

What’s the first thing you did when the pregnancy test turned positive? Hug your partner and cry? (Tears of joy, I hope.) Dive into that baby names book you’ve had stashed away since high school? Or go online to find the best stroller available?
Whether it’s your first or fifth, receiving news of a pregnancy comes with a rush of excitement and questions. For some, it feels as though you’ve selected the winning numbers to the million dollar lottery. However, when it comes to winning the baby lottery, how you spend that million involves one of the most thoughtful decision-making processes of your life. You will no doubt have to buy a stroller, and eventually every child needs a name, but at some point your focus should shift from material to maternal. Given the physical nature of pregnancy, it’s funny that decisions of ‘blue’ vs. ‘pink outweigh some of the more pressing ones; when to tell your personal trainer, eat organic, and do yoga vs. strength train.
So, while you are deciding between ‘Jacob’ or ‘Jeremiah,’ here are three priorities for pregnancy, often overlooked when expectant moms venture out to spend their ‘millions’:
Eat Clean- Nutrition is one of the most important and easiest ways to create a healthy pregnancy. Not only how much you eat, but WHAT you eat is vital. Typically, you need 300 extra calories per day (that’s a cup of yogurt, some berries and granola...that’s it!). If you eat nutrient depleted food or processed food, your baby takes the minimal nutrients offered and leaves you with nothing, increasing your risk of fatigue, depression and anemia. Not only do you need fresh, whole foods to sustain YOU, you need foods rich in vitamins and minerals to contribute to brain, cardiovascular and nervous system development, producing a healthy fetus. Choosing organic is also important to prevent toxins from entering your bloodstream...which is your child’s lifeline.
Sweat it- Gone are the days of the fragile pregnant woman. Exercise is proven to increase maternal energy, self-esteem, and speed up postpartum recovery. It also decreases risk of varicose veins, depression, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, water retention and more. Whether you are a yogi or a cardio-junkie, or somewhere in between, physical fitness is essential. You need to ensure you are active, but have the proper information for safe and effective exercise at each stage of pregnancy. Combining different forms of exercise is also beneficial, from power-walking to swimming, to yoga, or strength training. Get your body moving, heart pumping and blood flowing to your baby. Check with your doctor and trainer for safe instruction.
Pop’em- Simply taking a multi-vitamin is not going to cut it. Choose a high-quality, natural PRE-NATAL multi containing higher quantities of folic acid and essential nutrients for pregnancy. When you are pregnant and a mom, you want the best for your child. Some multi’s contain unnecessary preservatives and dyes that don’t benefit the fetus and can contribute to vitamin and mineral deficiency. Vitamins/folic acid are proven to decrease birth defects. If you are nauseous try taking a three per day multi.
Now, once you’ve ‘blown’ your baby winnings on your health, you can move on to other pressing decisions...cloth or disposable?
Julie Watson
~is the owner of AfterGlow Health & Fitness, specializing in Pre and Postnatal fitness. With 3 children to keep up with, Julie strives to stay helathy, stong and sane, naturally.
www.afterglowtoronto.com
For Mom and Baby
by Julie Watson