Getting a positive pregnancy test is exciting news. You will be adding a new little life to your happy marriage. It’s important to take in as much information as you can to have a stress-free, healthy pregnancy.
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Still, as an expectant mother, it's natural to make a mistake every now and then.
By following these healthy marriage tips and involving your spouse in all of the wonderful experiences that come with pregnancy, you will be able to maintain a happy marriage straight into parenthood.
Here are 10 mistakes to avoid during your pregnancy.
Not Getting the Pregnancy Verified
Some women make the mistake of not getting their pregnancy verified by a doctor before announcing their new baby to the world.
A previous miscarriage, uterine tumors, certain medications, evaporation lines in the test itself, and certain medical conditions such as cysts, UTIs, or gestational trophoblastic disease can all lead to false positives on a pregnancy test.
Don't guess. Take at least two pregnancy tests and have your doctor confirm it with a blood test so that you know for sure whether you're truly pregnant.
Avoiding Telling your Partner
An unplanned pregnancy will no doubt come as a shock to you. You may cringe at the thought of telling your husband about it, especially if you weren't crazy about the idea of having children.
Hiding your pregnancy or waiting for an extended period of time to tell your husband can cause marriage issues. It is also a sign of poor communication between partners.
You may not have been planning on having a baby, or perhaps not so soon, but you must tell your spouse. Take some time to sort out your own feelings on the pregnancy before bringing it up with your husband. You may be surprised at how excited he is to be bringing a life into the world.
Waiting to Take Prenatal Vitamins
One common mistake made at the beginning of pregnancy is not starting prenatal vitamins right away. These vitamins are so essential to maintaining a pregnant mother's health, as well as the healthy formation of her baby, that doctors recommend starting prenatal vitamins three months BEFORE trying to have a baby.
Prenatal vitamins are essential for creating a healthy new baby. These multivitamins consist of calcium, DHA, vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as minerals.
Prenatal vitamins often contain an enhanced dose of folic acid and iron. The former has been shown to prevent neural tube defects and other birth defects during pregnancy while the latter will help prevent anemia.
Women who are not taking prenatal vitamins should begin doing so as soon as she finds out she's pregnant. Don't wait.
Drinking
Many medical guidelines suggest that abstinence from alcohol is the healthiest choice for your baby during pregnancy. While the occasional drink may be safe for pregnant women, regular drinking or alcohol abuse can result in fetal alcohol syndrome. This can result in developmental delays, behavioral changes, and growth disturbances. The child may even be born with a dependency on alcohol.
Not Involving Your Spouse
One of the best healthy marriage tips you can follow is to involve your husband in your pregnancy. If you don't include your partner in the experience of growing a baby, they won't feel as connected to your child.
You can involve your spouse by inviting them to your OB appointments and taking child birthing classes together.
You can also make a birth plan together or make a list of baby names. Talk about what kind of parents you want to be. Let him feel the baby kicking. Look for ways to involve your spouse so they don't feel left out of the experience.
Enjoying your pregnancy as a couple and strengthening your bond with your spouse with lead to a happy marriage and will help you avoid marriage issues.
Eating for Two… or Three
It's normal to have cravings and an increased appetite during pregnancy. You are, after all, eating for two now! Just make sure you are not overeating.
Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is a high-risk factor in macrosomia in the child. Of course, weight gain is normal for expectant mothers, but it is still important to maintain a healthy diet while pregnant.
Ignoring Date Night
One of the best healthy marriage tips you can follow is to maintain a regular date night. Once you become pregnant you may feel like everything is about the baby. All people want to talk about is your pregnancy, the health of the baby, the lack of sex, and the list goes on and on.
It's important for you to focus on your spouse as much as you're focusing on your baby. This will help contribute to a happy marriage, make your spouse feel appreciated and important, and avoid marriage issues.
Smoking During and After Pregnancy
Smoking can be hard to quit, but there are many dangers of smoking during and after pregnancy.
To begin with, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine suggests that male and female smokers are twice as likely to have fertility issues compared to couples who do not smoke.
If that doesn't give you the motivation to quit smoking, here are some more effects of smoking on pregnancy:
l Miscarriage is also higher in women who smoke
l Babies born from a smoker on average have a lower birth weight than non-smoker babies. This is significant because a low birth weight can be an important factor in infant mortality.
l Smoking can cause issues with the placenta.
l Smoking after or during pregnancy raises the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
l Increased risk of birth defects
It should be noted that E-cigarettes can also be harmful to pregnant women, as they still contain nicotine.
Doing Too Much
It may be frustrating not being able to do the same things you used to the further along you are in your pregnancy, but don't overwork yourself. This is a common mistake pregnant mothers make that should be avoided, as doing too much can lead to dangerous dehydration.
Not Keeping a Pregnancy Journal
This isn't anything that will harm your child or cause marriage issues, but it would be a true mistake not to keep a record of your pregnancy.
Many women enjoy keeping a blog/video diary/handwritten notes detailing the events of their pregnancy. This is a wonderful way to keep memories of your pregnancy journey and is a sentimental gift to give to your child when they are an adult.
Author Bio:- Rachael Pace is a relationship expert with years of experience in training and helping couples. She has helped countless individuals and organizations around the world, offering effective and efficient solutions for healthy and successful relationships. She is a featured writer for Marriage.com, a reliable resource to support healthy happy marriages.
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