Pregnancy can be one of the greatest experiences in your life. It can be joyous and worrisome all at the same time. Most of the fear is from the unknown. This article can help alleviate your fears by helping you understand just what is going on and what to expect as your pregnancy progresses.

Learn how to track your cycles if you are trying to conceive. By learning your cycles, you will be more in tune to knowing the best times to try to conceive. In addition to increasing your odds of becoming pregnant, knowing your ovulation period will also aid in pinpointing your due date should you become pregnant.

Sleep whenever you get a chance to during your pregnancy. Difficulty sleeping is one of the biggest complaints women have while pregnant. As our bodies go through these massive changes, the ease of being able to get a full night’s sleep decreases. Take naps when the opportunity presents itself.

Let yourself be pampered. Especially in the last few months you will probably be very uncomfortable. Check with your local massage parlors and day spas. Many of them will offer pregnancy massages that are designed for your needs. If you are past your due date some of them may actually be able to use pressure points to induce labor.

One of the best things that women can do in order to achieve a healthy pregnancy is to exercise. This will not only help you to stay in shape during pregnancy, but it also lowers the risk of miscarriage. It has been proven that exercise reduces labor complications and length.

One of the best things that you can do in order to have a healthy pregnancy is to stop smoking. It might be hard at first, but this will enable you to have a very healthy baby. There are many programs out there that can help you to get rid of this very bad addiction.

During your pregnancy it is important to get a full nights rest. Stress can be a major cause of not being able to sleep. If you are feeling stressed, find someone that you can talk to about the problems that you are having. Pregnancy can be a stressful thing and you should always talk about the things that are causing you stress.

Do not use hot tubs or saunas while you are pregnant. Extreme heat from sources like these are not good for a growing baby, so they should be avoided. Additionally, many spas offer massages that use oils that can cause early contractions. Stay away from things like clary sage, juniper and rosemary.

Increase your intake of cereals, asparagus, lentils, oranges and orange juice. These foods are all rich in folic acid, which helps the development of the baby’s neural cord and creates red blood cells for your unborn child. It is ideal to begin consuming these foods even before you start trying to conceive.

Your parental vitamins should have enough folic acid. Folic acid is crucial in helping your baby develop properly, and its importance can not be emphasized enough.

Avoid pesticides by eating locally grown organic foods. We don’t know how much effect these pesticides can have on a fetus but it is better to be safe than sorry. If not buying organic, stick with items with heavy peels like oranges as they are likely to be less contaminated.

Allow yourself to indulge in some of your cravings. You want to try and maintain a healthy diet during pregnancy, but it is okay to eat some unhealthy foods in moderation. Make sure to stay away from brie and feta cheese, herbal teas and raw sprouts, which could all negatively affect your baby’s health.

It is a good idea to pack your hospital bag when you reach 37 weeks or so. You are more likely to remember the items that you will both want and need while in the hospital if you aren’t tossing things into a bag as you rush out the door.

Snap pictures of your body at different stages of your pregnancy. The wonderment that is your baby developing from one week to the next may be a distant memory as you care for a full human child after they begin to walk and talk. This is why it is so great for you to capture this process in still images.

Add appropriate nutrients to your diet and keep track of what you are eating. Ideally, you should add 300 to 500 additional calories per day during pregnancy. Keeping a food journal helps you ensure your additional calories are nutritionally sound for both you and your baby and helps you ensure you are taking in all necessary requirements.

Congratulations! You’re having a baby! Take some of the mystery out of labor and delivery by attending childbirth classes. You can learn about the signs of labor and how the baby actually travels through your body and into your arms. It’s a great opportunity to ask any questions you might have and address any fears that have been bothering you!

When trying to get pregnant, remember that it can take up to a year for this to happen so do try not to stress too much if it does not happen straight away. The stress can negatively impact on your attempts even further. However, if you are over 35, and have been trying for more than six months, seek the advice of your doctor.

If you think that you are pregnant, you need to take a pregnancy test before you do anything that could be harmful to a baby growing inside of you. If you cause harm to your unborn child because you drank or smoke while you were pregnant there is a good chance that you will feel guilty for the rest of your life and that your child could be born with defects.

As noted in the start of the article, pregnancy can be one of the greatest experiences you can have. Many of the fears are simply due to all of the unknown and unexpected changes that take place. By taking note of the information in this article, you can help to make your pregnancy a more enjoyable experience.