Becoming a mother is one of the most important and fulfilling experiences in many women’s lives. Naturally, if you are an expectant mother, your number-one priority is to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Let’s talk about some of the best advice from an OB/GYN (obstetrician/gynecologist) to women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, and where you can go in the western suburbs of Chicago for outstanding obstetrical and gynecological care for your pregnancy and beyond.
Medical Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
There are numerous steps you can take to help ensure the safety and well-being of yourself and your baby during pregnancy. To that end, we offer the following self-help pregnancy tips:
- Eat wholesome foods. Your baby needs certain nutrients to grow strong in the womb. Concentrate on consuming a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, calcium-rich foods, and nourishment that is low in saturated fat.
- Take a multivitamin each day. This will help ensure that you’re getting the right amount of key nutrients – including folic acid, iron, and calcium – which are essential for you and your baby during pregnancy.
- Keep hydrated. Your body needs more water than normal while you’re pregnant. So, make sure you drink eight or more cups of water daily.
- Keep your prenatal care appointments. You should be getting regular prenatal checkups from your OB/GYN. Otherwise, you run an increased risk of having a baby with low birth weight or other complications.
- Avoid certain foods that are unhealthy during pregnancy. These include raw or rare meats (which could have harmful parasites and bacteria that are otherwise killed during cooking), unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses (such as feta and brie), raw fish (sushi), raw eggs, liver, and fish that is high in mercury – all of which can be harmful to a growing baby.
- Refrain from drinking alcohol before and during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding. Alcohol consumption increases the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause severe learning disabilities, behavioral issues, and/or abnormal facial features in infants.
- Do not smoke, and avoid exposure to smoke or inhalants. Tobacco use increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), among other poor outcomes.
- Get into a gentle exercise routine. Staying active during pregnancy, instead of sedentary, helps you stay healthy. Just be sure to check with your OB/GYN first to make sure you don’t overexert yourself.
- Ask your OB/GYN about getting a flu shot and other vaccinations. Contracting the influenza virus while pregnant can make you extremely ill and can increase the risk of complications for your baby.
- Get plenty of rest. Sleep seven to nine hours each night during your pregnancy. If you can, sleep on your left side as much as possible to enhance your blood flow.
- Avoid stressful situations. Reducing – or at least managing – stress with the help of your support network can be critical to your baby’s birth outcome. You do not want your baby to be exposed to high levels of cortisol, adrenaline, and other stress hormones.
Prenatal Care for a Healthy Pregnancy in Sandwich, Illinois
At Aishling Obstetrics & Gynecology, our OB/GYN doctors offer outstanding patient-centered obstetric care to women in Chicagoland. Not only do our board-certified physicians have the diagnostic tools and expertise to determine whether you have any pregnancy risk factors, but they also have the experience and skills to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Our medical staff is affiliated with Presence Mercy Medical Center and Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Valley West Community Hospital in Sandwich, and Edward Hospital & Health Services in Naperville – providing you with a comprehensive range of medical, surgical, and obstetrical services across a wide geographical area.
To schedule a consultation with one of our dedicated and compassionate OB/GYN physicians, call us today at (815) 786-1088 or fill out our online contact form now. We have convenient locations in Sandwich, Yorkville, and Plainfield, and we look forward to being your healthcare partner!
