yoga during pregnancy

During gestation, one of the most recommended ways to remain active and prepare for birth is to practice yoga.

This form of exercise has countless benefits for pregnant women, not only does it keep them active during pregnancy but it also helps them to care for their bodies and minds and prepares them for a relaxing birth.

Some of the advantages of practicing yoga during pregnancy are that it:

• Boosts the body’s flexibility.
• Keeps the muscles toned.
• Increases the possibility of a natural birth and a speedy recovery.
• Relaxes the mind.
• Teaches you to control your breathing.
• Avoids anxiety.
• Straightens posture.
• Strengthens the spine.
• Helps with digestion.
• Reduces stress and alleviates fatigue.

Furthermore, creating a routine by attending your yoga class will be greatly beneficial as you will set aside a specific time each week to care for yourselves, and you can share concerns and feelings with your fellow classmates and your instructor. All you need is suitable clothing, a little perseverance and your bottle of Solán de Cabras to keep you hydrated, and you will soon experience all of yoga’s benefits during pregnancy.

Practice yoga with your baby

Today, we’d like to propose a great idea for getting your figure back after pregnancy, staying in shape and at the same time, spending some quality time with your baby. If, after having your little one, you’ve stopped exercising due to a lack of time, what do you think about attending a yoga class with your baby?

Practicing yoga is a beneficial activity for both mothers and babies, promoting the relaxation and physical well-being of both, but also strengthening the emotional bond between mother and baby.

If your baby is already two months old, it is the perfect moment for you both to start. You will practice poses and breathing simultaneously, strengthen your muscles as well as your baby’s and your baby will perceive your relaxation which will in turn, help him/her relax.

Furthermore, yoga favors babies’ psychomotor development and coordination and helps to tone their little muscles.

It is important that during your yoga practice, you continuously hydrate yourselves with your Solán de Cabras bottle so as not to become dehydrated and ensure a smooth session.

Don’t hesitate and start your practice now…it’s a discipline that promotes the mother-baby bond, allows you to exercise and feel more active without giving up time with your newborn, and it is a good way to start beneficial and fun family activities.

Your baby’s first picnic

Today, we’d like to recommend a very enjoyable and fun plan for you and your baby. What do you think about going on a picnic?

Babies love to be outdoors and preparing a picnic to spend a few hours in the garden, park or the countryside can be most enjoyable. While you enjoy yourselves, your baby will not stop trying out and discovering new things surrounded by nature. Yet in order for the picnic to be a success, you must be prepared!

It’s important that you choose the right place, namely somewhere shady so that your baby is comfortable but not exposed to the sun and, whenever possible, somewhere with few potential dangers. A nice lawn is better than pebbly or sandy terrain which will most likely end up in your baby’s mouth.

Once you have chosen the place, make sure you take everything you will need for an enjoyable picnic:

• A blanket for baby to romp around on freely.
• Some toys for distraction.
• A change of clothes in case your little adventurer gets into trouble.
• Some food, such as cookies, fruit and, of course, baby bottles if needed.
• Your bottle of Solán de Cabras to keep your baby, and yourselves of course, perfectly hydrated!

The best of plans when you’re pregnant

It’s a fact that when you’re pregnant, you often have to put aside some of your favorite activities.

Yet there are always fun things to do that can help make your pregnancy more enjoyable.

Exercise

Exercise helps reduce some of the more unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy, such as back pain, constipation or swollen legs.

Furthermore, it improves your posture, muscle tone and stamina.

You can also walk, swim or ride a bike; these are all low-impact exercises that you can practice while pregnant. Remember to take your bottle of water with you at all times to stay properly hydrated.

A day at the spa

This is a highly recommendable activity, as long as you are careful about treatments that raise body temperature.

You can get a facial, for example, or a good massage which your body would surely appreciate.

You must simply avoid anything involving heat or chemical products.

Shopping

Make a list of things you need such as comfortable shoes, maternity clothes or undergarments; also, so that you go out more often, buy just a couple of things from your list each month.

Photo shoot

Having some photos, whether taken by yourself or a professional, will make for beautiful memories of your pregnancy. You can take one picture a month so you can then have a photo-sequence of your entire gestation. It will be magical to share these with your baby once they grow and it will also help you stay active during the shoot, changing poses…it’ll be great!

Go on a picnic or an outing

A picnic or an outing through the countryside is a perfect activity to help you relax during your pregnancy. Pick a place that is easy to get to, take your family and have everyone bring something to eat and then share. If it’s summertime, you can plan an outing to a place that has air-conditioning, such as a museum or an art gallery…the point is to think of a great plan which will also get you moving a little.

Make new friends

You can take advantage of your free time to make new friends who are in the same situation so you can exchange opinions and advice. This is a plan pregnant women love!

Enroll in prenatal classes, mummyfit or yoga classes for pregnant women; it’s the perfect way to get to know other mums.

The first strolls with your baby. What to take.

It is truly a pleasure to be able to take a stroll with your baby through a pretty park, enjoying good weather and fresh air.

