In eight month now? Excited? No! Super excited? Well, you should be…
You are just one more month away from your dream, your destination. We know that the journey was quite compromising yet fruitful, and you stood stronger and even taller than your own imaginations and expectations. You deserve hundreds of pats on your back for being bold and forthcoming.
A lot you know, a bit is here. Read about the various pregnancy tips for 8th month that you should know in your eighth month.

Eighth month Pregnancy guide

1. Foods to eat – Food items rich in vitamins and minerals should be added in your diet. Iron and calcium have important roles to play in both the development of your body tissues and development of fetus. To pace up with the blood loss at the time of delivery, you need to take ample iron, and calcium to strengthen your and your baby’s bones. Add dry fruits, nuts apricots, green leafy vegetables, fish, lean meat, dairy products and bananas in your diet.

Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins should not be forgotten. Carbohydrates work as a source of fuel for us; protein is necessary for the growth; and healthy development of body cells is ensured by the consumption of fats.
Potatoes, cereals, whole grains, berries, and legumes are rich sources of carbohydrates. Milk, soymilk, tofu, beans and chicken breasts are sources of protein. Eggs and peanut butter are sources of fats.
Keep continuing your fiber intake that should include corn, avocados, brown rice and other fiber-rich food items. Eighth month of pregnancy diet should include all the necessary nutrients.

2. Foods to be avoided – By this time, you should really reduce your caffeinated beverage intake such as coffee and other aerated soft drinks from your diet. Unpasteurized and soft cheese should be avoided. Marlin, shark, and swordfish have high levels of methyl-mercury. The regular consumption of this methyl-mercury element may harm the nervous system of the unborn baby. You should avoid eating all types of pates, raw shell fish, raw or uncooked eggs and liver and cured meats. Pates contain listeria that may affect both the pregnant woman and baby. Raw or uncooked eggs increase the risk of salmonella food poisoning that may also cause diarrhea. Eating raw or uncooked fishes may increase the rare risk of an infection called toxoplasmosis that may harm your baby. Too much vitamin A present in liver may also affect the baby. Alcohol and tobacco can be dangerous too.

Oily and spicy foods, junk foods, foods that contain acids should also be eliminated from your 8th month of pregnancy diet. Smoking, alcohol, and drugs may be a threat. Smoking increases the risk of premature labor, fetal injury or low birth weight. Alcohol may cause fetal alcohol syndrome that includes physical and mental birth defects. Taking illegal drugs may cause behavioral issues like hyperactivity in your baby.

3. Aches, tiredness, and puffiness – You may be unable to handle your headaches, heartburns, nausea, fatigue, dizziness and moodiness during this month. You may get out of control of your emotions. We understand that the time you are going through is not easy. You may get rid of these mood swings and aches very soon. The uneasiness in your body may become an isolated memory soon. You may get rid of the aches and pains soon. Avoid standing for too long as it may increase the pain in your lower back.
Remember that the big is not so far now. This is the time to stay strong. You may feel out of breath, or breathing may become an impossible thing for you this time. This is one of the common eighth month of pregnancy symptoms.

4. Six meals a day – To feed your hunger, a continuous and regular eating habit may help. If you manage to divide your calorie intake in six times meals a day, you may feel full, and it may also prevent nausea. There is no compulsion that a particular food item is to be consumed every time you open your mouth. You should include a variety of fruit and veggies so that you are not bored from the same food item and you can enjoy different tastes of various food items. Continue taking your prenatal vitamins side by side as suggested by your doctor.

Maintain a regular diet. Whether hungry or not, eat at regular intervals because your baby gets all the nutrients from you; and whatever you eat, make sure it holds some nutritive value because your food intake may determine the health and weight of your baby at the time of delivery.

5. Yes, nutrition! During this time of pregnancy, your body supplies and passes your antibodies to your baby through blood as your baby has not developed its own antibodies yet. These antibodies will be helping your baby to keep away from any illness or infection. Therefore, it necessitates taking the proper nutritional diet. Your body needs enough of nutrients and make sure you are on the right path. Nutrition is an important element in the food to be taken during 8th month of pregnancy.

6. Hydrating yourself – Keep yourself hydrated i.e. maintaining the fluid level in your body. You may take water, juices, squashes and shakes. Cucumber, iceberg lettuce, green peppers, tomatoes, radishes, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, watermelon, star fruit, grapefruit, strawberries, baby carrot and cantaloupe have high water content. 8th month pregnancy advice is to stay hydrated. This may keep you away from constipation, dropping blood sugar, and heartburn as well.

7. Walking – Walking during this stage of pregnancy may help you get away from nausea in the morning or any other time of the day. You may observe hurdles in walking for long. We advise you to walk as longer as you can, even if you walk for a few minutes only. Walking also helps in comforting morning sickness. Get up or go outside, and walk.

