Special guest post for expectant moms!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a great weekend and for those of you who raced - congratulations! I will post tomorrow about my weekend and about a GIVEAWAY!!! So be on the lookout.

I received an email the other day from Katie Moore (Link to her blog HERE) who found my blog and thought that some of my wonderful followers may enjoy reading an article she wrote called Healthy Habits for Expecting Mothers During Pregnancy.  I thought it was great and may be helpful for those of you who are expecting, know anyone who is, or may be pregnant in the future! So without further ado, here it is!

Healthy Habits for Expecting Mothers During Pregnancy

Diet, exercise and medical check-ups are important parts of every body’s lives. For expectant
mothers, they are especially vital to help ensure and healthy birth and baby. Being well
informed about healthy lifestyle habits during pregnancy will help expecting mothers make
better choices for themselves and their unborn child.

A healthy diet is one of the most important aspects of a healthy lifestyle for expecting mothers. Good nutrition ensures the unborn baby’s healthy growth and development. The important nutrients to keep in the diet include folic acid, calcium, iron and vitamins A, B, C and D. Folic acid, in particular, found in green leafy vegetables, can reduce the chance of neural tube defects by 70 percent if taken during pregnancy. Dehydration can be common among pregnant women, so it is important to consume 8 – 10 glasses of water per day. A couple dietary aversions while pregnant are fish containing mercury and caffeine. Certain fishes such as shark and swordfish, should be avoided during pregnancy because it is dangerous for the development of baby’s brain and nervous system and caffeine can raise mom’s blood pressure and heart rate - posing a risk of low birth weight and premature birth for the baby.

Mild to moderate exercise during pregnancy will not only help with blood circulation, but also build strong bones and tissues. While activities involving heavy lifting should be avoided, yoga, swimming and walking are all ideal exercises for expecting mothers. The added strength from regular exercise makes baby’s delivery easier and can also lessen the discomforts associated with pregnancy such as leg cramps, and minor aches and pains. Recovery time for a physically fit mother will be shorter as well.

Keeping up with regular doctor visits is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Not only do these routine exams monitor the baby’s growth and development, but they can also give doctors indications of possible complications. Any complications found will be easier to treat if they are detected early.

Doctors can answer any questions women might have about their pregnancy, such as the safety of air travel and over the counter medications. Speaking to her doctor about optional choices like cord blood banking can also help women make an informed decision about her baby’s health post-delivery. Cord blood banking is when the remaining blood in the umbilical cord blood is collected and stored at a private facility to be saved for potential use in treating a future medical diseases that could affect the baby, possibly a sibling.

By keeping diet and exercise at the forefront of a woman’s pregnancy and delivery, mom-to-be’s preparations will go a long way helping to ensure a smoother delivery. If mom invests in her own health early on, she can help her baby develop and lead a healthy life, from birth and on.

"This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community
who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this
niche. If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting
her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26."

Thanks again, Katie, for some great advice!