The Best Advice For Those Expecting A Baby 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. Do not skip your prenatal appointments. Every appointment that you have is a chance for your doctor or midwife to identify any issues while it is early enough to do something about it. Make your appointments your highest priority and do not allow anything to make you skip them. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep each night. You need around 8 hours. Getting the right amount of sleep will help you to feel good, and it will also help your fetus to grow. During pregnancy many people feel very tired, and it is important to give your body what it needs. Once you find out that you are pregnant, make sure that you find a doctor or midwife that you are comfortable with. Many times, women choose the first doctor that they see and end up having an unpleasant experience with them. Ask friends and family if they know of a good, reliable midwife. Hit up the bookstore or library and get books about pregnancy. Being armed with knowledge will help you deal with all the changes that your body will go through and teach you how to keep yourself healthy. Pregnancy is natural, but the more information you have about the process, the better it will go. Do not hesitate to inform your obstetrician or midwife if you experience depression during pregnancy. There are antidepressants that are considered safe for pregnant and nursing mothers, and in many cases, the benefits of taking them outweigh the risks of letting your depression go untreated. You do not have to suffer, and you are doing a great thing for both your baby and yourself by speaking up and getting help. Learning to track your menstrual cycles are important if you are looking to conceive. You will be able to find the best time of the month to conceive. Knowing your cycle can also help you to determine when you conceived once your pregnancy is confirmed. The best thing an expectant mother can do for her unborn child's health is to quit smoking. A mom-to-be should talk to her doctor or midwife for help and support. If you cannot quit, cut down! Studies show that women who are pregnant and do not quit, should attempt to limit themselves to five cigarettes a day. Even if you do not quit, continue to follow the other directions given to you by your health care professional, such as taking dietary supplements and eating sensibly. It can be very fun setting up a nursery for your child and choosing the right furniture and room decorations. Make sure that you do not come in contact with any paint while you are helping with the decorating because that could be dangerous. Also, make sure not to help with wallpaper because the glue that is used is harmful. People, in general, want what is best for you and your baby! In an effort to help you, some well-meaning people may offer you unwelcome advice regarding your pregnancy. You may feel like they are "policing" your moves. Do not be afraid to gently inform them of your obstetrician or midwife's advice regarding any long-standing "no-no's" during pregnancy. Remember, they only want what is best for you and your baby, and may not be up-to-date with the latest suggestions! Check your workplace and home for chemicals that are potentially harmful to pregnancy, and immediately get rid of them. Cleaning solutions are one of the biggest offenders in our daily lives, so start replacing them with more natural solutions. After having the baby, go ahead and keep them out of the house to have a safer home for the baby. If you have any questions or concerns about your pregnancy, do not be afraid to contact your midwife or obstetrician. That is what they are there for. You should not have to stress about something when the doctor could easily give you some peace of mind. Do not be afraid to be that patient who calls with questions all the time. Inform any doctor before a medical procedure if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant. This includes your dentist as well. There are certain drugs that shouldn't be given and procedures that shouldn't be done for a women who is pregnant or on her way to pregnancy. Consider hiring a midwife to help you through the process of labor and to advocate for you in the hospital. A good midwife has training and experience in a variety of birthing situations, and can help you find comfortable positions for labor, encourage you and your partner, and support you in the immediate postpartum period. Take some pregnancy classes. Learning about pregnancy in a classroom setting will help you relax a little and understand more about the experience. Voice anything that has been on your mind so that you can get the answers that you need. If this is not your first child, get your other kids involved in your pregnancy. Have younger children read or talk to the baby, or allow them to visit the doctor with you if it is not a bother to your doctor or midwife. Let them be there for an ultrasound, so they can see the baby and get excited! As soon as you feel contractions, call your doctor or go to your hospital right away, even if you have had false labor pains before. You do not want to be in labor at home and give birth without having the proper medical care for you and your newborn child. If your baby is past due, try walking. This can help you to maintain your health during the process. Bring someone along for the walk. Make sure that you don't overdo things, walk to fast or try any contact exercise so as to avoid harm to your baby.