My sister is 6, almost 7, months pregnant

[kenan78]

She has really bloated up and she looks like she might give birth soon. She’s living with me and my wife while her husband is processing papers and documents so that my sister and the child could go and live with him soon. Long story short, I’m the one taking care of my sister together with my wife. My wife and I both have no experience with pregnancy and labor since we do not have a child of our own yet. Just wondering if there are any specific preparations that we must do before she reaches 8 or 9 months? Any suggestions or advice will be appreciated

[Anthonia]

A lot of pregnant women ask whether they can continue to follow their normal exercise regime after they have become pregnant, like still visiting the gym for example. It is important that every woman exercises during pregnancy, provided that you are in good health and have no medical problems. This will help ensure you maintain a healthy weight and avoid any potential problems. However, because your posture and shape is clearly going to change you may be more vulnerable to injury as your pregnancy progresses. So it's therefore a good idea to first seek advice from a specialist on your exercise technique or choice of exercise.

Let your body be your guide. You may find that on some days you feel more tired than others. Or on some occasions you may just not feel like you normally do. In these instances you should listen to what your body is telling you and either slow down or take a rest day for a change.

Your best choice for exercise is a class specifically for pregnant women or a pregnancy Pilates class. The general fitness classes that you may be used to are not usually appropriate during pregnancy.

If you plan on maintaining a gym workout seek advice on developing your deep abdominal muscles. It will be beneficial to you to build these for a strong and stable back, pelvis and pelvic floor. The good thing about this sort of exercise is that you will also reap the benefits after your baby is born.

Whatever your exercise regime you should be sure to regularly practice pelvic floor exercises throughout the day. And don't forget the importance of drinking enough water to maintain your hydration, along with eating regular small good quality meals.

[Rob]

Pregnancy is one of the biggest joys in a woman's life. It is, however a period that brings a lot of uncertainties and worrying to the expectant mothers. This is especially considering that lots of changes take place during pregnancy. Most women will be worrying about the safety of the baby during this period. They are too cautious to do anything that might end up harming the baby. The joy of every mother is to give birth to a healthy baby at the end of the term. Not all pregnancies are high risk, but there is still a great need to stay safe throughout by taking precaution that are necessary during this period.

Enjoy the changes

Lots of changes take place during pregnancy, both physically and emotional. The signs and symptoms of pregnancy can sometimes seem like diseases of a particular kind. They are brought about by hormonal changes and it is important to know what to expect during pregnancy to avoid unnecessary worrying. Even though some of the changes can not be too pleasant, it helps to remember that they are taking place for a greater good which is your baby. Things should start going back to normal as soon as the baby is born.

Stay healthy

Success during pregnancy begins by ensuring that you stay healthy all through. This includes eating right. By eating right, you will avoid common problems experienced during pregnancy such as bloating. There are certain foods that can worsen the symptom making it important to choose all the right foods during this period. You also want to avoid being too lazy during pregnancy, however heavy you feel. Walking can really help in keeping fit and avoiding small issues that can arise as a result of being in one place too long doing nothing. Medications are not advisable during pregnancy, even the common painkillers. Therefore, if you are experiencing any difficult symptoms, consult your doctor to have the right prescription or advice on how to deal with the situation.

Keep baby healthy

This should start by making regular clinic visits for health evaluation. You will also know whether the baby is developing fine during such visits. It is also important to take all important pregnancy supplements during pregnancy, such as folic acid which greatly boost the development of the baby. When you start with the prenatal care, you will be taken through all stages of keeping the baby healthy. You can even have ultrasounds done at different stages to see the baby in terms of development. They can also help you know the gender of the baby before it is born.

Pregnancy is supposed to be a happy time for all women. To avoid too much worrying, you can grab helpful books online relating to pregnancy. These free books will take you through pregnancy basics and what to expect week by week. You can download books to help you deal with the pregnancy till the baby is born. They can be quite resourceful and informative.