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Step 1
Seek prenatal care as soon as you suspect that you are pregnant. Confirming a pregnancy and starting on prenatal vitamins is essential for healthy growth and development.
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Step 2
Eat a healthy diet. Talk to your obstetrician or midwife about what you should be eating. He or she will most likely tell you how many calories you should be consuming a day and from which types of foods.
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Step 3
Exercise. Walking, swimming and yoga are great exercises for pregnant women to do. Exercise will help keep you fit and energized, help your cardiovascular system keep up with the increased blood volume in your body, strengthen your muscles and help you build stamina, which is very important and useful in labor.
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Step 4
Make sure that you are taking folic acid. Folic acid is generally found in prenatal vitamins and also in leafy green vegetables. Folic acid helps prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
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Step 5
Do not smoke or hang around someone who does.
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Step 6
Avoid alcoholic beverages. There is no safe consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester when all of the baby's essential organs are forming.
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Step 7
Limit the amount of caffeine you drink. It has not been proven one way or another if caffeine plays a part in early miscarriage--however, you should not consume more than two cups daily.
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Step 8
Avoid X-rays and too many ultrasounds. Ultrasounds are commonly performed during the first trimester to make sure that the baby is growing appropriately and to confirm a heartbeat. Do your research about ultrasounds and understand that you can decide not to have one until the second trimester if you are concerned about possible harmful effects.
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Step 9
Avoid environmental hazards that contain harmful chemicals or pollution. You may want to also avoid painting in a room with little or no ventilation.
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Step 10
Avoid contact sports where you could potentially be hit in the stomach or fall down. It is best to protect your belly for the remaining part of your pregnancy.
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Step 11
Avoid all illegal and over-the-counter medications. Some over-the-counter medications have warnings on them regarding pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. Do not take anything without consulting your doctor first.
