Pregnancy weight gain

Ideally, you should assess your health and fitness. You may need to make some changes to your lifestyle

Before exercising, during or before pregnancy, it is advisable to eat high fibre, high carbohydrate snacks, such as an apple, dried fruit, banana or whole wheat muffin, as your metabolic functions accelerate and your energy requirements increase.

In a normal, uncomplicated labour and delivery, the use of medication is not always necessary. Your own resources are often enough.

Your health, and the growth and development of your baby, must be closely monitored. 

Physical environment

Your environment should be conducive to relaxation. Realistically, however, labour wards can be very active and noisy. You need to be flexible and adapt to your circumstances.

Your pregnancy: weeks 14-17. Your baby's individual features and sensory organs are now being fine tuned. Iron requirements increase during this period as the blood volume increases due to the building of the reserves of the foetus and placenta.

By taking responsibility for your body, you can maximise your level of wellbeing and enjoy good health.

Good nutrition is of the utmost importance during your pregnancy

Each woman’s labour is unique and unpredictable. It is important therefore that you are prepared for all the possible eventualities and you keep an open mind. This will help you have a positive birth experience.

Your nutritional status at the time of conception and in the crucial early weeks of pregnancy is significant for the successful outcome of the pregnancy. 

Instructor’s credentials, for example, midwife, physiotherapist.

Instructor’s specialised training in childbirth education.

There are many factors to consider before dedicating yourself to raising and budgeting a child for the next 18 years or more. 

We’ve laid out a few things to consider and guide you with regards to budgeting for a baby before you embark on the greatest journey of your life: parenthood. 

Having a baby is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences in life, but it’s also one of the more costly experiences. 

Your biggest costs will be your medical bills.

Preparing for your prenatal appointments is important. Find out our prenatal checklist, so you can ask the right questions to your healthcare provider.

Progressive relaxation

This is an effective way of releasing stress and teaching your body to feel total relaxation. Tense and relax one group of muscles at a time, from head to toe, until you are totally relaxed.

Your pregnancy: weeks 23-27. Your baby develops movements that will later help it take its first whiff of air in the world, inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid. You may feel rhythmic movements which is your baby hiccupping.

Protein (and the amino acids within) is the most important building blocks for all human cells. Given the rapid cell development of your baby-to-be it should be an essential part of your diet. Your requirements for protein are highest during the second and third trimesters due to this extremely rapid development and growth.

In most instances, the baby’s head is the presenting part that moves into your pelvis before labour begins.

Feeling healthy, stress-free and relaxed will only help the chance of you and your partner falling pregnant.

“I am pregnant – can I exercise?”

It is safe to exercise during pregnancy if you are healthy, have an uncomplicated pregnancy, exercise regularly and monitor your heart rate and body’s responses to exercise stress. 

“The goals of exercise during pregnancy and the post-partum period should be to maintain the highest level of fitness consistent with maximum safety.” (American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1985)

The Second Month of Pregnancy