Tips For a Healthy Pregnancy
You and your partner can increase your chances of having a healthy and successful pregnancy if both you and your partner are living a healthy and balanced lifestyle to start with. If you want to start or expand your family, here are some pregnancy health tips:
Stop Smoking
Smoking, in general, is really bad for your health. During pregnancy, smoking may actually increase your risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, low birth weight, and preterm birth. Smoking habits can also affect your baby, increasing your child’s risk of developing respiratory diseases.
In men, smoking may affect their fertility. Plus, secondhand smoke inhaled by moms-to-be can have serious consequences on their health and on their unborn babies as well.
Avoid Drinking
To increase your chances of having a healthy and successful pregnancy, it’s best to avoid drinking alcohol. Health experts strictly advice that moms-to-be should completely avoid alcohol because of its possible effects on an unborn child. For dads, drinking habits may affect the quality of their sperm. This can then lessen the chances of conceiving a baby.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Moms-to-be should eat lots of nutritious foods. Aside from helping them maintain a healthy weight, eating lots of fruits and veggies can ensure that the child gets all the nutrients he or she needs when growing inside mom’s womb. Folic acid — mostly found in green vegetables, whole wheat breads, cereals, and oranges — can help prevent NTDs or neural tube defects. Plus, obesity during pregnancy increases your chance of developing serious health complications such as diabetes or high blood pressure. On the other hand, being underweight may decrease your fertility.
Keep an Active Lifestyle
Aside from helping you maintain a normal weight, an active lifestyle can also help you and your partner cope with stress. Remember that stress can lead to hormonal changes that may affect fertility. For moms-to-be, Yoga classes can greatly help in stress management.
In some cases, it may take months or even years before a couple is able to conceive a child. If you and your partner prefer an assisted conception, talk to a fertility specialist about your options.