If you’re following doctor’s orders, then your pregnancy body is most likely in tip-top shape. Growing a human being inspires us to live healthier, cleaner lifestyles to ensure our little ones have the best starts in life. But don’t leave those new healthy habits in the dust when baby arrives. He or she won’t necessarily reap the benefits, but your recovering body sure will. Here are five habits you’ve created during pregnancy that you should definitely hang on to for a lifetime:
1. Regular check-ups
By the end of your third trimester, you’ll see your doctor more than you probably see your own mother. At the end of pregnancy, your health care provider monitors you and baby, checking in on growth, fluid levels and any new symptoms that may arise. While we certainly don’t suggest you schedule weekly check-ups post pregnancy, keeping that spirit of regular visits alive can only do good.
2. Keep stress in check
Throughout your pregnancy, you’ve diligently kept stress at bay, knowing that uncontrolled anxiety can lead to complications during birth. When baby makes his or her debut, carry that Zen lifestyle into new motherhood. Just as stress can negatively impact your little one in the womb, it can impact your body and mind too.
3. Eat a balanced diet
Right now you’re paying close attention to the foods you consume, making sure to eat a healthy, balanced diet so that baby gets all the nutrients he or she needs. When your little one arrives, you may be tempted to throw in the towel and revisit some old, unhealthy eating habits. But new, compelling research suggests that a well-rounded, low-fat diet can even help counter diseases we’re genetically dispositioned to, such as obesity. Give your body the best chance it has at staying healthy for the long haul by sticking to that balanced diet.
4. Less drinking
You don’t have to be a teetotaler once baby’s born, but cutting back on your alcohol consumption can be a boon to your health. Frequent drinking can add to issues with weight gain, depression, cancer, high blood pressure and a host of various complaints.
5. Don’t light up
Here’s a sobering statistic: 85 percent of women who quit smoking during pregnancy start up again two months into motherhood. We don’t have to tell you that smoking’s bad for you, do we? If the stress of parenthood has you itching for a smoke, talk to your doctor about cigarette-free ways you can cope.
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