But it’s also necessary to pay special attention to caring for delicate skin when exposed to sun rays.

Protecting your baby from sunburn and sun damage is a very important matter which should not be taken lightly. This is why we have some advice to help you enjoy your stroll risk-free.

If your baby is not yet six months old, it’s best to keep them away from direct sunlight, specially between 11:00 and 15:00 when the sun is at its strongest.

If they are six months old or over, it is recommended that you stroll in the shade.

If you cannot avoid being in the sun, take certain precautions to protect your baby from sun rays. Among other things, dress them in a hat, use cotton clothing and apply sun protection to skin that is exposed to the sun.

Choose creams that are for babies as they are specially formulated for their delicate skin. They must have a protection factor of at least 30 SPF.

Also, when buying, make sure the cream offers protection from both UVA as well as UVB. Reapply cream every two hours in order to maintain optimal protection.

Your baby must wear a hat with wide wings that will provide shade for the face, neck and ears. Bonnets may look fresh but they leave the delicate neck and ears exposed, so it’s best to avoid using them.

When choosing a hat, the best option is to find one with an elastic or velcro-tied band which goes under the chin and keeps the hat on.
Cotton clothing is light and also offers the best protection due to the composition of its fabric. Making sure the shirt covers the baby’s shoulders is essential for avoiding sunburn, as the shoulders are particularly vulnerable and can burn easily.

Baby sun glasses are also a perfect accessory for protecting them from the sun. It’s a good idea to get them used to wearing them at a young age. It’s also important to verify that they have an adequate filter protection so, in order to be on the safe side, go to an optician’s where you can get expert advice.

With a hat, cotton clothing, sunglasses and sun protection, you are ready to enjoy a quiet family stroll with no unnecessary risks.
If you will be riding in the car, then it is imperative that, aside from the aforementioned, you also place sunshades in the back windows. This is very important because they will protect your baby from direct sunlight.

Avoiding stretch marks during pregnancy

Everything is magical and wonderful during pregnancy…a lot of new things are occurring throughout those nine months; yet some turn into a real nightmare, such as the appearance of stretch marks.

Stretch marks appear when the skin gets stretched beyond its capability, which is why you must prepare your body for the changes it will go through during pregnancy.

Hydration is key, as dehydrated skin will have a low level of collagen and elastin, making it more vulnerable to tear when stretched, and resulting in the appearance of much lamented stretch marks.

The easiest way to stay hydrated is to drink water; it is also fundamental for keeping your body in perfect condition; water is essential in the prevention of stretch marks.

If you start drinking between 1.5 and 2 liters of water every day, it will enable dead cells to be liberated, giving way to the regeneration of skin and maintaining a firm appearance.

Drinking water helps maintain your skin’s elasticity and eliminate any imperfections.

Furthermore, you can increase the hydration process with specific creams for the prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy, as well as with natural remedies such as blends containing olive or almond oil.

It is important that when you apply these, you do so through a relaxed and extensive massage of the area so that the product penetrates the skin completely.

Another factor that can help avoid the appearance of stretch marks is to avoid direct exposure to the sun, as this will help the skin retain its elasticity as much as possible without drying out from the high temperatures and the exposure to sun rays.

Flying when pregnant

Travelling during pregnancy can be a great opportunity to discover places and take in experiences before the baby changes your routine. This is what you need to know in order to enjoy a safe and comfortable flight.

Travelling during the first trimester is possible, although nausea and fatigue can often make it quite uncomfortable. Furthermore if you have an at-risk pregnancy, you must be even more careful and should consult your gynaecologist about the possibility, or impossibility, of flying.

Women with multiple pregnancies are also at a greater risk of premature and c-section birthing, so it is not recommended that they travel after week 20. As with at-risk pregnancies, you should consult your doctor.

When at the airport, don’t hesitate to ask for a wheelchair to help you get around; large distances when pregnant may seem interminable.

Hydrate continuously

When flying, the movement may make you feel nauseous. Staying hydrated alleviates these symptoms, so it is vital that you have your bottle of water with you at all times.

Dehydration can be cause for a premature birth so drinking water specially recommended for pregnant women, such as Solán de Cabras, is extremely important.

Move frequently

With all the water you need to drink, you’ll also need to visit the bathroom frequently. Move about for a few minutes every hour, this will help prevent urinary tract infections and improve circulation.

Carry fruit, nuts or energy bars around with you to appease any nausea. Airline food doesn’t tend to be very healthy and it’s much better to take your own.

Wear comfortable clothes

Wear clothes with elastic fabric and comfortable shoes as feet tend to swell up with altitude variations.

First aid kit

Don’t forget a travel first aid kit, it always comes in handy and you never know when you might need it.

Catching a cold during pregnancy

When pregnant, the mother’s immune system works at a slower speed than normal so that the body does not reject the baby. The “drawback” of this is that the body is more vulnerable in terms of fighting off colds.

Much of the medication used to alleviate cold symptoms cannot be taken during pregnancy, but there are home remedies which can help in these situations.

