It is important to relax

I happen to be the new mother of a beautiful baby girl named Sara, who was born in February. Here are a few tips, from my firsthand experience:

A universal misconception is that one should eat endlessly throughout pregnancy. Nothing can be farther from the truth! The secret to having a 'holistic' healthy baby is in eating the right quantity and consuming the right proportion of calories at the right time, not in raiding the refrigerator!

Fresh fruits, juices and green vegetables are an absolute must and so is milk.

Fortunately for expectant mothers, dry fruits are also available in abundance here. Almonds and nuts are especially beneficial at this time due to the baby's growing need for nutrition.

Eating and resting well are important but so is relaxation and entertainment!

Music therapy worked wonders for me and I think my baby daughter would be in agreement with me! I used to listen to instrumental music, old songs, contemporary hits as well as tune in to the radio regularly.

Another wonderful habit to fall in love with when you are expecting is reading.

I used to read, not just to relax, but mostly in order to acquire information on and thereby understand the changes occurring in my body and the child.

— The reader is a Dubai-based teacher and a new mother.