All The Pregnancy Tips A Working Mom Should Follow Wellness

1. Take Prenatal Vitamins
2. Say Goodbye To Smoking and Alcohol Intake
3. Monitor Your Caffeine Intake
4. Exercise
5. Rest. Rest.
6. Educate Yourself With Red Flags Plus Breastfeeding Tips!

Pregnancy is such a blissful time in a woman’s life. Ladies, this will be one of the most memorable times in your life specifically when they just noticed the early signs of pregnancy. Don’t get me wrong. “Memorable” means a lot of things. There are good memories and bad memories. Let’s face it. Pregnancy isn’t always about the glow and feeling all good. In fact, in some women, it could be the opposite — most especially for working moms.

But do not worry, nobody’s judging you! No matter which type of pregnant woman you become, it’s always best to be prepared by searching for tips for working moms like you. For first-time moms, you might be wondering how to get pregnancy tips. That’s what friends, family, and this article is for. Having said that, here are some tips gathered for you to allow you to have the smoothest pregnancy experience from the time you try a pregnancy due date calculator to see the early signs of pregnancy until you reach the time you are breastfeeding a newborn already.

Take Prenatal Vitamins

With your body busy forming another life, one of the tips for working moms you should follow is to fill in extra vitamins and minerals to support both you and your baby. According to the Mayo Clinic, pregnant women would need more folic acid and iron. After getting a go signal from your healthcare provider, you can start taking a daily folic acid supplement right away. Folic acid is important as it protects your baby against brain and spinal cord problems.

Iron supplements are also crucial because it supports the development of the placenta and fetus. Iron helps your body produce blood, especially now that you’ll be providing for two. It also helps prevent anemia.

Taking vitamins can also help you when you are breastfeeding a newborn. So it will be better to take them as soon as you see early signs of pregnancy.

Say Goodbye To Smoking and Alcohol Intake

When your pregnancy due date calculator expresses that there is someone on your belly already, you should stop with your vices already since smoking or drinking and pregnancy don’t go hand in hand. In fact, it’s a big no-no. For instance, smoking during pregnancy carries a lot of risks, such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and premature labor.

The CDC also says that smoking when pregnant can lead to birth defects in the mouth and lips. It’s never too late to give up your habit of smoking. You can talk to your doctor or midwife about quitting so that they can guide you through the process.

Meanwhile, alcohol can be pretty tricky during pregnancy. Some doctors may say that a little is fine, while others claim that zero alcohol should be consumed during the whole duration of pregnancy. Some expecting moms still consume alcohol since they failed to see the early signs of pregnancy.

One of our pregnancy tips for working moms during their first trimester would be to stay on the safe side. You don’t want to risk your baby’s safety as well as your own. How much can nine months without alcohol hurt? Your baby will surely thank you for it later on, and it will also benefit you when you are already breastfeeding a newborn.

Monitor Your Caffeine Intake

Good news for coffee lovers, you can still drink coffee while pregnant. But take caution, the United Kingdom NHS says that you should limit yourself to 200mg of caffeine a day. This would be approximately two cups of instant coffee.

This limit includes all sources of caffeine, so it would be better to take note of your consumption of teas, cola, energy drinks, and chocolate as well.

Exercise

Yes, you read it right. One of the best tips for a working mom who is currently pregnant is to exercise. Being pregnant doesn’t give you a pass to lay around and lounge all day (though this is what you pretty much want to do). One of the healthy tips for pregnancy is to exercise.  Although pregnancy isn’t the time for boot camp routines and intense weight loss exercises, health experts still advise pregnant women to exercise regularly as long as it feels comfortable for their bodies.

The American Pregnancy Association says that the first rule of thumb is that if you were physically active prior to getting pregnant, it is likely safe to remain active during the first couple of months you notice the early signs of pregnancy.

Have you ever heard of “Kegels exercises“? If you ask other moms about early pregnancy tips, doing pelvic floor exercises might be one of the things they mention. If this is your first time to come across the term, it’s time to familiarize yourself with it, since you’ll be doing it more often now (hopefully).

Pelvic floor exercises strengthen your muscles down there to prevent you from leaking pee, and most importantly, they can aid you when the time comes that you need to push your baby out. Some experts also say it helps to get things heated up in the bedroom.

Meanwhile, exercising can also help you get through one of the most dreaded early signs of pregnancy — morning sickness. There are many pregnancy tips for nausea that expert moms usually share. These include snacking on saltine crackers, drinking ginger tea, and taking OTC medications.

It also works to determine which foods suit you and which ones make you feel queasy. Some pregnant women are lucky not to experience morning sickness at all, while some not-so-lucky ones experience them even after the first trimester has passed per their pregnancy due date calculator.

