Your body goes through some incredible changes during pregnancy. Here’s how private health insurance, particularly with extras cover, can help you with some self-care essentials.
Pregnancy is an exciting time, and there are a lot of changes happening in your body. That can mean some of your health and wellbeing needs change too, and you may find you need a little extra support to keep you feeling healthy, comfortable, and energised.
Here are a few steps you can take for a healthy, happy pregnancy, and some of the ways extras cover can help support your wellbeing along the way.
1. Healthy Eating
Healthy eating is always important for your health and wellbeing, and if you’re pregnant, it’s crucial for you and your baby.
As your baby grows, aim to eat a wide variety of healthy foods to ensure you’re both getting the vitamins and minerals you need each day. A few things to focus on include:
- Fruits and vegetables: Aim to eat a variety of types and colours, with two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables each day.
- Grains (especially wholegrains): Breads, rice, oats, pasta, and quinoa.
- Protein: Lean meats, fish, eggs, and beans/legumes.
- Dairy: Milk, yogurt, and hard cheese products, preferably reduced-fat varieties.
- Iron: Found in lean meats, eggs, nuts, and tofu.
- Folate: Leafy greens, vegetables, legumes, wholegrains, and nuts. Folate and iodine supplements are typically recommended during pregnancy.
How can health insurance help?
Extras cover can include:
– Diet and nutrition: A dietitian can provide personalised nutrition advice to ensure you and your baby are getting the most from your diet.
2. Exercise
Staying active during pregnancy is important for both your body and mind. However, changes in your body during pregnancy may require some exercises to be modified. It’s important to always listen to your body.
For the best health benefits, aim for a mix of:
- Cardio exercises: Walking, fitness classes, swimming, or cycling to boost cardiorespiratory fitness.
- Strengthening exercises: Resistance training, yoga, or Pilates to condition your muscles, which may help reduce back and pelvic pain and prepare your body for giving birth.
How can health insurance help? Extras cover can include:
- Physiotherapy: A physiotherapist can help improve your strength and mobility and manage aches and pains.
- Exercise physiology: An exercise physiologist can provide personalised exercise advice for pregnancy.
3. Mental Health and Wellbeing
Preparing to welcome a baby can come with a range of emotions – excitement, fear, joy, stress, and anxiety. If your feelings become difficult to cope with, it’s important to seek help.
It’s common for both men and women to experience mental health issues such as depression and anxiety while expecting a baby.
How can health insurance help? Extras cover can include:
- Psychology: A psychologist can offer support, guidance, and strategies to help manage your mental health and wellbeing.
4. Aches and Pains
Aches and pains during pregnancy are common, particularly in the back, neck, shoulders, and abdominal muscles. Stretching, gentle exercise, and pregnancy massage can help.
How can health insurance help? Extras cover can include:
- Physiotherapy: A physio can treat aches and pains and show you exercises and stretches that can help.
- Remedial massage: A qualified therapist can soothe muscle and joint pain and improve mood and sleep.
- Chiropractic and osteopathy: These treatments can help reduce low back and pelvic pain during pregnancy.
- Natural therapies: Acupuncture and other natural therapies can soothe aches and pains and promote wellbeing.
5. Pelvic Floor
As your baby grows, the weight can put pressure on your pelvic floor muscles, leading to stress incontinence. Strengthening your pelvic floor during pregnancy can help reduce this and avoid stress incontinence after birth.
How can health insurance help? Extras cover can include:
- Physiotherapy: A physio can teach you exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, including clinical Pilates sessions.
6. Dental Care
Continuing to care for your teeth and gums during pregnancy is essential. Hormonal changes can affect your gums, causing irritation, inflammation, and tenderness.
How can health insurance help? Extras cover can include:
- Dental: Benefits for dental check-ups, scale and cleans, and treatments to keep your smile fresh and healthy.
Extras Cover You Can Feel Good About
With great benefits for physio, dietetics, remedial massage, and more, extras cover can help support your wellbeing. For more information on health insurance and private health insurance options, check out Flipr services. The right health insurance plan can support your health goals and provide peace of mind.
Want to know more?
If you’re looking for additional support to achieve your health goals beyond what your current Private Health Insurance policy offers, use our CheckYourBill platform to compare your current fund with other policies that better suit your needs. This comparison could potentially save you money while helping you improve your health, making 2024 your best year yet.
If you haven’t already got Private Health Insurance, now is an excellent time to consider getting a policy to support your health aspirations. Whether you’re aiming to run a marathon or lose weight, having the right Private Health Insurance can significantly impact your journey. Start your journey today.
