Pregnancy myths

Lots of women feel like they can't do certain things when they are pregnant like have sex, do exercise, but here at Mum and Me we want to bust those myths and give you some good advice....

Being pregnant doesn’t mean that you have to stop doing things that you would have done before, providing you are feeling well and your doctor is happy, you can carry on as normal. Naturally you will want to be more careful and avoid situations where you may get bumped or knocked like skiing or ball games for example. Some women do find themselves feeling tired during pregnancy especially during the first and last trimester. If this is the case then listen to your body and slow down a bit. As long as your health is good there are many things you can do to raise your energy levels during pregnancy. By ensuring that your diet is a nutritious as possible and taking the right supplements you can feel great throughout your pregnancy. If your energy levels have dropped try some of these energy boosting ideas:

 Exercise is great during pregnancy to boost energy and limit unnecessary weight gain. Exercise such as swimming, yoga, light jogging and walking are all fine during pregnancy for as long you are well and able. Mid pregnancy is not the ideal time to start a vigorous exercise regime for the first time but doing some can help improve the health of your baby, just build up slowly and listen to your body. Exercise improves circulation and oxygenates the blood giving a natural high. If you are unsure then look for a class especially for pregnancy such as yoga for example and you will be in safe hands. Balance blood sugar - Ensure that you have 2 snacks a day as well as your 3 main meals, this will ensure that your blood sugar stays balanced and your energy levels stay up. This is possibly the most important factor for energy. Make sure that snacks are protein based, for example, nuts, seeds, natural yoghurt, oat cakes and hummus. Protein foods take longer to digest and therefore release energy more stably than carbohydrates do. Invest in a juicer - fresh juices are full of vital nutrients that will give you an instant energy boost. Try mixing apple/carrot/ginger or pears and cucumber or mixed berries. Have sex, as long as it doesn’t hurt then go ahead, you won’t harm the baby, you may need to find a different position as your bump grows!Talk to your midwife about your iron levels, make sure they are good as you will need reserves for the birth and breast feeding where the baby will take priority. During the last trimester especially it is worth considering adding an iron supplement to your diet. This will boost energy now and help prepare for post birth requirements.