Rest. Rest. Rest.

It’s common to feel tired when you’re pregnant, particularly during the first trimester. Take it easy on yourself and go ahead and lie down if you feel like it. Take a nap when you want to.

This might be especially hard when you’re working. Make sure your boss knows about your pregnancy so that they might give you some consideration. It’s better to save up on some shut-eye while you still can. Once the baby comes, rest and relaxation might be hard to come by.

Educate Yourself With Red Flags Plus Breastfeeding Tips!

Being pregnant may cause you to panic over every small thing. That’s all right. But keep in mind that there are some pregnancy symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore. One of the most essential early signs of pregnancy tips is to know the dangerous signs of pregnancy.

Stanford Children’s Health lists some warning signs pregnant women must watch out for. On top of the list is vaginal bleeding or leakage of fluid. This warrants a call to your doctor, followed by a trip to the hospital.

Look up the danger signs of pregnancy and make yourself aware of such manifestations. This isn’t to scare you, but to prepare you, just in case. Being prepared is always better than being kept in the dark.

For the first few months as a mother, you are blissfully breastfeeding your child. You feel assured that she gets all the nutrition and antibodies she needs to stay healthy. You feel a strong bond between you and your child. These drive you more to continue this journey for as long as you could.

Aside from protecting you from warning signs, you should follow these tips for a working mom who is about to start breastfeeding a newborn.

• Invest in a good-fitting breast pump – Some stores let you try the flanges first to see if you are comfortable. Get one that provides a varying degree of suction levels. Some models have a massage feature that could help stimulate your milk production. Choose a breast pump that fits your work activities. Choose among the best breast pumps for working moms available. Portable breast pumps are perfect for working moms who travel a lot. The machine can be small enough to put inside the pocket. You might also want to use breast pump accessories that can let you pump hands-free. You can get a letdown catcher so you can express milk on one breast while your baby feeds on the other. This way, you won’t feel sad about spilled milk while breastfeeding!
• Build a breast milk stash before going back to work – Start storing as much breast milk as you can three to four weeks before going back to work—store milk in clean and sterilized milk bottles or milk storage bags. Place them in the freezer for up to six months. Make sure to store your milk away from other frozen items to avoid contamination. Continue building a stash even when you are at work to replenish those consumed. Store your expressed milk in an insulated bag or icebox with a couple of ice bricks to maintain its freshness for up to 24 hours. That’s enough time for you to get home and transfer your milk in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Have the baby adjust to feeding through the cup or bottle – Start feeding your baby expressed milk through a feeding cup or bottle weeks before your maternity leave ends. It will help your baby to transition from the breast to the cup or bottle when you are not around. Between the two, cup feeding is more advantageous as it does not pose the risk of nipple confusion. Practice when you need to do a quick errand outside the house or get a much-needed haircut and pedicure. It will also allow your partner or your childcarer to practice feeding the child. Make sure to give clear instructions on how to handle and prepare expressed milk properly.
• Follow a strict pumping schedule – One of the tips for working moms is to have a strict pumping schedule will help your body continue to produce milk. It tricks your body to supply milk as it presents a demand for it. It is a good idea to follow a schedule in breastfeeding schedule roughly every 3-4 hours. Pump when your breasts feel full. You can also set a pumping schedule in the early morning before your baby wakes up and before you go to sleep. One of the tips to increase breast milk supply is to schedule a power pumping session once or twice a month.
• Know your breastfeeding rights – Knowing your rights as a nursing employee makes one of the best tips for working moms. Breastfeeding a newborn is widely promoted all around the world. Nursing employees may also take a lactation period for a total of 40 minutes per 8-hour work period. These periods are part of their paid work hours. Talk with your employers or supervisor about these rights before you report back to work. It can help you build and set a stress-free pumping schedule and environment.
• Get all the breastfeeding support you can have – Don’t be shy to ask for support, especially when it gets tough even during the early signs of pregnancy. You can join support groups for breastfeeding moms in your community or virtual groups. Choose a group that you are most comfortable with to ask questions. You can gain more helpful breastfeeding tips for working moms and much-needed encouragement. Your bosom friends may even be willing to donate milk when you run short! Accept help when you need it. Of course, don’t forget to say thank you!

Among these breastfeeding tips for working moms, the sheer will to breastfeed is the primary ingredient in continuing breastfeeding even when you have work. You can be a working mom AND a breastfeeding mom. It will take patience, but you know you got this! Remember that each pregnancy is different and that you shouldn’t try to keep up or compete with others. Have a happy pregnancy and keep your eyes on the prize– a happy and healthy baby at the end of nine memorable months.