Especially if you are still a teenager, you will need to keep a healthy diet while pregnant. Eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat meat and dairy. There are government programs such as the WIC (Women, Infant, and Children) that can help you afford good food. Avoid soda and junk food, and eat healthy snacks like fruits and nuts in between classes to keep your energy up.  An empty stomach can lead to morning sickness and nausea. Carry a mild snack like wholegrain crackers to eat throughout the day. Try to drink fluids throughout the day, cutting back during mealtimes.  Seek treatment if you have an eating disorder. You can seriously harm your child and yourself if you give birth without adequate nutrition.  If you eat at home, teach your family about good nutrition. You and whoever cooks in your house should come up with meals together that will support your health. Drugs, alcohol, caffeine, junk food, and cigarettes are all harmful for your child and yourself. Drugs and alcohol are also bad for your schoolwork. The sooner you are able to quit, the better. Talk to your school nurse, your counselor, or a doctor to get help with addiction. Ask your friends and family for their support while you give up smoking, drinking, and eating unhealthy food. You may find you need to sleep longer hours, or take naps after school or in between classes. Ask your school if there is a place you can lie down if you find you need a nap during the day. Exercise will help you sleep better, reduce health risks for you and your baby, and ease your back pain. If you always exercise, you can probably continue a similar exercise regimen during your pregnancy.  If you do not normally exercise, start by going on walks or exercising for 10 or 15 minutes at a time until you build up more stamina. Avoid any exercise that has you lying on your back after your first trimester. Avoid exercise that puts you at risk of falling. Drink plenty of fluids while you exercise. Check your local hospital, fitness center or gym for exercise classes for pregnant people, such as prenatal yoga. For a pregnant student, school becomes less of a social space and more of a job. You're taking care of your body full time, so taking care of schoolwork will need a special focus. You also might experience what is sometimes called "baby brain," or a lack of focus and memory associated with pregnancy. Keep a calendar with all your assignments as well as your doctors appointments and other dates. Get a tutor or talk to your teachers if you are struggling with understanding the material. Talk to your doctor about sex during pregnancy. If your doctor says you it is safe for you to have sex while you are pregnant, use a condom when you do. Sexually transmitted infections can be extremely harmful to newborn babies. Use a condom to avoid contracting an illness that could hurt you and could cause cause blindness, pneumonia, or meningitis in the baby. If you are in college, you have the option of taking a semester or a year off. Talk to your guidance counselor about the possibility of leaving and picking up where you were. You might want to stay in school while pregnant and then take a year off if you are keeping the child, or you might need to stay in school in order to collect your financial aid. If you do take time off, make sure you apply for extra scholarships for students who are parents when you are ready to return. If you are in high school and you are struggling to take care of your pregnancy and your schoolwork, consider taking classes for your GED. Talk to your school counselor about this decision.
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One-sentence summary -- Eat well and eat often. Give up harmful substances. Give your body rest and exercise. Treat school like it's your job. Practice safe sex. Consider taking time off.


Varicose veins and venous insufficiency can cause blood flow in your leg veins to slow, which results in swelling. Compression stockings can stimulate blood flow, improving circulation and reducing swelling. Wear compression stockings until you see a significant improvement in your legs, or as advised by your doctor.  Purchase compression stockings at medical supply stores or online. Be sure to remove your compression stockings at the end of each day to wash and dry them before wearing them again. Raising your legs above your heart will reduce pain and pressure in your legs due to vein problems. Aim to have your feet at least 6 inches (15 cm) above your heart. Use pillows to prop up your legs if necessary. Do this as often as you can, at home or in other relaxed locations such as the beach. Heat can cause increased blood flow in your blood vessels, making varicose veins and other vein problems worse. Avoid very hot showers and baths, sitting near a campfire or heater, or using a heat pack. If your legs feel hot, swollen, or hurt, apply a cool compress as needed to make them more comfortable. Some vein problems seem minor but may develop into a bigger problem. While milder issues like varicose veins, for instance, are sometimes just an aesthetic issue, they may also indicate a serious condition like deep vein thrombosis. See your doctor as soon as possible if you notice:  Swelling in your legs, especially if 1 is swollen more than the other Intense calf pain Skin discoloration Open sores Dry, thin skin
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One-sentence summary -- Wear compression stockings to reduce swelling in your legs. Elevate your legs above your heart when sitting or lying down at home. Keep your legs cool to avoid worsening symptoms. Contact your doctor if you notice signs of serious vein damage.


Setting goals is a great way to keep yourself focused. Working towards the goal and eventually accomplishing the goal will also give you a sense of satisfaction and pride. Think about what you would like to accomplish with a portion of your time over the summer, and then turn this into a SMART goal, which means that it is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-based.  For example, if you would like to learn how to skateboard over the summer, then you might write a SMART goal that reads, “I will practice skateboarding for 20 minutes on at least 3 days per week for the next 6 weeks.” To lose weight, you might write a smart goal that reads, “I will lose 5 pounds over the next 30 days by taking daily 30-minute walks and keeping my calories under 1,800 per day.” Getting regular physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. It can help you to control your weight, sleep better, improve your mood, reduce your risk of a variety of diseases, and improve your thinking skills. Aim for 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity on 5 or more days per week, or a total of 150 minutes of cardiovascular activity per week. Some examples of cardiovascular exercise include:  Running Swimming Walking Biking Dancing Climbing stairs Summer is the perfect time to experiment with your style. Try out new clothes, hair, makeup, and/or accessories to find what makes you feel confident and comfortable. For example, you could try:  Getting a new haircut and color. Try out bangs if you’ve never had them before, or dye your hair a shade darker than your natural color, or try something even more daring! (Be sure to check with your parents before cutting or dyeing your hair.) Opt for a new style of clothing. If your usual style is preppy, such as khakis and polo shirts, then you might opt for a rocker look by sporting a pair of ripped jeans and a band t-shirt. Look into makeup that will work well with your features. For example, if you are fair-skinned with blue eyes, then you might try a copper eyeshadow to make your eye color pop. Summer is a great time to learn something new! Think about what you would like to learn and find a way to teach yourself. Even if you only spend a small part of each day on learning this new skill, you will have another fun way to spend your time.  For example, maybe you want to learn how to speak French. Download an app, such as Duolingo, and commit to practicing for 10 minutes every day during the summer. If you want to learn how to cook, try asking a family member if they would help you learn, or get a beginner’s cookbook and use it to help you learn.
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One-sentence summary --
Set a goal to accomplish over the summer. Get 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days per week. Experiment with a new style if you want to change your look. Teach yourself a new skill if you want to learn something.