Yes, showering daily during pregnancy is generally safe and recommended for hygiene, but you must avoid hot water that raises your core body temperature (above 102°F/39°C) to prevent overheating, which is risky for the baby, especially in the first trimester. Stick to warm water, keep showers shorter, use non-slip mats to prevent falls, and consult your doctor about any concerns or additives like essential oils.
Eat breakfast every day. Eat foods high in fiber, and drink fluids (particularly water) to avoid constipation. Avoid alcohol, raw or undercooked fish, fish high in mercury, undercooked meat and poultry, and soft cheeses. Do moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 150 minutes a week during your pregnancy.
Here's a guide to household chores that might be best left to someone else during your pregnancy.
Most baby showers are typically held during the third trimester,around 28 to 34 weeks,as this allows the parents-to-be to be more prepared and comfortable. Have you thought about what kind of theme or activities you might want for your baby shower?''
Many women also wonder is it safe to take a shower at night while pregnant. There is no difference between showering at night, or earlier in the day - the most important thing is to listen to your bodies cues, and recognize if you are overheating.
Results. There were few associations between shower frequency or bath frequency or length and risk for birth defects in offspring.
Research has shown that in the third trimester (after 28 weeks of pregnancy) going to sleep on your back increases your risk of stillbirth. As the link has now been shown in 6 separate research trials, our advice is to go to sleep on your side in the third trimester because it is safer for your baby.
The Traditional Sweet Spot: Around 28 to 32 Weeks
Most baby showers are held during the early third trimester, typically between 28 and 32 weeks. This window is the goldilocks zone!
Traditionally, a close friend or family member (not the expectant mother) hosts and pays for the baby shower, often sharing costs with co-hosts, but modern practices vary, sometimes involving the parents or splitting costs among a larger group, with the goal being to "shower" the parents with gifts, not charge guests.
A newborn can be: Late preterm, born between 34 and 36 completed weeks of pregnancy. Moderately preterm, born between 32 and 34 weeks of pregnancy. Very preterm, born between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.
The "3-2-1 Rule" in pregnancy is a guideline for first-time mothers to know when to call their midwife or doctor for active labor: consistent contractions that are 3 minutes apart, lasting 2 minutes each, for 1 hour (or sometimes cited as 3-1-1, meaning 3 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour). For subsequent pregnancies, the 5-1-1 Rule (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) is often used, indicating labor is progressing more quickly.
Toxoplasmosis (tok-so-plaz-MOE-sis) is an infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. People often get the infection from eating undercooked meat. You can also get it from contact with cat feces. The parasite can pass to a baby during pregnancy.
A pregnancy may also be more likely to end in miscarriage if you:
There's no single "hardest" month, as challenges vary, but many find the first trimester tough due to nausea, fatigue, and hormonal shifts, while the third trimester (months 7-9) often brings the most physical discomfort from the baby's size, affecting sleep, mobility, and causing aches, heartburn, and frequent urination. The difficulty often shifts as pregnancy progresses, with the first months focused on adjustment and the later months on physical strain and preparation for birth.
You need more folic acid, iron, calcium, and vitamin D than you did before pregnancy: Folic acid is a B vitamin that may help prevent neural tube defects.
Sleep problems are worst in the first and third trimesters when the body is going through the most physical and emotional changes. The National Institutes of Health recommends that mothers-to-be spend at least 8 hours in bed each night, so they can get at least 7 hours of sleep.
On average, baby showers tend to cost about $500, though that total cost goes down when using a free venue like the home of a friend or family member and can go up if you're hosting a shower at a restaurant or venue with an hourly fee. Traditionally, the host of the baby shower will pick up the tab.
Anyone who is close to the parents-to-be can throw a baby shower for the couple. In terms of who should throw a baby shower, it's best to reserve this role for someone who knows the couple very well and can ensure the event is to their liking.
It's a celebration of a new life — which is always appropriate, whether the baby is the first or the sixth. With the emphasis placed squarely on the support and love of your closest family and friends rather than a focus on big-ticket gifts, a baby sprinkle is a party that, ideally, is relaxed, warm, and laid-back.
Avoid exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals, lead paint, pesticides, and used cat litter during pregnancy. Many everyday household chores are perfectly safe with simple modifications. Heavy lifting and prolonged standing can strain your changing body. Ask for help with these tasks.
The hormonal changes during the first trimester often cause strong emotional fluctuations, heightened sensitivity, nausea and fatigue.
Most people agree that for the most part, the best time to have a baby shower for a pregnant person is toward the end of the second trimester or early into the third trimester—around 28 to 32 weeks.
Here is a short list of new symptoms you may experience with your change in blood flow:
Insomnia affects most pregnant women at some point. Your chances of having to deal with insomnia increase as your pregnancy progresses. About 1 in 4 women (25%) have insomnia in early pregnancy (the first trimester). Up to 80% of women report insomnia symptoms by the end of the third trimester.
5 Signs You Need a Maternity Pillow for Better Sleep