Congratulations! You are about to take part in one of life's most challenging and rewarding experiences: bringing a child into this world. From here on out, your life will revolve around a seed you'll nurture and love as it grows into a life of its own. Raising a child is very important but before you can do that, you've got nine months to ensure a safe arrival! Here are the essentials to make sure your baby has everything it needs while you're pregnant.

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• Appropriate Weight Gain
  Resist the urge to "eat for two." Think about it, you're really not eating for two. You're eating for you and a teeny tiny microscopic person. Americanpregnancy.com lists 200-300 calories as the necessary excess intake for pregnant women. That means all the ice cream, cereal, and random cravings of junk food should not be indulged. For your baby's sake, you'll only need to gain 25-30 pounds during pregnancy, most of which is from fluid. Don't suffocate your baby by gaining 50 pounds, instead make sure the weight you do gain is beneficial to the baby.
  
  
• DHA
  Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that can be found in cold water fish, fish oil supplements, as well as seaweed. It has three wonderful benefits for your baby: it helps brain development, visual function, and can contribute to higher birth weight. According to Everydayhealth.com, a study at the University of Oslo in Norway showed that 4 year old children whose mothers supplemented with DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding scored higher IQ scores.
  
  
• Prenatal Vitamins
  If possible, start taking your prenatal vitamins before you become pregnant. Make sure to select one that is high in folic acid, iron, and calcium to prevent complications due to vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Everything the baby needs will be coming from you, so it is necessary to take extra vitamins to ensure you and your baby are getting the right amounts.
  
  
• Avoidance of Forbidden Substances
  Possibly even more important than what you should do during pregnancy is what you should not do. The most obvious of these will of course be alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. It is also highly recommended that you consult with your doctor before taking any prescription medicine as well as over-the-counter medicine. Remember, whatever you take will be received by the baby as well, so drugs that may make you feel better may actually cause of problems for your baby. Avoid extreme heat or cold, microwaves, x-rays, VDTs, tap water, reptiles, uncooked meat, and harsh chemicals. Also, steer clear of Vitamin A supplements since even 4 times the daily recommended intake can cause birth defects due to toxicity.