If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, then you’re probably overwhelmed by all the information surrounding the topic. You can’t do this, you shouldn’t do that, you can’t eat this, and the list goes on and on.

The good news is that you can sit back and relax. It’s time to cut to the chase with the top three tips that you can use today to have a healthy, safe, and happy pregnancy before you welcome your bundle of joy into the world:

1. Consider your dental hygiene.

   When you’re pregnant, the last thing on your list may be making a dental appointment. But due to higher levels of progesterone and hormone changes during pregnancy, it can promote increased bacterial growth on your teeth. Basically, your gums will be much more susceptible to infection and inflammation, which leads to gingivitis. And when you add to that strange cravings for brownies, lemons, and pickles, your teeth may be pretty out of whack. Do yourself a favor and check in with your dentist several times during pregnancy to prevent any unnecessary infection that could spread to your baby.

2. Think before you eat.

   FYI, the whole “eating for two” concept is actually a myth. For many pregnant women, this may be terrible news. But when you think more about what you eat, you’ll feel better and improve your energy levels day by day. All you really need are 300 extra calories a day to compensate for your baby. According to MSNBC, your baby requires 55,000 calories from conception to birth–that’s it! And contrary to popular belief, there’s no reason to load up on calories in your first trimester. Begin to eat more healthy foods and proteins in your second and third trimester to compensate.

3. Have a glass of wine.

   Yes, you read that correctly! Drinking wine on occasion won’t pose any risk to your baby, and it may even have the opposite effect, according to research from the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. The study showed that pregnant women who drank one to two glasses of wine a week actually had better behaved children than women who abstained from alcohol altogether. Of course, heavy drinking poses behavioral and emotional risks to your baby, but sticking to a few drinks a week under the supervision of your doctor is perfectly fine.

Photo by Veritas Supermercados