Pregnancy can be an amazing time in life, but it also presents with its share of challenges. To ensure you remain at your best during pregnancy, try to get enough sleep, eat nutritious foods and do some physical activity every day. These habits will help ensure a stress-free environment for both mother and baby.
Many pregnant women experience fatigue during their first and third trimesters. To stay energized while pregnant, try eating foods high in iron and eating small meals throughout the day.
Homemade energy drinks
Homemade energy drinks are an ideal way to stay energized during pregnancy. Not only are they convenient and packed with essential nutrients, but they’re much cheaper than store-bought options too!
Drink plenty of water, especially during pregnancy when dehydration can lead to fatigue and other issues. Additionally, make sure you eat foods high in potassium and magnesium (like bananas), which help regulate blood pressure and promote healthy heart function.
Caffeine, an ingredient commonly found in energy drinks, can be harmful for babies when taken in large doses. Caffeine passes through the placenta and puts the fetus at risk by increasing the likelihood of miscarriage or low birth weight.
Mangoes
Mangoes are packed with antioxidants and essential nutrients that will boost your energy levels. They contain various vitamins like vitamin C, A, B6, potassium and folic acid for added benefits.
These fruits and vegetables provide dietary fiber that helps regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation during pregnancy. Furthermore, they supply various enzymes for digestion.
Folate (folic acid) found in mangoes is essential for fetal brain and spinal cord development, helping reduce the risk of neural tube defects in your unborn baby.
This nutrient can also help to lower the risks of preeclampsia and low birth weight in pregnant women.
Mangoes are an excellent source of Vitamin C and potassium, which can help prevent anemia during pregnancy. Furthermore, they contain iron which supports fetal growth and development.
Small meals
Maintaining energy levels during pregnancy can be achieved with small meals spread out throughout the day. Include foods high in protein, slow-release complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and dietary fiber for added nourishment.
These foods can help regulate blood sugar levels, helping to prevent mood swings, energy crashes and cravings (5). Furthermore, they make you feel satiated and prevent overeating later in the day which could lead to weight gain.
Additionally, eating smaller meals may be beneficial for people with gastrointestinal conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome (8). These meals are easier to digest than larger ones and may reduce symptoms associated with these conditions.
Small meals not only taste delicious, but they provide essential nutrients that will give you energy during pregnancy. These include iron, protein and fiber.
Exercise
Exercise not only keeps you fit and motivated, it improves your mood and mental health as well as lowers the risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Furthermore, it can ease some of pregnancy’s discomforts such as aches and pains while prepping your body for labour.
Before beginning an exercise regimen, it is essential to consult your healthcare provider and be mindful of how you feel. Start slowly and gradually increase your intensity as directed by your healthcare provider.
Exercise safely during pregnancy by wearing loose-fitting clothing, drinking plenty of water before, during and after your workout and avoiding high heat and humidity. Exercising too hard will raise your body temperature; thus it is best to reduce activity on hot or humid days in order to prevent dehydration.