Sometimes, when my mind is totally unoccupied and there’s just nothing else to think about but the tiny baby growing inside me, worry comes to visit. They say that since you can’t see your baby or because you can’t feel him/her move, you start to wonder whether your baby is still doing okay. The things that I worry the most at this stage of my pregnancy include the following:
Is he/she still alive and breathing?
Is he/she growing properly and healthy?
Will there be any birth defects mentally and physically?
Will he/she come out with complete fingers and toes?
I just can’t help but worry. I shared these thoughts to a mommy blogger friend and she said that worrying about your baby is the first sign of being a mom. I never really thought much about how I’d be as a mom, or if I can even be a good parent. Add that to the list of things I worry about in this whole pregnancy. What if I’m not cut out to be a parent? What if I did something that caused harm to my baby Light?
So last night, as I was pondering about the things that I’ve been doing, I looked back on the changes I’ve made since getting pregnant. I’ve come up with my summarized and combined list of “tips” to help expectant mommies stop worrying about their soon-to-be baby. Doing these things will help ease your minds because you know that you’ve done what you could to have a healthy, growing baby.
1. Watch what you eat.
What you put inside your body will definitely affect your baby. Sometimes I forget about this, too. But it’s very important to give your baby good nutrition while he/she is growing. Here are lists of food to eat and to avoid during pregnancy, and what I “try” to follow. 🙂 Just keep in mind that eating the “Yes” food is not only good for your baby, but also good for you.
Yes Food
- Avocado – great source of fiber, vitamin K, folate. vitamin C, potassium & vitamin B6
- Walnut – source of protein and heart healthy fats
- Yogurt – for added calcium
- Oatmeal – for your daily dose of fiber
- Eggs – contains lots of quality protein
- Green Leafy Veggies – loaded with vitamins and nutrients, of course
No-No Food
- Junk Food – fats that are bad for you and your baby, and will be hard to get rid off after pregnancy
- Soda – once in a while is okay, but if you can avoid taking in caffeine during pregnancy, that would be better for the baby
- Sweets, Chocolates, Cakes – diabetes will be the problem
- Some Fish – some fish are high in mercury so eating a lot may be harmful to the baby
- Instant Noodles, Canned Foods, Processed Food – anything with too much preservatives is not good for the baby
2. Watch what you put on your body.
This is what really triggered me to write this post. As I was looking through the products that I’ve been putting on my face such as cleanser and toner, I wanted to make sure that I’m not putting something that might cause birth defects to my unborn baby. So I did a little research. I’ve already known since the beginning of my pregnancy that I might need to change certain beauty regimens once I’m pregnant. But I also believe that having a clear and clean face makes a person happy and confident, which is important, too. But I was willing to make the changes and make certain sacrifices when it comes to beautification for the sake of baby Light.
The list below are ingredients you should look out for and avoid when you purchase those beauty products
- Retinoids – Retin-A, Retinoic Acid, Retinol
- Salicylic Acid – BHA, Beta Hydroxy Acid
- Soy – can make those dark patches worse
- Most Acne Products – best to get advice from your practitioner before using
On the other hand, using sunscreen is very much recommended and safe to use.
3. Be aware of your environment.
I find it hard to continue my usual work and lifestyle when I have to worry about every exposure that I might be getting myself into. Living in the Philippines, especially in a crowded city, avoiding the list below is nearly impossible. It seems that every corner of this country is polluted. The best, and perhaps the only, thing to do is avoid them. Wear a mask when you go out or bring a hanky with you.
- pollution
- paint lead
- smoking
- sick people
4. Think healthy baby ALWAYS.
Nothing beats PMA (Positive Mental Attitude). When you think of a healthy baby, you’ll have a healthy baby. Besides, worrying won’t do you or your baby any good. Sit back and relax, enjoy your pregnancy and wait for that cute, healthy baby to arrive.
Mommy
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