Early Pregnancy Advice and Tips

When you find out you are pregnant, a million thoughts cross your mind. I often hear, “What do I do first?” from moms-to-be during early pregnancy. Calling your doctor to get on their schedule is always a good first step; however, many obstetricians will not see you for your first appointment until between six and 12 weeks of pregnancy. There are lots of things you need to know before then!

You may wonder if you should maintain your exercise regimen, overhaul your diet, or continue your morning coffee routine. What other lifestyle changes might you need to make? Here, we’ve outlined the essential early pregnancy advice and tips for growing a healthy baby.

Things To Do in Early Pregnancy

Whether you are a first-time mom or need a refresher, there are many early pregnancy tips and advice to heed from the moment you find out you are expecting. Here are some things you should do during early pregnancy:

Eat a Healthy Diet

Your body’s demand for critical vitamins and minerals during pregnancy increases as the placenta forms and your body makes more blood to supply the growing fetus. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, protein, and fiber can help you meet these increased nutritional needs. Some of these foods may be difficult to stomach if you struggle with morning sickness. However, any foods in these categories that you can stomach right now will suffice, and eating the same few foods is okay.¹⁴

Take a Prenatal Vitamin

It can often be challenging to meet all your nutritional needs through diet alone during early pregnancy. Therefore, it is essential to take a prenatal vitamin from the day you find out you are pregnant (if you were not already taking one before conception). One of the most crucial nutrients in a prenatal vitamin is folate, or folic acid, which helps prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida. Taking a prenatal vitamin containing at least 400 mcg of folic acid is important.¹⁴

Your prenatal vitamin should also include iron for blood production and oxygen supply to the uterus and fetus.¹ Keep in mind that chewable prenatal vitamins don’t often contain iron.¹⁸ Prenatal vitamins can sometimes cause nausea, so try taking them at different times of the day if it upsets your stomach.¹⁹ It can also be helpful to take them with food and to avoid taking them on an empty stomach. They may also contribute to constipation, so drink plenty of water, eat plenty of fiber, and get some gentle movement in.^1,14

Hydrate

In addition to helping relieve constipation from prenatal vitamins, drinking enough water is essential in early pregnancy. Water aids digestion and makes up most of the amniotic fluid surrounding your baby. Water also helps nutrients circulate through your body and helps your body excrete waste products. You should aim for 64 to 96 ounces of water per day.²

Eat Enough Calories

Your caloric requirements in the first trimester do not increase much from your baseline.²⁰ It is recommended that most normal-weight women consume about 1,800 calories per day during the first trimester. In addition, if you were at a normal weight pre-pregnancy, you should gain between 25 and 35 pounds throughout pregnancy.³ It is essential to fuel your body during the first trimester, even when you do not have much appetite due to morning sickness. Luckily, there are some foods that can help with morning sickness.

Work Out Your Pelvic Floor

Pelvic floor exercises, also called Kegel exercises, strengthen the muscles that support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum.²¹ As your abdomen grows to accommodate a pregnancy, these muscles will be under increased strain. Getting a jump-start on strengthening them will set you up for success. Your awareness and control of these muscles may also help you relax and control them during labor and delivery. Strong pelvic floor muscles might also make for an easier postpartum recovery.²²

To do Kegel exercises, pretend you are trying to stop your flow of urine mid-stream. Contract these muscles for 10 seconds, then relax. Repeat 15 times in a row. You can do this three times per day.⁴

Get Exercise

In addition to exercising your pelvic floor, most pregnant women can benefit from regular exercise during pregnancy. Exercise can help digestion, fatigue, posture, and other discomforts such as back pain. Most exercise routines you were doing before pregnancy can be safely continued with appropriate modifications.⁴ If you weren’t active before pregnancy, you can start with as little as five minutes per day of light aerobic exercise and work up to 30 minutes daily.¹⁵ Talk to your provider about your specific circumstances, and always start with low-intensity exercise and work your way up.

Things To Avoid in Early Pregnancy

It’s also helpful to know what NOT to do during early pregnancy. Here are some things you should avoid:

New Introduction to Strenuous Exercise

Although exercise has many benefits during pregnancy, you should avoid extreme, strenuous exercise. Monitoring your rate of perceived exertion and keeping exercise to moderate intensity is recommended. You should also avoid contact sports that may cause a blow to the abdomen or any activities with a fall risk.⁵

Heavy Lifting

If possible, women should avoid heavy lifting while pregnant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heavy lifting is linked to an increased risk of miscarriage.⁶ Heavy lifting can also contribute to injuries such as strained muscles and herniated discs, which can be difficult to treat during pregnancy. If you must lift an object (or a toddler!) while pregnant, do it safely — bend at the knees, not the waist, and keep your back as straight as possible. Also, avoid any sudden or jerking movements while lifting.⁷

Overheating

If your core body temperature rises above 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period, your baby is at risk for congenital disabilities and other issues, particularly during the first trimester. Because of the dangers of overheating, especially in early pregnancy, avoiding saunas, steam rooms, heated blankets, heating pads, hot yoga, and hot tubs is best. You’ll also want to avoid being in extremely hot weather or taking hot baths and showers for extended periods.⁸

Alcohol

There is no safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, nor is there a specific time when it is safe. The type of alcohol you consume or how far along you are does not matter — alcohol consumption increases your risk for miscarriage and stillbirth. It also increases your baby’s risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which can cause lifelong physical and developmental issues.⁹

Caffeine

Studies conflict on the risks of caffeine during pregnancy. For instance, some studies show that moderate amounts of caffeine decrease the risk of gestational diabetes. Despite this evidence, it is not recommended to start consuming caffeine if you do not already.¹¹ The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests limiting daily caffeine intake to less than 200 mg (the amount in a 12-ounce cup of coffee).¹²

Smoking

Smoking and the use of tobacco products should be avoided during pregnancy. Tobacco increases your risk for ectopic pregnancy, placental and thyroid issues, preterm labor, fetal growth restriction, and stillbirth. No amount of smoking is considered safe in pregnancy.¹³

Recreational Drugs

All recreational drugs, including marijuana, should be avoided during pregnancy. Different illegal substances put your baby at risk for prematurity, growth issues, intellectual delays, and other congenital disabilities. (Additionally, your baby may be born addicted to the drugs you use.) You should inform your doctor of any recreational drug use during your pregnancy, as they may have assistance available to help you quit and help your baby at delivery.¹⁶

Certain Foods

To avoid foodborne illnesses during pregnancy, you shouldn’t eat foods with a high risk of bacterial contamination. This includes soft, unpasteurized cheeses, unpasteurized milk and juices, raw eggs, undercooked meat and seafood, and processed meats such as hot dogs and deli meats (unless they’re well-cooked or well-heated). These foods may harbor listeria, salmonella, or toxoplasmosis, which can cause miscarriage or congenital disabilities.¹⁷

You should also avoid foods during pregnancy that contain heavy metals, especially mercury. These include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and tuna steak. Mercury can cause brain damage to your developing baby.¹⁷

Pregnancy can feel like an extensive list of rules, especially when you are newly pregnant and adjusting to everything you should and shouldn’t do. Always check with your provider if you aren’t sure whether a particular food, medication, or activity is safe. In the meantime, remember that all your sacrifices during pregnancy are temporary. It may seem far off while you are still in early pregnancy, but adhering to “the rules” will be worth it when you get to hold your baby in your arms.