The thought of welcoming a new member can be ecstatic. Health care during pregnancy is referred to as prenatal care and is of great importance, as it helps to deliver a healthy child and lowers the risk of premature birth. During pregnancy especially, support from your family can help more than one can imagine. Here are some things to watch out for and the top tips to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy:

Morning sickness
Morning sickness usually sets in the fourth or fifth week of pregnancy. Some pregnant women may develop vomiting sensations all day and night. This period can be emotionally challenging, with fatigue setting in. Here are some ways in which the family can help:

• Paying close attention
  Certain types of meals could trigger nausea and the urge to vomit. As a family member, it is important to closely watch which foods trigger such flare-ups and try to avoid them during pregnancy. Generally, it is recommended that pregnant women stay away from fat and greasy food, as it becomes difficult to digest them. In addition, certain kinds of smells could also trigger nausea. Paying close attention to these triggers is also important to keep morning sickness at bay.
• Hydration
  Constant nausea would undoubtedly lead to dehydration and loss of electrolytes in the body. Ensuring the intake of enough liquids could go a long way toward a healthy pregnancy.

Emotional support
The American Pregnancy Association has stated that pregnant women will feel a considerable shift in their emotions due to changes in hormones. The progesterone and estrogen levels soar to accommodate the growth of the fetus, and this is the period where the irritation levels soar high. Negative emotions like fear and anxiety also set in, specifically in the first trimester and the last two months of pregnancy. Here’s how you can help:

• Be available to talk
  Asking the pregnant woman how she feels and intently listening to her can help. It is also in such conversations that the concerns and fear that were buried inside emerge.
• Staying patient
  Most family members could land up directly in the middle of mood swings. Escalation could lead to arguments or fights, which is a complete no during pregnancy. The key here is to be calm and patient. It is also important not to escalate any issue and let it pass.
• Share the chores
  Family members should ensure that the going-to-be mother gets enough rest and exhibit their responsibility by taking up chores.

Pregnancy brain
People often use this term to refer to forgetfulness during pregnancy. But in all honesty, pregnant women go through this phase due to the spike of certain hormones, which affects the neurons in the brain, leading to poor memory. Recent research has also unveiled that pregnant women tend to have a reduced ability to retain or learn new information. As a family member, one could draft a schedule using simple hacks. Just drawing up a schedule on a wall or checking in with going-to-be mother could ensure that she does not miss anything important. Although this might seem simple, maintaining consistency is important and would also help women feel taken care of.

Pregnancy and physical health
The body goes through tremendous transformations during pregnancy. A growing belly and a substantial increase in weight could cause discomfort. In addition, there could also be swelling of the feet, bleeding of the gums, and extra growth of hair or extreme loss of hair. Towards the third trimester, women may notice that their breast size goes up, and stretch marks become all the more visible. With all these changes, women tend to feel anxious and overwhelmed. 

• Taking walks
  Going for a walk with her or doing some physical activity ensures that the body stays fit, which is essential during childbirth.
• Cooking
  Adding pregnancy-friendly recipes that are nutritious to meal plans can help. 

Getting ready
Pregnancy is a whole new experience, so knowing how to prepare for it can be challenging. Usually, pregnant women can start to predict their fetal movements from the third trimester. More so, towards the end of the 8th month, there is a tendency for the mothers to develop a “nesting” tendency where they mentally and physically manifest the idea of getting ready for delivery and their journey thereon.  You can start by: 

• Buy baby friendly thing
  Shopping for things like maternity clothing and baby equipment to embrace the growing life within her can boost her confidence. 
• Packing the hospital bag
  Every woman tends to prepare a checklist much before the delivery date. Being available with her to draw up a schedule and pack her bags for hospitalization is a great gesture to show emotional bonding.
• Being there for appointments
  Most importantly, it would be advisable to be available for all or most hospital visits and scans so that the family members understand how the pregnancy is going first-hand.

Pregnancy has many ups and downs, both emotionally and physically. While each pregnancy is different, it would be an understatement to refer to pregnancy as an emotional rollercoaster ride. The strongest anchoring in the nine months would be family, and their support extended to the going-to-be mother.