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of the best things you can do to prepare for pregnancy
is start exercising regularly. You don’t have to join
the Boston Marathon, but even walking around the block
a few times per week will help tone and condition
your body and help you prepare for the journey ahead.
Women who regularly engage in some form of exercise
before and during pregnancy are more likely to experience
quicker and less problematic labors. That is a good
enough reason in and of itself to start exercising
as soon as you can.
The other important thing you need to do during your
pregnancy is make an appointment to see your healthcare
provider. Good prenatal care throughout your pregnancy
is essential for maintaining a happy and healthy pregnancy.
If you are not yet pregnant but thinking about becoming
pregnant, many practitioners recommend scheduling
a visit so they can review your health history for
you and help overcome any potential barriers to your
fertility. Your healthcare provider can also
set you up on a regimen of prenatal vitamins, and
help you understand your cycle better so you know
the times of the month you are most likely to get
pregnant. Most practitioners will schedule
your first visit between 8-11 weeks if you are having
a normal, low risk pregnancy. If you aren’t sure when
you became pregnant, you should consider scheduling
an appointment with your provider right away to ensure
that everything is going along as it should and that
you have no risk factors for possible complications.
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