Well-being and everyday Life

Pregnancy and the birth of a child bring a lot of changes and challenges for expectant mothers and fathers. So it's no wonder that the feeling of anticipation and happiness is sometimes mixed with questions, uncertainty and worry. Fortunately, in addition to the classic childbirth preparation courses, the early help counselling centres, and partnership counselling, there are many other counselling services and courses that can help you to prepare well for the birth and for life with a child.

In order for your baby to develop well from the beginning, it is important that you eat healthy during pregnancy. It's not so much that you're eating larger quantities than usual. Pregnant people only need a little more energy, i.e. calories, starting in the fourth month of pregnancy. Even at the end of pregnancy, the difference is pretty small at around 250 extra calories per day. This is roughly equivalent to one serving of vegetables or one cup of soup. It’s more important that the growing fetus gets quality nutrients and vitamins. Although the need increases greatly during pregnancy, it gets most of them automatically if you eat healthy. But there are a few substances that pregnant people often lack, even with good nutrition. These are mainly folic acid, iron and iodine. It is best to talk about these issues with your doctor. A blood test can determine whether you are sufficiently supplied with all important substances. It's also important to know that there are foods that you should avoid eating or drinking if possible when pregnant.

If you want or need to travel during pregnancy, the best time to do so is after first trimester. Then you're past the stage where the pregnancy is most sensitive. Usually the nausea or fatigue that often occur at the beginning of a pregnancy have already subsided. However, whether a trip poses a risk to you and the pregnancy always requires an individual assessment that will vary from person to person. That's why it's best to talk to your gynaecologist or midwife about this beforehand.

Exercise is good for you, especially during pregnancy. Physical activity is a good remedy for back pain, circulatory problems, high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. It also elevates your mood, helps with morning sickness, and may help prevent excessive weight gain. You don't have to be a member of a gym or sports club to do this. It makes a big difference if you take the stairs instead of the elevator or ride your bike to work and to the grocery store instead of taking the car or bus. The only thing that matters is that you feel comfortable doing it and don't overexert yourself. However, if you want, you can continue to do many sports with almost no restrictions until your baby slips deeper into your pelvis in the last weeks of pregnancy.

Allergies occur when the body has a hypersensitive reaction to a substance that is actually harmless. The reason for this is a malfunction of the body's own defense system against disease - the immune system. It can cause you to sneeze or have a runny or stuffy nose. Allergies also often cause skin rashes and itching, red or watery eyes. However, even more severe reactions can occur, such as allergic shock or allergic asthma. There are many different types of allergies. Common triggers include pet dander, dust, mold, preservatives, medications, cosmetics, metals, or food. Hay fever is an allergy to pollen from plants. Allergic reactions can vary in severity. Some allergies exist from birth, others develop later in life. Infants who are breastfed for a longer time seem to develop allergies less often than babies who are weaned early.

The need for physical and sexual intimacy during pregnancy varies greatly from person to person and from couple to couple. However, many people have less desire for sex than usual, especially during the first trimester. This is normal, especially if you're suffering from symptoms like fatigue, vomiting, or nausea during that time. Often sexual desire returns in the second trimester due to a change in hormonal balance and thanks to growing adjustment to the new life situation. In this case nothing is standing in the way of your need for a fulfilling sex life.

The birth of a child is a beautiful event. But it also means a change for all family members. Especially for siblings, the world can suddenly become confusing. Anticipation, curiosity, and fear of getting less attention can cause quite a bit of emotional chaos. But there are things you can do during pregnancy to ease your older children's fears and worries. If you are ill or bedridden and are worried that your children will miss out because of this, you may, in some cases, also be entitled to a home aide to support you.

Swimming is good for you. This is still true during pregnancy. Exercising in the water is a good way to loosen your muscles and relax. Whether you go into the sea, a lake or a swimming pool, you don't have to worry about swimming causing harm to you or your baby. If you want to and if you feel comfortable doing so, you can even go swimming until the last day before giving birth. Many people enjoy feeling lighter in the water. This is especially true during later stages of pregnancy when the belly has become quite large.

Skin and hair change during pregnancy. This is because your body is now producing and releasing surges of hormones. Each person will experience this somewhat differently.

If it's important for your well-being, you can still colour your hair during pregnancy. However, it is important to know that the products hairdressers use for dying and highlighting hair, as well as for doing perms, contain strong chemicals. All products sold in German drugstores or used in hairdressing salons are officially considered harmless when used correctly. It is certain, however, that many chemical components can enter the body through the scalp. Therefore, it is best to wait until after the first twelve weeks of pregnancy before dyeing your hair. The embryo is still particularly sensitive during this time. 

Sunshine does many people good. The heat helps the body relax. Sunlight can improve your mood, and some people find that a tan complexion may improve their well-being. You can still enjoy the sun during pregnancy. However, you should be especially careful to protect your skin. It may be more sensitive to sunlight than you are used to. For example, you may experience slight pigmentation or sunburn. This is due to the pregnancy hormones, and also to the fact that the skin on your stomach and breasts will stretch more and more from week to week. To avoid unpleasant surprises, you should use sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) and wear long, airy clothes. If you stay outdoors for a long time, you should relax in the shade from time to time. Another reason to be careful is that direct sunlight and heat can lead to circulation problems, especially during pregnancy.

Many people attach great importance to their appearance, especially during pregnancy. Well-groomed nails can be part of that. You can paint your fingernails and toenails without worry as long as you pay attention to the choice of products you use. These should contain as few chemicals as possible. Many brands offer their coatings with the designation ‘3-free’, ‘5-free’ and up to ‘10-free’. This means that certain harmful chemicals, such as plasticisers or solvents, are not used. The higher the number before the word ‘free’, the fewer harmful substances are contained in the nail polish and the safer it is for you to use. You should also make sure that your nail polish remover contains as little of solvents (such as acetone, phenol or trichloroethylene) as possible, or none at all.

For many people, tattoos are an expression of their personality. The images on her skin may also stand for important moments or unique aspects of her life. A pregnancy can also be a special experience and awaken the desire for a personal memento. However, you should refrain from getting new tattoos during this time and even while breastfeeding. There are several reasons for this. Even for expectant mothers who already know what a getting tattoo feels like, the stinging can cause severe pain and stress. Both have a bad effect on the baby.

Piercings you have had for a long time, for example on your navel, in your genital area or on your nipples, shouldn’t cause any problems during pregnancy. The piercing has probably healed and the punctured skin will stretch during pregnancy. To keep the area around the piercing smooth, you can treat it with oil or cream. But if your piercings suddenly cause pain, you should take them out as a precaution and insert a plastic placeholder instead. PTFE sticks are best suited for this purpose. You can find them wherever you can get piercings. Such plastic rods are flexible, adapt to changes in your body and do not cause inflammation. In case of severe pain or inflammation, you should make an appointment with a doctor as a precaution. By the time you give birth at the latest you must have completely removed genital piercings. Otherwise, the baby could get hurt. Piercings on the breast should always be removed for breastfeeding because they disturb the baby while drinking. In the worst case, children may even swallow the jewelry.

Pets often already have a set place in the life of expectant parents before the birth of their first child. Your pets remain a part of the family during pregnancy. You do not need to look for another home for your dog or cat. Contact with animals does not automatically create a health hazard. However, it makes sense for you to follow certain basic rules when dealing with the animals.