Just like trends in baby clothes have changed over the years, so has the advice and products available to pregnant women. Even compared with thirty years ago, when I had my children, there is so much more known about what you should and should not do during your pregnancy. For instance, pregnant women were advised not to smoke when I had my children, but there was not the same advice about not drinking. Fortunately I was sick with just a few sips of alcohol from early in my first trimester so I cut it out totally until I stopped breastfeeding.
A healthy diet is obviously a must and the same was true during my pregnancies but we were not as aware of things to be avoided as today’s new moms are. Obviously far more research has been done on foods not to eat such as soft cheeses like feta, brie and goat’s cheese because of the risk of listeria or not eating under cooked or raw eggs because of the risk of salmonella or even fish such as tuna, swordfish and grouper because of the high mercury content.
We were also not made aware of the all the extra vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain mom's health as well as that of her unborn baby. Yes we knew to eat food rich in iron to prevent anemia and because it was vital to baby's growth but we were not as aware of the importance of folic acid as moms-to-be are today. Nowadays in addition to your diet there are nutritional supplements available to ensure that your body gets the vital ingredients so that you have a healthy pregnancy. There are lots of places to get information (online, books and your doctor) on what vitamins and minerals are important for you and your baby during pregnancy.
It is not just dietary advice that has changed over the years, so too have the number of products available to make pregnancy more comfortable. Maternity clothes no longer consist of just smock tops and dresses to hide your "bump" but are now modern and trendy and designed to proudly emphasize your growing stomach to the world.
But it is the availability of things like pregnancy pillows and support belts that I think I would have found a great help. The pillows look so comfortable and anything that aids restful sleep and helps relieve back ache by supporting your bump thus enabling you to find a comfortable position gets my vote. And the belts takes the pressure off your back when standing or walking.
In some ways I envy today’s moms because there is far more information available for them to help ensure they have a healthy baby and all the conveniences the twenty first century has to offer to make life easier for them both before the baby is born and afterwards. But just like millions of other women over the years we managed with the knowledge we had at the time and I am just thankful that my husband and I were blessed with two healthy children.
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