Rest

Sleeping will not necessarily shorten your cold, but it will help you feel better and will alleviate the fatigue you feel when sick.

Staying active

If you do not have fever or a cough, and you feel up to it, exercising can help you to feel better.

Continue eating as usual

It is normal to lose your appetite when you have a cold, but eating healthily can help eliminate some of the symptoms.

Drink a lot of water

Water provides the necessary hydration to endure the symptoms. A proper level of hydration helps the natural process of mucous secretion and thus, helps eliminate the cold virus more rapidly.

As you know, many medicines are not to be taken during pregnancy, so we’d like to share a few home remedies for dealing with the virus:

Eat raw garlic

Garlic is known for having virus-fighting compounds , which is why having a bite or two, adding it to your soup or sautéing it, is great for fighting a cold.

Use a humidifier

It helps maintain a humid environment which can help ease congestion.

Honey

Taking a couple of teaspoons (or mixing it with milk or hot water and lemon) can help suppress the type of dry coughing that frequently accompanies a cold.

Travelling during pregnancy: care and recommendations during the trip

Being pregnant should not stop you from travelling, if and when your pregnancy is not at risk, but it is normal to have some concerns.

Taking necessary precautions, covering vaccines and travel insurance, and knowing when to travel, most women can travel safely during their pregnancy. Wherever you go, it is convenient to find out where the closest medical centers are located in the event that you need urgent medical attention. A good idea is to take your maternity medical history with you so as to be able to provide the doctors with relevant information, if necessary.

It is also not a bad idea, if you’re travelling abroad, to take out travel insurance that covers any contingency, such as medical care related to the pregnancy or birth, premature birth or the cost of changing your return dates if the baby comes early.

When to travel during pregnancy

Some women prefer not to travel during the first 12 weeks of their pregnancy due to the nausea and fatigue of these first stages. The risk of miscarriage is also greater in the first three months, whether you travel or not. Travelling during the last months of pregnancy can also be exhausting and uncomfortable which is why many women find that the best moment to travel or getaway is in the middle of the pregnancy, between four and six months.

The following is general advice to ensure a safe and hassle-free trip:

Flying during pregnancy

Flying is not harmful for a pregnant woman, but it is recommended to consult your doctor before flying to address any health issues or complications concerning your pregnancy.

The probability of complications is higher after week 37 (around week 32 for twins), besides, some airlines do not allow you to fly during the last stages of pregnancy in order to avoid any problems. It is recommended that you find out the airline’s policy on this matter. Long-distance travel (more than five hours) entails a small risk of blood clots (deep venous thrombosis or DVT).

If you are travelling by plane, drink lots of water and move about regularly – every 30 minutes or so.

Travelling by car during pregnancy

Fatigue and nausea are common during pregnancy, which is why, when travelling by car, it’s important to drink often in order to stay properly hydrated, eat natural foods that provide energy (such as fruit and nuts) and stop regularly to rest and stretch your legs.

Keep the air circulating in the car and use the seatbelt with the strap crossing your chest and the abdominal band across the pelvis, below your bump and not above it. Traffic accidents are one of the most common causes of injuries in pregnant women which is why you should avoid long trips on your own.

Travelling by boat during pregnancy

Maritime companies have their own restrictions and may refuse to take pregnant women to a large extent (more so for over 32 weeks). It is recommended to consult the company’s policy before reserving.

For long trips by boat, such as cruises, it is important to find out if there are facilities on board for assisting pregnancies and verify the medical services available at each port of call.

For safe travels: SoMum

The new wearable from Solán de Cabras with its app, is very effective for ensuring safe travels during pregnancy, as it controls daily hydration levels in real time.

Furthermore, it includes health and nutritional advice, measures calories consumed and steps taken, and provides alerts for weight control and helps follow the evolution of the entire process.

In order to calculate the daily recommended hydration, Somum uses factors determined by specialist doctors, such as physical characteristics, the specific need for hydration at each specific moment of pregnancy (including breastfeeding), and specific data pertaining to the environment such as exterior temperature. All this information is linked to the daily activity carried out by the future mother, which is collected by the smart bracelet.

With you during pregnancy

Solán de Cabras NATURAL MINERAL WATER is the ideal companion for women during the most important stages of their lives.

Pregnancy

During this time, many changes are occurring in a woman’s organism which affect the urinary system and can cause crystalluria, lithiasis and nephritic colic. Furthermore, there is an increase in the proliferation of bacteria which could cause a urinary tract infection, the most frequent cause of preterm birth. In order to prevent these pathologies, experts recommend that pregnant women drink two liters of water per day.

Lactation

Hydration is essential at this stage as, when breastfeeding, the amount and quality of the milk will depend greatly on the water consumed by the mother.

If, on the other hand, your baby is bottle-fed, Solán de Cabras will also be a faithful ally for parents because it is a low mineralization, pure, quality water, ideal for children. Furthermore, being a mineral water, it does not need to be boiled. (Ref. Consensus Document: “Pautas de Hidratación en la asistencia Sanitaria Integral” SSCN 2013).