Pregnancy Topics | Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy

Good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are essential for a woman to have a healthy pregnancy. Not just during pregnancy, but before thinking about becoming pregnant. Good prenatal care can also help prevent complications in pregnancy. If a woman is in the high risk category, it is even more important that she take good care of herself before and during pregnancy. Here are the top five high risk factors in pregnancy according to the National Institutes of Health.

• Age: Too old or too young
  
• If a woman is significantly overweight or underweight
• Complications or problems in previous pregnancies
• If a woman has high blood pressure.
• If a woman has diabetes.

A woman can become high risk during pregnancy if she develops health problems while pregnant, such as;

• Preeclampsia or toxemia: a condition that includes high blood pressure.
• Gestational diabetes: A woman that does not have diabetes before pregnancy can develop it during pregnancy. If she follows her doctor's recommendations, she can have a healthy pregnancy.
• Preterm Labor: If a woman goes into labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy she is considered preterm. If is too early, her physician will try to stop it and more than likely put her on bed rest.

To help reduce certain risk factors, a pregnant woman or one considering pregnancy, should get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid per day and continue to take it during the entire pregnancy, avoid smoking, alcohol and drug use, and go to all prenatal doctor appointments.

Is it possible that my nerve system and getting angry frequently will affect my baby's health?

I am not sure what the clinical response to this question would be, but in my opinion, it is probably healthier for both of you if you can calm your life a bit. Stress and anger can cause an increase in blood pressure which is definitely not good for baby or mama. I would try to reduce the amount of stress in your life, and try some anger management techniques (I would try googling it). Good luck and try to relax.   Rosie

Totally have the same question ... have got a lot of stress / drama right now and I keep worrying that it will harm the baby .. amd doing my best to think only of positive happy things...

It is funny how all women are concerned about this.  My guess that if stress isn't good for you before you are pregnant it isn't good during pregnancy either.  However, it is sooo hard to remain calm with all those hormones surging through our bodies.  I know I can be laughing one minute and weeping like my dog died the next.  I have tried some breathing exercises that seem to help.  Basically inhale for a count of 6, exhale for a count of 4.  This has helped on a couple of occassions when I thought I might assault my husband.  Oh yeh, locking myself in the bathroom helps too. 

I have to agree some reason since I've been prego I get angry very easy. It's like something have taken over me. But I have three other children and never went through this with any of there pregnancy. I guess every pregnancy is different. I hope it gets better!

i have been verry moody and tryin to have a baby at my fiances request he wants this one haha i let him choose the best time but the past week i get so mad i feel as if im gunna snap i have taken 3 test all - so im not sure if it has anything  to do with being pregnant or just cranky? good luck to you all and hope you all have happy healthy babies!!!!!!!!!       

Stress and anger are hard to avoid, but it really is not good for you or your baby. My mother almost lost me because at seven months she was so stressed i was actually trying to deattach myself from her. She ended up spending a month with her legs in the air, only able to relax for fifteen minutes an hour. I also recently heard that the baby can feel all the emotions you are going through, so even though there are days when i want to wring someones neck-I take several depth breaths and remind myself that i'm upsetting my baby.

Thats good that im not crazy lol i have been all over the place generally really happy and calm but the smallest thing i will be really angry and crying its insane my poor boyfriend lol hopefully it calms down - im trying to control it abit better but its really hard at times you just get so tense so quickly i find it incredible that i can be so happy then in tears its odd - does this subside abit further along im only very early (6weeks1day)

I just took a HPT and it was positive. I've been convinced for a couple weeks that I was pregnant, but I didn't want to rush and get a negative. With all the symptoms I've felt, I haven't been *emotional*. My husband thinks I've been more grabby and *lovey*... I am very calm and happy for the most part (some anxiety of course) so I'm actually curious about what emotional ups and downs I might go through. 

This is my first pregnancy, and I am still concerned that I am going to see my doctor, and be told my test was false... Oh well, I should get that out of the way soon!