It can be the most exciting time in your life, as well as, the most overwhelming. Pregnancy can be a breeze for some women but for some women, it can mean month after month of morning sickness. Knowing what to expect and what you can do to make your pregnancy as easy as possible, can be a big help. Here are just a few tips to, hopefully, make your pregnancy more enjoyable.

Slather on the sunscreen. Also, make sure to always avoid tanning beds. Pregnancy makes your skin more susceptible to things like sunspots as well as sunburns. If you do use a sunscreen, make sure it does not contain any chemicals that will put your baby at risk.

Make sure the water you’re drinking during your pregnancy is safe. Tap water may contain fluoride, percholate, and lead, while bottled water may contain the same impurities as well as other chemicals such as BPA. Instead, invest in a tap water filter, and use a stainless steel or glass water bottle when out of the house.

Don’t change the litter box if you’re pregnant. A cat’s soiled litter may have harmful chemicals that are not beneficial to a pregnant woman. If possible, have your spouse or a neighbor help you out with doing this task for the duration of your pregnancy.

When you are in the later stages of pregnancy, especially in your third trimester, try not to travel too much. Some women think that because their due date is a month away, they will not go into labor on the train or plane, only to find themselves delivering their child with no medical assistance.

If you plan to use a labor coach, you should enroll yourself and your partner in a birthing class as soon as possible. This ensures that both of you will be able to attend. Schedule this in advance so that you are assured of a seat well before your due date.

Once you reach your third trimester, it’s time to pack your bags for your hospital stay. You will not like the results if you procrastinate. Your insurance cards, your birth plan and your camera with extra batteries should be packed in your bag.

Take care when you ride in a car. Pregnant women should sit as far away from the airbag as possible and refrain from placing safety belts over the portion of the abdomen with the baby. Doing both of these things reduces the risk of sudden impacts with the possibility of injuring or killing the baby.

During your pregnancy, you should continue to brush and floss your teeth daily. This is important because during pregnancy there is increased hormonal action and your gums may become swollen and even bleed when you brush, but do not stop brushing. To minimize dental problems, maintain your record of good oral hygiene.

If you are pregnant or want to get pregnant, it is important to adopt a healthy diet that contains all the nutrients and vitamins you need. In order for your baby to develop properly, you need to take in folate and folic acid. Make an effort to add a prenatal vitamin to your daily regimen for an extra nutrition boost.

Use a body pillow when sleeping. Many pregnant women have trouble getting comfortable when sleeping, and find it the best to sleep on their side, with the body pillow under the knee and belly at the same time. Rest is very important during the pregnancy, so make sure you get an adequate amount.

Go to a class about childbirth, especially if this is your first baby. No matter what birth plan you envision, such classes offer great insight into what really happens. Your hospital classes also include maternity ward visits and tours so you know what you will experience.

It is important to track your menstrual cycle if you want to get pregnant. Once you know when your cycles are you will be able to figure out when it’s the best time to conceive. Home pregnancy kits can usually detect pregnancy within days of a missed period.

Make sure you are consuming enough iron when pregnant, so eat foods with a lot of iron and take iron supplements. Since your body is sustaining a developing fetus, you need to increase your iron intake by around 50 percent during pregnancy. Iron is used to make hemoglobin which carries oxygen through your body. As your pregnancy progresses, so will your iron needs.

If you are pregnant, you should quit smoking right away. There are many side effects that come from smoking and it is proven that it can have detrimental effects on an unborn child. You could cause extensive damage to your child or even, have a miscarriage, if you choose to smoke while you are pregnant.

Pregnancy can be an exciting and wonderful time for many women. The more tips and suggestions that you have under your belt for how to handle your pregnancy with a minimum of discomfort, the more enjoyable these next few months will be for you and for your baby!

Tips To Help You Enjoy Your Pregnancy! was originally published on Spring