Needless to say, a healthy pregnancy is something that all expectant parents hope for. This is because a healthy pregnancy will mean a healthy baby. However, making sure that the pregnancy is a healthy one isn’t simply the responsibility of the expectant mother- those who live with her should also pitch in order to make sure the pregnancy term is a healthy and wholesome one for the mother and the baby.

While it is completely normal to slip into bad habits every so often when you are not expecting, things need to change once a baby is on the way. An expectant mother needs to remember that she is no longer simply eating for herself- she now needs to care for a young life inside her, which is dependent on the mother for its survival.

Healthy Living Starts Now
Pregnancy should signal the beginning of a healthy lifestyle for the mother. If you plan on having a child, it is a good idea to check with a doctor first- some women find themselves underweight and need to put on some extra pounds in order to be ready to have a child. It is also important to ensure that you are properly immunized against diseases like rubella and to build up your resistance to general illnesses.

After the child has been conceived, it is important to go for a check up regularly.  During this time, it is also a good idea to start on a healthy diet plan. It is important to note that healthy certainly does not mean one should cut down on food intake or eat excessively. Remember that an expectant mother is now eating for two and if her food is healthy, then the baby’s food will be healthy. On average, a pregnant mother will require about 300 calories more per day. Her diet should consist of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables as well as proteins. A healthy pregnancy also requires a generous intake of water regularly.

Get Smart
Another important aspect of having a healthy pregnancy is ensuring that you smarten up about bad habits. If you are a smoker, now is the time to stop completely as smoking during pregnancy can have terrible effects on the child. Avoid the intake of alcohol and caffeine as well. It is also a good idea to stay away from artificially flavored drinks and aerated beverages. If you aren’t in the habit of exercising, now is a good time to get started on a maternal exercise regiment- this will keep you healthy and can help you during pregnancy, as your body will be fitting.

In order to have a healthy pregnancy, it’s a good idea to keep away from all possible sources of infections- this means staying away from things like kitty litter or confined office spaces where people may fall sick. Do not take any kind of medication, unless you clear it with your doctor first, especially if it is antibiotics or steroids. By ensuring that you keep yourself fit, keep your diet wholesome and nutritious and cut out dangerous habits, you can be sure that you will have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

As a smart mom-to-be, there are certain things that you should know regarding creating a new life. Here are certain pregnancy facts that will make you worry less and enjoy your pregnancy more.

Fertilization
You are about to bring a new life on this earth; you should know this important pregnancy fact that how exactly it starts. You get pregnant when the egg inside your ovary unites with sperm from the male. This process is medically termed as “fertilization”. This happens when you have a sexual intercourse and your partner ejaculates, during which he releases the sperms. It passes through the fallopian tube where it meets the egg.

Pregnancy actually starts the day when the fertilized egg is implanted into the uterus. However, for convenience, doctors use the first day of your last period to determine the date of delivery. As soon as implantation is over, there is a production of human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone. It stimulates the corpus luteum present in the ovary to increase the progesterone level significantly. When this happens, your body experiences drastic changes and you begin to feel the symptoms of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Trimesters
For the sake of understanding pregnancy facts better, doctors have divided the entire nine-month period into three trimesters. The first trimester has the highest risk of miscarriage. As you enter the second trimester, you can feel the baby inside. Doctors can monitor the baby’s development accurately. In the last trimester, your baby prepares to come out into the world.

Due Date
Your delivery date is known as the due date. According to pregnancy facts mentioned in the Merck Medical Manual, the duration of human pregnancy is 266 days, which means 38 weeks. On calculating from the first day of your last period, it comes to 40 weeks. But these are average estimations. The actual pregnancy period depends on several factors. Also, it has been found that the first pregnancy takes a longer time than the consecutive ones.

It is not necessary that you deliver on the exact date. This is another important pregnancy fact to know. You might deliver a week earlier or later than the due date. So, do not get too preoccupied with the due date. Instead, live each moment to the fullest. When your baby is ready to come out, she will give the warning signs such as labor contractions.

Premature Baby
The baby that is born too early, i.e., before 37 weeks, is premature. If the baby is born much later, i.e., after 43 weeks, it is post mature. You would be surprised to know that about 90 per cent of the babies are born within two weeks after the due date! Thus, the calculation of the due date helps only to reduce the anxiety of the mom-to-be. This gives her an idea of when she can welcome her baby.

There are many other interesting pregnancy facts. You can even ask your doctor questions regarding pregnancy. You have the right to know what’s happening inside your body. Besides, it gives you a sense of relief and saves you from needless worries.

With the cold wind outside and the warmth of the season taken away by the cold hands of winter, kids are forced to stay indoors. At such a time, a winter party may become a bit cramped if it is not planned well. Planning ahead for a winter party for children will make the party merrier and cozy.

Winter party games for children are the best idea to make a party enjoyable. The fun and laughter of the children will surely make the adults present feel gay and happy too! However, make sure that the games you plan are group games and everybody should feel comfortable in participating in them. Be considerate if a certain guest expresses a no and take it graciously. Keep the materials required in the game within reach. Also, take care to keep a few more accessories than the number of children you have invited, lest some last minute guests should end up without accessories.

While planning games, you may search on the internet to get suggestions or just tweak traditional games a bit. You may invent your own games! For example, you can request everyone to add one of their mitts/gloves to a box. When all have added, each kid is asked to pick a random glove/mitt. The person whose mitt is picked becomes the first person’s partner. Now these partners can play the newspaper game!

There is nothing better than singing to warm up the veins. And little kids definitely enjoy singing a lot! Inviting them to sing their favorite songs and then rewarding the best singer with a little reward like a muffler or stole would be perfect!

You can also bring in indoor games like jigsaw puzzles and divide them among the kids after making groups. These groups can be made on the basis of which kids have the same colored muffler or the same colored socks!

If it is snowing, then games in the snow can add to the fun too! But please make sure you pay attention to outdoor safety. Keep a first aid box handy. You can divide teams for snowball fighting and let the bombardment begin! Making snowman competition is also a good idea if it can be managed. Target bombing using snowballs can be used as a substitute if you have only a few participants. Snow painting is a game which will bring out the creative streak of your little guests. Playing frosty is also quite a creative and fun game which includes wrapping your partner in layers of toilet paper! Adding a cap to the little frosty would make it look cuter!

Do not suggest games which involve a lot of running around in the open like hide and seek or catch. Keep everyone close and secure. After all the tiny tots are your responsibilities! But don’t be overcautious and kill the fun. Let the kids be themselves, let them feel free! Make it exciting! Make them realize that winters can be fun too!

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