Working to maintain a healthy pregnancy is good regardless of whether you have complications or not. But when you are dealing with the discomfort and the high risks of Polyhydramnios, being healthy becomes more than just good practice.
Follow these tips to keep yourself in the best shape you can to support your body, your mind, and your baby.
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Eat Healthy
Healthy eating can help alleviate many common symptoms of pregnancy such as heartburn, constipation, and morning sickness. It also helps provide your body with essential vitamins and other nutrients that can help you feel better, give you more energy, and help keep weight gain at a healthy level. Good nutrition in early pregnancy is vital to fetal growth. If you have certain maternal conditions that are affected by your diet then healthy eating is vital for you too.
Here are a few resources that you might enjoy for eating healthy during pregnancy.
Drink Water
Staying adequately hydrated is important to everyone, whether pregnant or not. But when you’re pregnant, your body has a higher demand for fluids. Drinking enough fluid will help with your energy level, it can reduce headaches, control cravings, reduce swelling, and even help with heartburn.
Forget the old “8 glasses of water a day” saying though. Your body takes water from most fluids and even some foods that you eat. So, you should aim for about 10 cups (or 2.3 liters) of fluids per day, including things like coffee, tea, milk, and juice. Try to steer clear of non-nutritional drinks like soda though because even though you can reach your fluid goal with these drinks, you’ll be loading your body with sugar and empty calories.
The best way to tell if you are adequately hydrated is by checking the color of your urine. If it is dark you need to drink some more fluid, if it is very light or clear then you are getting enough fluid.
Exercise
Light to moderate exercise helps boost your mood and curb anxiety, reduces your chance of forming blood clots, helps keep your bowels moving to avoid constipation, and keeps your heart healthy enough to support your pregnancy. If you already had a consistent exercise routine before you got pregnant you can probably continue with no problems. You should always consult your healthcare provider before starting a new exercise routine though.
Be careful of any exercise routines that involve inverted poses if you have Polyhydramnios. You should NEVER use inversion techniques with Polyhydramnios because they may increase your risk of umbilical cord prolapse.
Reduce Stress
Stress during pregnancy can cause your normal pregnancy symptoms to feel worse, contribute to eating problems, and put you at a higher risk for gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm labor. Healthy eating, exercise, and eliminating unnecessary stressors in your life can help you reduce stress. Practicing relaxation techniques and focused breathing are another great way to help control your stress. The most helpful tip for managing stress is to build a strong support system for yourself and use it! Always ask for help when you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious.
