Healthy Holiday Habits for Expecting Mothers

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Healthy Holiday Habits for Expecting Mothers

December 4, 2025

The holiday season is a time for celebration and connecting with family and friends. But, if you are expecting, you may also feel the pressure of balancing all the festive traditions with the physical and emotional needs of pregnancy.

Jillian Henry, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, has a few realistic healthy holiday habits to help you feel your best while still enjoying the season.

Keep a Balanced Plate

When possible, fill half of your plate with fruits and half with vegetables. Enjoy your holiday favorites, including desserts, in moderation. No need to skip them entirely!

Stay Hydrated

Holiday foods are often salty, and indoor heating can increase dehydration. Keep a bottle of water with you, and consider adding electrolyte or flavor packets if that helps you drink more. And of course, avoid alcohol throughout pregnancy.

Prioritize Rest

Holiday schedules can be draining. Be sure to incorporate quiet time to rest and nap. Give yourself permission to say no to certain events or stay for shorter periods of time.

Body Movement

Movement supports energy circulation and mood. Try taking short walks after meals. Always remember to listen to your body and avoid overdoing it.

Manage Holiday Emotions

The holidays can be emotional and overwhelming. Here are a few ways to help you cope: deep breathing for 2-3 minutes, remind yourself you can say no without guilt, and don’t forget to ask for help with cooking, shopping or hosting events. Most importantly, focus on joy – not perfection. It’s okay if traditions look a little different this year.

Jillian Henry, NP, OB/GYN

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IMC Welcomes Dr. Ujjwal Rastogi

Iberia Medical Center
May 14, 2020
2 min read

Iberia Medical Center welcomes interventional cardiologist Dr. Ujjwal Rastogi to its medical staff. Dr. Rastogi joins Cardiovascular Institute of the South's team of expert cardiologists in New Iberia. Dr. Rastogi is now seeing patients at the CIS New Iberia clinic at 500 N. Lewis Street, Suite 100.

Dr. Rastogi provides non-invasive, diagnostic and interventional services for all areas of cardiovascular disease and has a strong interest in complex coronary and advanced endovascular/limb salvage interventions.

He is also an endovascular and comprehensive vein specialist. He is on staff at Iberia Medical Center, seeing cardiac patients and performing cardiovascular interventional procedures in the cardiac catheterization lab.

A native of India, Dr. Rastogi received his medical degree from Government Medical College in Bellary. He ranked in the top one percent of all India pre-medical admission tests (among two hundred thousand medical applicants) to get into a public medical school. Dr. Rastogi spent the past five years in New York City completing his heart failure, general cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowships at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His internal medicine residency was completed at Rutgers University/Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Jersey.

Dr. Rastogi serves on editorial boards for multiple journals including BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. He served on various committees for the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. He has published numerous articles and abstracts in peer-reviewed journals and given presentations in local, regional, national, and international meetings. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Indian Medical Association.

Dr. Rastogi has a passion for traveling and he enjoys outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, swimming, and meditation. He is also fluent in Hindi, Urdu and Kannada.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ujjwal Rastogi to our medical staff and our cardiovascular team,” said Dionne Viator, Iberia Medical Center CEO. Our valued and growing partnership with Cardiovascular Institute of the South means that our community is receiving excellent cardiovascular care right here in our parish.”

Learn more about Dr. Rastogi or schedule an appointment at www.cardio.com.