How to Stay Healthy During Your Pregnancy

When you’re expecting a baby, your number-one priority is staying healthy and robust, to give your baby the best start possible. You may wonder what activities you should change or curtail while you’re pregnant, if you should alter your diet, and more. 

There are changes you should make to support your pregnancy, and getting guidance from a caring, competent OB/GYN whose services are expansive is essential once you learn that you’re expecting.

Dr. Kevin Hooker provides the most advanced and attentive prenatal care in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and the surrounding communities, and our Lake Havasu OB/GYN Care team is focused on one thing: ensuring that you have the healthiest pregnancy — and baby!

Doing the best for your baby

When you meet Dr. Hooker initially, he learns about your medical history, chronic conditions you may live with, and your lifestyle, because all these factors contribute to the quality of your pregnancy.

Dr. Hooker gives you the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines on everything from when you should get prenatal tests to which types of exercises are safe as your pregnancy progresses. Here’s what we want you to know.

Prenatal testing

Dr. Hooker uses various tests to ensure that you and your baby are doing well throughout your pregnancy:

• Routine ultrasounds monitor baby’s growth and can identify certain abnormalities; the first one helps Dr. Hooker estimate your due date
• Blood tests that can indicate the presence of birth defects like Down Syndrome 
• Tests also exist for measuring estriol, inhibin, and chorionic gonadotropin, hormones that are made by your placenta; depending on which one you get, they can detect abnormalities and also determine the precise age of the fetus
• Amniocentesis is a test where amniotic fluid is drawn to look for evidence of chromosomal disorders and neural tube defects like spina bifida
• Chorionic villi sampling involves sampling your placental tissue, which contains genetic information that can be tested for abnormalities; this test can’t detect neural tube defects, however
• Fetal heart rate monitoring keeps track of your baby’s heart rate, and Dr. Hooker can intervene if there’s a problem
• Glucose testing is performed to learn whether you have gestational diabetes or not; if it’s untreated, complications can arise for your baby, like a premature birth, and you’re at higher risk of developing diabetes in the future
• A Group B strep culture reveals whether you have Group B streptococcus, a bacterial infection that can make you very sick if pregnant and lead to preterm labor and other problems. 

Nutrition while pregnant

When you’re pregnant, you should eat a well-balanced diet consisting of a variety of fruits and veggies, whole grains, dairy foods, and healthy proteins like nuts, lean meats, fish, and legumes. 

Stay away from raw or undercooked foods like sushi, paté, smoked seafood, deli meats, “junk” or highly processed foods, and unpasteurized dairy products. Avoid alcohol as well, but stay well hydrated.

A prenatal vitamin is another important thing to remember to take each day, and even though this isn’t something you eat, by all means don’t smoke or use recreational drugs while pregnant. 

Exercising while pregnant

Women used to be encouraged to curtail their activities when pregnant, but it’s good for you to get exercise throughout your pregnancy. As you move toward the end of your pregnancy, activity may become harder, but Dr. Hooker keeps track of what’s safe for you to do. 

Great exercises for pregnant women include gentle activities like walking, yoga, and swimming. It’s best to avoid exercises that put you at risk of falling, like bike riding, contact sports, and skiing. It’s also wise to avoid anything too vigorous or exercising in high humidity. 

Take chronic conditions into consideration

If you live with a condition like diabetes or high blood pressure, Dr. Hooker pays special attention to its management in relation to your pregnancy. 

Proper prenatal care

Seeing Dr. Hooker regularly for prenatal check-ups is absolutely essential to a healthy pregnancy and birth. During these appointments, Dr. Hooker performs any tests that are appropriate, measures your belly, and may perform a pelvic exam or Pap test. He also tests you for STDs and other diseases that can be dangerous for a mother-to-be, like rubella. 

You see him more often later as your birth approaches, and it’s important to share any questions or concerns with him at each appointment. Even if you’re not pregnant now but want to become pregnant, it’s important to talk to Dr. Hooker about how to prepare. 

Taking the best care of yourself when pregnant leads to what you want most: a healthy baby!

Call our office to book an appointment online if you’re considering getting pregnant or have learned that you are.