baby

• It can shorten your labour time and reduce the amount of back labour you have
• It can make the delivery more comfortable for you and baby

3. Stay Fit

Most women can really benefit from staying active during pregnancy. Exercise can give you some much needed energy, help you sleep better, help keep your spirits up, help keep your muscles strong enough to carry around that extra baby-weight and prepare you for the physical stress of giving birth. It will also help you get back to your pre-pregnancy weight after baby is born.

Many fitness centres offer classes specifically designed for the momma-to-be such as prenatal yoga, low-impact aerobics, and other prenatal exercise classes. Before you start any pregnancy exercise program be sure to consult your healthcare provider.