You are having a baby and you are starting to panic. Don’t fret! Pregnancy is not an easy experience, but rest assured that many generations of mothers made it through unscathed with the help of good advice. This article will outline some tips you can use on your journey through pregnancy.

Don’t be afraid to contact your doctor if you suffer any unusual symptoms during your pregnancy. These symptoms include stomach pain, cramping, vaginal bleeding, and especially a decreased level of fetal activity. It’s difficult to tell if everything is okay from the outside, and you’re better off asking your physician to check if something seems strange.

Pay attention to your body, and don’t write strange things off as simply symptoms of pregnancy. For example, swelling of the joints and face is common during pregnancy, but excessive and sudden swelling can herald pre-eclampsia. If you notice any symptoms that seem strange or haven’t been mentioned as expected by your doctor, give them a call.

Talk to your friends and family, especially those that have been pregnant, or are currently pregnant. They will be able to support you and help you if you have any questions or if you need anything. Those who have been through it before can be some of the best resources you have.

It is very important that women, especially pregnant women avoid overexposure to the sun. Skin can become sensitive and rough when pregnant, so take care of it accordingly.

Don’t be afraid of the weight gain. You are going to gain weight. It’s not only normal but necessary. Your body needs fat reserves for breast milk, energy for labor and delivery as well as lots of extra fluids. Embrace the added weight and know that it will come off afterwards.

Decorating the nursery can be quite exciting. Just remember that you are pregnant and paint fumes are not good to be around. Be certain the room has proper ventilation and open windows. You should have loved ones around to assist you and to do the harder tasks.

If you’re pregnant, never change cat litter. Improperly handled cat litter can infect a pregnant woman with toxoplasmosis. Cats happen to be the host for the life cycle of toxoplasmosis, and if this infection is somehow passed through the pregnant woman to the baby while in utero, the consequences could lead to miscarriages, birth defects or stillbirth.

If you are pregnant and concerned with unsightly stretch marks post-pregnancy, it would be wise to invest in some cocoa butter. It has been shown that regular use of cocoa butter during and after pregnancy reduce and/or eliminate the appearance of unsightly stretch marks. So go get yourself a tub of it today!

Try swimming more frequently as your pregnancy goes on. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise, especially during the last trimester, because it keeps your heart healthy and helps to ease muscle aches. Many women find that swimming during this time is extremely soothing and relaxing.

Increase your intake of cereals, asparagus, lentils, oranges and orange juice. These foods are all rich in folic acid, which helps the development of the baby’s neural cord and creates red blood cells for your unborn child. It is ideal to begin consuming these foods even before you start trying to conceive.

Although weight gain is perfectly normal during pregnancy, rapid weight gain is not. If you see that you are gaining weight in a short time period (a few days or a week), you should call your doctor. This could be a sign that there is something wrong.

Start a journal or a pregnancy blog and post this online. Sharing your experiences can be very beneficial as the people who are reading your blog can offer you advice that is unique to your stage in pregnancy. Also, this will give you documentation of how you felt during each step of the process.

If you plan on painting your baby’s nursery while you are pregnant, try to choose paints labeled as “no-VOC” or “low-VOC.” This distinction means the paints will release fewer volatile organic compounds — like formaldehyde — into the air, which is better for both your family’s health and for the environment.

Having to urinate frequently is something a lot of women experience during pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses, the need to urinate will become more frequent as well. One tip to help with this is, when you urinate lean forward to ensure the bladder is completely empty, this could help to lessen your restroom trips.

As you can see, pregnancy is nothing to be terrified of. It is a sometimes uncomfortable experience, but with careful observation and lots of healthy encouragement, your baby should make it through just fine. These tips should help ease your mind a little. Remember, take it easy — your baby depends on it!

Things That Will Help You Through Your Pregnancy was originally published on Spring