21st Century Woman

Conceiving or expecting, there is a lot to learn. Check out the below article for some key advice on how to handle the long, grueling process of pregnancy.

Don't smoke while pregnant, and avoid exposure to cigarette smoke as much as possible. The dangers of tobacco products are increased during pregnancy. Smoking can have disastrous effects for both mom and baby. For you, ectopic pregnancy chances are significantly raised. Stillbirths and miscarriages are also more likely when smoking. There's risks for delivering prematurely, as well as big risks of birth defects.

Cramping in the leg can be extremely annoying, particularly at night. If you start having leg cramps during your pregnancy, you should first make sure that you are drinking enough water during the day. Another effective coping strategy is to do leg stretches prior to going to bed. Also consider bananas and other foods with potassium.

Have someone fill up your gas tank, or go to a gas station that is full service. Gas fumes are not good for you or your baby. It's a better idea to ask for help rather than risk it.

Record what you eat in a food diary. Keeping this type of record is a good way to ensure proper nutrition. Taking this list to the doctor will also come in handy for him or her to look over as well.

Swimming is a great idea for women that are farther along in their pregnancies. Swimming is considered a top exercise choice during late pregnancy, because it allows you to remain active while protecting you and the baby from high impact exercise like jogging or aerobics. Swimming also helps relieve many pregnancy aches and pains. You will also enjoy sense of being weightless in the water.

Pregnancy is a major life event. Whether you have planned for it or it just happened, it's important to know the ins and outs of it. Although very joyous, pregnancy can be a very nerve racking moment in life and you want to have tips like these to think about. This article was written by the owners of the 21st Century Woman website. 21CWoman (http://www.21cwoman.com/) is a web magazine for woman who are interested in fashion, health, family, travel, and much more.