8. Prenatal exercise – Do you think that you cannot stay fit without going to gym all seven days? You are wrong. The physical activities such as body movements and prenatal aerobics serve an equal deed as working out in a gym at this stage of pregnancy. You may do your desired prenatal exercise by switching on some DVD as well. Such exercises may help you to be in shape and lighten some pains and aches. Keep exercising is another eighth month pregnancy advice. Prenatal exercise helps to position your baby for delivery also. If you observe any problem while exercising, you should consult your doctor.

9. Urine leakage – You may prone to urine leakage by this time as you sneeze or cough or lift heavy objects. It can be frustrating at times, but it is all natural. Kegel exercise is a solution to combat incontinence. It also strengthens your pelvic muscles. Another solution can be plastic sheeting or covering over your mattress if the leakage is recurrent.

10. A bit of training – You should attend the ongoing, effective and useful workshops in the hospitals about breast feeding and diaper changing sessions. This may be beneficial for the first-time mothers. Plus, there is also a chance to share your issues and discomforts with the women who are in the same phase of pregnancy as you.

11. Baby’s movement – If you observe lesser movements inside your abdomen, it may be due to the growth of your baby as the baby has lesser area to move now. This is again natural and probably freaks you out because you are getting lesser somersaults by this time. Consuming sugar may stimulate the movement of your baby. If you are too worried, call and share with your doctor.

12. Sleeping- a challenge? You may feel confined in your abdominal area. This is because your baby has developed almost full, and it may be kicking your uterus walls and playing inside you. You may face a problem in getting proper sleep. Hence, it becomes quite important for you to grab your pillow and sleep whenever you get a chance to. You may prefer sleeping in the afternoon as well.

13. Sex – a question mark – Some doctors acclaim that having sex with your partner during eighth month of pregnancy is safe. However, it may be rough and uncomfortable. On the other hand, others suggest you to restrain yourself from having sex as it may harm your baby or may increase the chance of preterm labor. There is an ‘if-but’ situation. Talk to your health care provider before involving in any such activity and get yourself educated about the precautions during 8th month of pregnancy regarding sexual activities.

14. Gastro-intestinal issues – Your intestine may become slow in its working. This is caused due to high levels of progesterone and the natural effects of compression by your baby. This can result in heartburn. We recommend you to eat cooked food instead of raw as it may produce less gas in your intestine. Fiber intake may also help you to prevent gastric problems.

15. Stay energetic – You may feel fragility in your body, but a complete bed rest should be avoided. You need to stay energetic to avoid pregnancy pain and aches that you may have to deal with, until the time of delivery. If you are robust, the pain perception may likely to decrease and enhance the maternal lung capacity.

16. A birth plan – This is a good time to plan out your delivery if you have not planned it yet. Draw it accordingly. You may plan out what kind of birth would be comfortable for you, a birth centre, hospital or home, and who should be with you while giving birth to the baby, your mother, husband or your close friend or relative. Share these plans with your doctor. This may help you restructuring the choice of giving birth at the last moment.

17. Psychological relaxation – As you have understood the importance of relaxing your body, you should also know the importance of mental relaxation at the same time during your eighth month. This is to reduce your stress level and boosting your psychological power. Medications and preparations of birth may be more fruitful and easy with mental peace. Try comforting yourself with the things you love and do not over-think and over-stress. You may lay out things that help you relaxing. You may plug in the music or watch movies, read books and do anything that soothes you. You need to think positive at this stage of pregnancy.

18. Signaling up with your body – Now you have to understand your body requirements. In any situation, understand yourself, like if you are dizzy, sleep; if hungry, eat; if tired, rest and if nervous, talk to someone whom you trust. You need to cope up with the signals your body is giving at all levels. This is equally important. Ignoring these signals and signs may result in any pregnancy complication.

19. Doc-on call – You may be facing problems or confusions about pregnancy. Write your doctor’s number in the diary you always carry in your bag. Write the number on a paper and hang that on the walls of your house. Keep it handy. It should be easily accessible by you. Whenever you feel any difficulty, just call your doctor.

We understand that eight-month pregnancy is critical and crucial time for you. But do not get nervous or stress yourself. Your doctors, friends and relatives are there for you all time if you need their help. If you have doubts or questions, ask your doctor about them. Follow the pregnancy precautions during eighth month of pregnancy. Things will be good soon. Hang in there!!!

Disclaimer: Make sure that this generic advice is good for you in all manners. All the suggestions, diet plans, and tests must be cross-checked with your doctor as they may vary based on your medical history or health conditions. Hence, it is advisable to consult a doctor before adhering to any of them.

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