Future-Proof Your Pregnant Body

A few clever changes before you have your baby will make you a healthier, happier new mum

1 PREPARE YOUR MIND

BY TAKING NOTES

Getting yourself ready mentally can really put you in the right frame of mind for becoming a mum. “It’s a good idea to keep a journal and write down what you think you’ll love as a parent, what you know you’ll miss about your non-mum life and what you’re most worried about,” says UK-based psychologist Mia Scotland. “This can help you process your hopes, fears and worries. Later, you can read it back to see how accurate you were, too.”

2 REDUCE HAIR LOSS

BY DEEP CONDITIONING

You may notice your hair becomes thicker in pregnancy, so it’s tempting not to bother giving it extra love. “Higher oestrogen levels lengthen the hair’s natural growth cycle,” says UK-based trichologist Marilyn Sherlock. “But, once your hormones return to normal after the birth, it may start falling out.” While a deep condition now won’t stop this happening later, it will help keep loss or breakage to a minimum.

3 PROTECT YOUR TEETH AND GUMS

BY FLOSSING DAILY

While the saying that you lose a tooth for every baby isn’t strictly correct (phew!), it does have an element of truth. Pregnancy hormones cause your gums to soften and they may become inflamed and bleed. “It’s important to floss as well as brush daily, as only 60% of the tooth is cleaned using just a brush,” says Karen Coates, dental health advisor for the British Dental Health Foundation. “And don’t skip your check-ups.”

4 TURN OVER A HEALTHY LEAF

BY TWEAKING YOUR DIET