Congrats mama, you’re pregnant!! As you’re starting your pregnancy journey and waiting for mini-you to arrive, you’re going to want to do everything possible to keep them safe and healthy in your belly. 

You may have come across many myths about pregnancy, so it’s time to clear those up and face reality. Here is your ultimate guide to the do’s and don’ts of pregnancy -- some you may have already expected and some which may come to you as a surprise. 

Pregnancy Do’s 

Do Take Prenatal Vitamins 

Prenatal vitamins are supplements that are meant for you whether you’re trying to get pregnant or you are pregnant. It’s a good idea to start consuming prenatal vitamins at least one month prior to conception. The folic acid provided to you through the vitamin is extremely important for the cells in the body that need growth and development. The recommended intake is 400mcg of folic acid every day for at least one month before and during your pregnancy.

Adding this to your routine will help you reap the benefits of prenatal vitamins. Taking these supplements will help provide calcium for your child’s development which will help reduce the risk of your baby developing any complications, and will help them develop strong bones, teeth, a healthy heart, and muscles. It will also reduce the risk of birth defects such as Spina Biifida, cleft lip, cleft palate and some heart birth defects as well. 

The Neeva Baby Prenatal Gummies are a complete prenatal vitamin packed with your daily dose of Vitamin A, E, B6, B12, and Folic Acid and are made with Plant Sourced DHA.

If you’re expecting to have a child, taking prenatal vitamins will give you a peace of mind that you are staying healthy and taking action to maintain your own health and the health of your developing baby. 

Do Stay Active

Even though you may experience some drawbacks in your ability to stick to your regular routine, that shouldn’t hold you back from staying active and creating a new and refined routine! You may be hesitant to move around too much but don’t worry, it’s completely fine to exercise during pregnancy -- in fact, it’s actually beneficial!

As long as you be careful and watch out for mini-you in your belly, you’ll be able to stick to your momentum and maintain a healthy lifestyle that will benefit you and your growing baby. Just remember, balance is key! Don’t do too much to overwork your body. A simple yoga session will keep you active and will also give you the zen you need. 

Other than feeling a sense of normalcy by implementing exercising into your pregnant routine, you’ll also be able to face the benefits of staying active. Working out will reduce body aches, improve your body positioning, and will even help prevent fatigue. 

If you’re used to hitting the gym even before getting pregnant, keep at it! If you haven’t had an active lifestyle in the past, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about incorporating working out in your daily routine. 

Do Keep a Healthy Weight

It’s a given that you will be going through a lot of changes in your body during pregnancy. Weight gain is completely normal! During your first trimester, you only need about 100 extra calories each day to give your baby the nutrition they need. During your third trimester, the additional calorie intake is closer to 300 to 500 each day.

You’ll now be eating for two, but that doesn’t mean you can eat whatever you’d like. Even though you’ll want to give in to all your pregnancy cravings, it’s important to consume nutrients that will fuel your body and contribute to the health and growth of the fetus. This includes watching out for the foods to avoid such as raw fish, too much caffeine, unpasteurized foods, and alcohol.

Do Visit the Doctor 

Of course, your doctor visits will start to become more frequent when you're pregnant and this means regular prenatal visits. In between all of your other daily tasks, it may become hectic and difficult to attend your doctor visits. But no matter how crazy your schedule gets, it’s very important to stick to the schedule that your doctor suggests. 

During these visits, you’ll be able to know the estimated due date, your baby’s gender, ways to maintain your own and your baby’s health, and also try to plan out the best course of action for labour and delivery.  

Pregnancy Don’ts 

Don’t Drink Alcohol

Drinking alcohol during your pregnancy could lead your baby to develop fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This could lead to many symptoms such as a low birth weight, the development of learning disabilities, behaviour problems, and a lag in growth and development milestones. 

There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, so it is advised that you stay away from it altogether. 

Don’t Smoke

Avoid smoking at any point during your pregnancy. Smoking while your little baby is growing in your belly can expose you and your baby to harmful chemicals that are within the cigarettes. It will limit the baby’s oxygen supply and nutrients you deliver to your baby which is harmful to the growing fetus. 

Drugs and smoking while you’re pregnant have been connected to many health issues such as problems with the placenta, premature birth, birth defects, low birth weight, and pregnancy loss. If you’re a smoker (even before you got pregnant), it’s a good idea to try to quit the habit of smoking even before trying to conceive a baby. 

Don’t Have Too Much Caffeine 

This may be something you’ve been dreading… Getting off the coffee grind! It can be harmful to your baby if you’re having too much coffee and caffeinated beverages. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have any at all -- You can limit yourself to 200 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is about two cups of coffee. 

Caffeine isn’t particularly healthy during your pregnancy and can potentially increase the risk of miscarriages, although there isn’t enough research to support this for sure. 

Don’t Sit in a Hot Tub or Sauna

You may think that sitting in a sauna during pregnancy is a way for mama to get some alone time and have the chance to relax and unwind. Unfortunately, the high-heat environment may be too dangerous for you and your baby when expecting a child. 

When babies are in utero, they aren’t able to regulate their body temperature which means they cannot tolerate the high-heat of a sauca, jacuzzi, or hot tub. Studies have shown that babies who have been exposed to high temperatures during the first trimester are prone to experiencing brain development complications, birth defects, and even miscarriages.