When you first get pregnant, the wealth of information out there for expectant mum’s can often be over whelming. If you are aiming for a healthy natural pregnancy these top tips should be a good place to start.
- Drink lots of water – keeping yourself hydrated can help with constipation and common pregnancy skin complaints. Try to drink 3 – 4 pints per day of clean filtered water.
- Cut back on Caffeine, Salt, Sugar - and processed empty calories to avoid nutritional problems and cravings during this time. (Goes without saying lay off the fags and booze).
- Top up on the omega 3′s – but be careful what fish you eat. Eating seafood is the main way we are exposed to methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin. The message here is eat seafood in moderation and choose types with lower levels of contamination like herring, mackerel, anchovies, clams, wild salmon, prawns, tilapia, and black sea bass. Other sources include flax, nuts and seeds which will enhance your pregnancy and babies development no end. You can also look out for a good supplement.
- Exercise - All to often pregnancy slows women down but actually the best thing you can do is keep moving, not only does it help you relax, keep in shape and boost your mood but it is an excellent way of preparing for a more natural birth. Swimming, walking and pregnancy yoga are all great for this. Click here for tips on exercise in pregnancy.
- Avoid fruit and veggies with pesticides. According to the Environmental Working Group, you can lower your pesticide exposure by 90% simply by avoiding the most contaminated conventionally grown produce: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, carrots, and pears. If you’re really want these foods, go for organic. Fruits and vegetables with the lowest levels of pesticide include: onion, avocado, sweet corn, pineapple, mango, asparagus, peas, kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, broccoli, tomato, and sweet potato.
- Get lots of folic acid before conceiving and while pregnant. Adequate folic acid early in a baby’s development helps prevent neurological defects, such as spina bifida. NB: too much folic acid also has risks, so talk with your doctor about how much you need.
- Eat less animal fat. Animal products can contain synthetic hormones, antibiotics and chemicals which are largely found in animal fat and are transferred to our own fat when we eat them.
- Use fewer beauty products. Lots of these products contain BPA and other toxins which can disrupt hormones. Remember – everything you put into/onto yourself also goes to the baby so the best thing for you and baby is to reduce how much you use and to choose natural products. Look for organic products and read the ingredients – avoid Triclosan, Fragrance, Parabens, Phthalates, Fragrance, Formaldehyde, PEGs (polyethylene glycol), and anything with “glycol” or “methyl.”
- Clean with less chemicals. Look out for less toxic alternatives to the potent high street favourites. Some ideas: vinegar in place of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles, hydrogen peroxide to remove stains. If you don’t fancy making your own there are plenty of natural alternatives on the market. But beware for the greenwash – check the label for ingredients. Avoid products that say poison, warning, or danger. The top toxics to steer clear of are: nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), triclosan, ammonia, chlorine . Click here for the mumzine guide to toxic free cleaning products.
- Wash maternity clothes before wearing - Clothing is often coated with chemical treatments in the factory.
- Lay off the plastics unless you really need them – Some plastics contain toxic chemicals, including BPA and phthalates. Don’t reuse single-use containers or microwave food in plastic containers.
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