4 Health Tips I’ve Learned in Pregnancy That Every Woman Should Know

It took being pregnant to discover these health tips that have changed my life!

Wearing Apana Track Jacket, JoyLab Leggings, Adidas Sneakers, Lavender Exercise Mat

One thing I’ve been doing in my second pregnancy that I didn’t really do in my first is asking loads of questions and advocating for myself when I’m with medical providers. This time around I feel confident, more prepared and much more at peace.

I’m writing this blog post to help pregnant and non- pregnant women, alike. Perhaps some of these tips are old for you; but I know that they’ll help many more of you so here it goes…

Stop Using Feminine Washes

In pregnancy, many women experience sensitivity in the vaginal area and are more susceptible to infections. I know with my first pregnancy I suffered 2-3 infections so with this pregnancy I made sure I was proactive in asking for ways to avoid infections.

My midwife advised me to get rid of the Vagisal feminine wash and replace it with a Dove white bar soap. She told me that feminine washes are extremely harsh and get rid of all bacteria, including good bacteria. As a result, women who use these products become more susceptible to infections since there is no longer any good bacteria fighting the bad bacteria. I was also encouraged to minimize wash cloth use as cloths carry bacteria and can be counterproductive while cleaning the vulva area. 

I’ve linked other bar soaps that are comparable to Dove and probably work just as well! 

Take Vitamin D supplements – especially working from Home

I briefly talked about my experiences being Vitamin D deficient on Instagram. For most of my adult life, I have had vitamin d deficiencies. As a result, I never shy away from testing to determine my Vitamin D levels. In this pregnancy, I have had extremely low vitamin d levels due to working from home and not getting exposed to the sun as much as I’d like to.

Through consultations with my OBGYN and my own research, I’ve learned that 90% of COVID-19 patients are also vitamin d deficient. While there isn’t much literature or direct correlation between vitamin d deficiency and Covid-19; medical providers recommend increasing vitamin d intake to help avoid contracting the virus. 

Vitamin D also helps increase energy levels- something pregnant women struggle with while pregnant. I also give my daughter vitamin d drops daily. I’ve linked some of my favorite vitamin d brands below:

Vitamin C face serums – help with dark spots and discoloration

Many pregnant women experience dark irregular spots on their skin. I know for me personally, under my eye and my neck get extremely dark during pregnancy. In my first pregnancy, I did nothing to combat this inconvenience. But recently I’ve incorporated a vitamin c serum in my night time routine to keep my face glowing and even tone. My favorite vitamin c serums are linked below:

Workout Often!

This tip sounds like a no brainer, but sometimes it’s hard to see the benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle until your pregnant body depends on it. With my first pregnancy, I did little fitness training. However, I was extremely active, walking during lunch breaks and during my retail therapy sessions (which seemed like every other day!) With this pregnancy, I am cycling, stretching and using free weights to stay fit and strong!

Whether you’re heavily pregnant or not even considering children anytime soon, do not neglect exercising ! It simply begins with a decision you make today!

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