pregnancy Archives - Woodus Obstetrics and Gynecology | Dr. Tiffany Woodus

Seafood is an important source of protein, iron and zinc – all important nutrients for baby’s growth and development.

It is also an important source of omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat naturally found in many different kinds of fish. We believe they are important in fetal brain and eye development, both before and after birth. To benefit the most from omega-3 fatty acids, we recommend you pay attention to your consumption prior to and during pregnancy, as well as while breastfeeding. You can also get your recommended dose of omega-3 fatty acids from the nutritional supplement DHA. The recommended dose for DHA is 200 milligrams daily. Now be sure and pay attention to the label on your prenatal vitamins as all prenatal vitamins do not contain DHA.

We recommend 2-3 servings of seafood per week, which is the equivalent of about 8-12 ounces. Now, if you need assistance understanding what a serving size is, use the palm of your hand. The palm of an adult hand is the equivalent to about 4 ounces.

Your best seafood choices during pregnancy include fish like shrimp, tilapia, salmon, and catfish. There are other fish that contain a moderate amount of mercury, and for that reason, we recommend that you limit your consumption to 1 serving a week, no more than 6 ounces. Too much mercury consumption during pregnancy has been associated with vision and hearing problems as well as major organ damage.

Fish in the moderate category include your tunas. These are yellowfin, white, and albacore tuna, and it includes canned, fresh, or frozen tuna. Sea bass, snapper, grouper, and mahi mahi also fall in the moderate category. Avoid fish with the highest mercury concentration such as big-eye tuna, shark, marlin, and roughy. If you are eating fish caught by friends and family, check for advisories in your area regarding safe consumption. If there are no advisories available, limit your consumption of that fish to 1 serving per week and do not eat any other fish that week. Be sure and remember, pregnant women should avoid eating all raw and undercooked seafood, eggs, and meat.

That’s it for today, guys. As always, I appreciate you, take good care, and stay healthy friends.

If you enjoyed this video and want to see more like it, be sure and hit the like button and follow us @docwoodus.

Thank you.

If you’re healthy and your pregnancy is normal, it is safe to continue or start regular physical activity. Regular physical activity does not increase your risk for a miscarriage, early delivery, or low birth weight. Have a discussion with your physician early on in your prenatal visits. Once you get the okay to proceed, go on to discuss which activities are safe for you.

Exercise improves your general fitness. It can reduce back pain and can also improve constipation during pregnancy. It can promote healthy weight gain and help you lose the baby weight after delivery. Exercise may also decrease your risk for gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and C-section. We recommend 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days out of the week, or five days a week. If you were very physically active prior to pregnancy, in most cases, you can continue your level of activity, just have a discussion with your physician to determine if it is safe for you to proceed.

Keep in mind that pregnancy hormones can relax your joints, so if you’re doing high-impact activities, you may be increasing your risk for injury. Also, remember that as your center of gravity changes and your blood volumes increase, this can make you more unstable on your feet and increase your risk for falling. Pregnancy increases your body’s oxygen demands, which can make strenuous activity more difficult as well. In general, listen to your body.

Be sure to drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration.

Wear a properly fitted sports bra or consider a belly band for extra support. Avoid becoming overheated. Avoid standing still or lying flat on your back for prolonged periods of time.

Safe exercises include:

walking
swimming or other water activities
stationary bicycling
modified yoga or Pilates.

If you are an experienced athlete, in most cases, you can continue doing your level of activity. Just have a discussion with your physician to make sure it is safe to proceed.

Exercises to avoid include:

contact sports
anything that increases your risk for falling
skydiving
scuba diving
hot yoga
high altitude activities.

When should you stop exercising?

If you have bleeding, leakage of fluid, or regular contractions. If you feel dizzy or faint, if you feel short of breath prior to exercising, if you experience chest pain, headaches, muscle weakness, calf pain, or swelling; all of these things are warning signs to listen to your body and take a break.

Why should you keep exercising?

After baby is born, it can improve your mood, help you lose the baby weight, and decrease your risk for blood clots.

That’s it for today, guys. As always, I appreciate you. Take care and stay healthy, friends. If you enjoyed this video, hit the like button and follow us @docwoodus is for all the latest updates.