Top 5 Infographics To Get You Through Pregnancy

1. Staying Active During Pregnancy

This doesn't mean that you should go out and run a marathon. However, doing light activity that stays within your trimester limits is a great way to stay healthy and keep off those extra pounds over and above the normal extra baby weight. 

It will help you to stay energetic and keep your muscles toned to better deal with the extra weight you will have to carry throughout your term. 

Below is a great infographic explaining safe activities for each trimester and some of the benefits of exercising during pregnancy. Remember though that everyone is different and if you were not active before you got pregnant you should take that into account when choosing activities while you are pregnant. If you aren't sure talk with your doctor or midwife.

Image via: Weight Training Program Safe for Pregnant Women





2. Sleeping During Pregnancy Is Tough

It's tough to get a good nights rest while pregnant no matter what trimester you are in. In the beginning you are dealing with fluctuating hormones, nausea and the constant need to go to the loo. 

The second trimester is usually better and things in general get a little bit easier. You have more energy, the nausea has usually subsided by now and you have that wonderful pregnancy glow you keep hearing people talk about. Although it is a happier time during pregnancy the second trimester still has its cons when it comes to slumber.

Then there is the third trimester. Just when you thought you were feeling better. The third trimester brings its own set of woes and even brings back some from the first trimester. The first trimester exhaustion hits again, and frequent trips to the loo will be all too familiar. You are heavier at this point making sleep difficult. 

You may notice that your legs are restless (called RLS or Restless Leg Syndrome) when you lay down making it hard to fall asleep. They may cramp while your sleeping and wake you up. The size of your bump may make it difficult to get comfortable which doesn`t help with the extra aches and pains that are happening right now. This trimester is the worst one for sleep troubles but there are ways to get through it.... and remember the outcome is worth it in the end.

This is a handy infographic detailing some sleep issues for each trimester and tips for how to deal with them.

From Visually.

3. To Eat or Not To Eat?

I hesitated a little bit when adding this infographic to this post. We really have enough to worry about while pregnant as it is, without having to worry about what we eat. Sometimes people can go overboard with what to eat and what not to eat while pregnant and I don't like feeding peoples fears & anxieties. Ultimately I decided to include it because there are some very useful points. I agree that consuming un-pasteurized milk while pregnant and eating raw fish isn't the best idea. 

To be very honest the risks of eating certain foods while pregnant don't change for when you aren't pregnant. The issue is that illnesses like salmonella and listeria while they will make you very sick they can cause harm or even death to an unborn baby. 

That being said I am 8 months pregnant with my second child. I eat my eggs runny and with my first child hot dogs was a staple craving for me. The idea is to make sure your food is clean and cooked properly so limit your risk of illness.

So take a look at the infographic below. It is a fantastic guideline to use along with your own feelings and common sense and remember if you are ever unsure you can always ask your doctor or midwife.

From Naturalon

4. How Big Is That Baby In My Belly?

This is one of my favorites. I loved checking every week to see how much my baby was growing and what they were doing and able to do. It helped me connect better even though I couldn't physically see her I had an image in my mind of what she looked like on that particular week. After she started to move I needed less of a mental image since it was clear to me what she was doing in there! This infographic is a complete list showing growth, symptoms & little tidbits of information week by week all the way up to 42 weeks.

Embedded from uCollect Infographics

5. Travelling During Pregnancy

I didn't travel much during either of my pregnancies. The furthest I went was a 6 hour car ride to visit my mother in Nova Scotia but there are still things to consider if you are going to be away from home while pregnant. Always let your doctor or midwife know you are planning to travel. They will know based on your history and how your pregnancy is going whether or not it is a good idea to travel.

If you do decide to travel here is a great infographic with some tips on preparing for your trip and how to make travelling a little more comfortable.

You can also find more infographics at Visualistan

4 Things Nobody Tells You About Pregnancy

tipstimes.com/pregnancy

Here are some things I learned throughout my first and second pregnancies that nobody explained to me when I got pregnant. Everyone is so busy being happy for you that they forget to tell you the big important stuff. Or maybe they don't tell you because they are worried about scaring you. Pregnancy has it's ups and downs but is still well worth it in the end.


1. Labor hurts, and so does post labor!

The birth of a baby is a beautiful thing don't get me wrong, but the truth is labor hurts! Most women will tell you that yes it's painful but don't worry, once you see that little baby you will forget all about it.

When I had my first daughter and she was placed in my arms for a split second I forgot about the pain and nothing else existed then except for her and I but once that moment was over I can't say that I had forgotten all about the pain.

After you've given birth you still have to deal with the pain of not being able to sit properly for weeks especially if you've torn during delivery. Would I do it again? Of course and I can say that since I am 8 months pregnant with my second child as I write this, but this time I know what to expect.


2. It's OKAY to have an epidural. 

This one is a follow up from the first point I posted. The big thing lately is that epidurals come with risks and you should do everything possible to avoid them and have a natural birth. The fact that epidurals have risks is not shocking. Everything we do has risks...taking medication, driving a car, crossing the street etc. The idea is to weigh how severe the risks are before you go ahead.

When I was pregnant with my first I decided I didn't want an epidural. I told my husband that no matter what I said do not let me get one. I was convinced that if I couldn't handle the pain of labor without drugs then in some way that meant I was weak.

I went through a 26 hour labor almost entirely without pain relief. Finally it was my husband that convinced me to get the epidural. I gave in after 23 hours of no sleep and constant contractions. After the pain subsided I was finally able to get some rest while waiting for my cervix to dilate enough to start delivery. Nothing bad happened, my daughter did not have any issues or birth defects and I actually believe that without the epidural I would not have had the energy to push her out myself, which would definitely have result in a cesarean.

Moral of the story, if you feel you need it there is nothing embarrassing or shameful about asking for pain relief.

If you want to learn more about epidurals you can read more about it on Baby Centre. This is a website that I frequently visit and find their advise is very practical and well written.
 http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a542571/epidural



3. Morning sickness doesn't just happen in the morning.

Don't let the name morning sickness fool you! Morning sickness can happen at anytime of day or night and for some of us unlucky Mama-to-Be's it can last all day.

I had morning sickness all day long with my first pregnancy up until 8 weeks. With my second I had it all day and all night right up to almost 16 weeks. During my second pregnancy I was prescribed a medication call Diclectin to help alleviate the symptoms since I was not able to eat or do anything except lay on the couch which is not conducive to having a 2 year old toddler running around. On the other hand some women experience none to very little morning sickness.



4. The big "Gush" of your water breaking mostly just happens in the movies.

Only 1 in 10 women experience their waters breaking before contractions and labor begins. Most of the time your waters will break towards the end of the first stage of labor.

It is also normal to have to have your waters broken manually by the doctor in the delivery room. This is something that happened to me during my first pregnancy. You may not feel that "gushing" feeling that is often shown in the movies, it might just be a slow trickling feeling.

If you think that your waters may have broken before labor begins there are steps to take. Baby Centre has a great post explaining what happens if your waters break and what to do if they break early.  http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1053562/when-your-waters-break