6 Essential Tips to Boost Your Immunity During Pregnancy

Being pregnant can be an exciting journey for a woman. However, it is not really easy to get through the nine months of pregnancy. During pregnancy, your body undergoes a lot of changes. All of these can affect your health. As a result, your immunity during pregnancy may weaken, making you easily susceptible to illness.

The reason for this is that your body suppresses the immune system, so it does not consider the growing fetus or embryo as a threat. So, you need to maintain and build a strong immune system during and after your pregnancy. After all, it is not just you who may be affected but also the child within you.

Here are 6 effective ways to boost the immune system during pregnancy for your and the baby’s health.

Have a wholesome, nutritious diet to increase immunity during pregnancy

While it is wonderful to indulge your cravings once in a while, ensure your meals are packed with proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. If there is depletion in any of these essential nutrients, it could affect your immunity, which isn’t good for your baby either.

Some of the immune-boosting foods during pregnancy include milk, nuts, garlic, turmeric, and ginger. The antimicrobial properties of garlic reduce the occurrence of the common cold, and garlic helps maintain a healthy gut, which is essential during pregnancy [1]. During early pregnancy, the immune system can get affected easily, so including ginger, garlic, and turmeric in your diet is beneficial. Having a glass or two of milk daily is vital to prevent viruses from entering your body. This is because of lactoferrin present in milk, which can boost the low immune system in pregnancy by fighting viral cells.

Having vegetables for immunity-building also helps, such as sweet potato, which is rich in vitamin A. Consuming mixed nuts can also increase vitamin E levels in your body. Have different fruits for boosting your immunity, such as kiwi fruit benefits, which is a rich source of vitamin C.

Get proper sleep and rest well to boost immunity during pregnancy

Sleep is one of the key factors for a strong and healthy immune system. When your sleeping patterns are disturbed, your immunity gets affected, resulting in various ailments. It is necessary to get around 8 hours of undisturbed sleep both for you and your baby. Since your body is dealing with many emotional, physical, and psychological changes, you need to get proper rest. When you don’t get enough sleep, there aren’t enough cytokines produced by the body to help fight infections.

Do low-intensity exercises to help your body prepare for childbirth.

Exercising is required to increase your immunity during pregnancy. However, following a low-intensity workout plan after consulting with your doctor. Exercising also helps in reducing obesity. Another advantage is that it raises your body temperature, which helps in minimizing the growth of bacteria. Try to exercise for 30 minutes daily, depending on your health. However, it is essential to listen to your body and not overdo it.

Drink sufficient water to keep your body hydrated

Drink plenty of fluids and water during pregnancy as the immune system may weaken if your body is deprived of water. Moreover, it would help if you stayed hydrated to prevent dehydration and ensure smooth bowel movements. Water flushes out harmful toxins from your body, and so it is essential to drink at least 2-3 liters of water daily [2].

Consume prenatal vitamins to meet your daily nutritional needs

Pregnant women have additional dietary requirements to meet the growing needs of the fetus. Taking prenatal vitamins should not be neglected during pregnancy. Have these vitamins as per your doctor’s recommendations. By consuming these vitamins, your body is supplemented with essential nutrients required for the growth of your baby [3].

Please wash your hands regularly to keep them clean.

Washing your hands frequently prevents germs like bacteria and other microbes from invading your body. Hence, it is crucial to wash hands for both your and your baby’s health. Illness during pregnancy can lead to preterm labor. So, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap by scrubbing properly for at least 15-30 seconds. Take care to clean your fingertips and thumb to avoid entry of germs.

Apart from following these tips, it is equally important to reduce your stress. Stress can hamper your body’s ability to fight infections, especially during pregnancy. Doing meditation and breathing practices under expert guidance can relieve you of stress. However, if you are not keeping well, reach out to experienced gynecologists on Bajaj Finserv Health. Book an online doctor consultation within minutes & clear away all your doubts. This way, you can relax and experience your beautiful journey of pregnancy!