Women’s proper nutrition and lifestyle have an impact on foetal development, the course of pregnancy and the health of the mother. In this period, the nutrients needed during breastfeeding also accumulate. The proper preparing for pregnancy increases the chances of its correct course and of the birth of a healthy baby.
Mother’s lifestyle plays a huge role in this process. Every woman shall see her gynecologist before conceiving to be well prepared for pregnancy, and then, regularly go to the doctor during its course. This is especially important if the woman has to face chronic diseases such as, e.g.: thyroid disease, diabetes, hypertension and epilepsy. Women with these disorders should not become pregnant until their illness is under control. Changes in medication may be required to administer that safe for the foetus.
Pregnant mother shall avoid contact with sick people: having a cold or an infection. In the period before conception, the level of antibodies to rubella shall be checked, to be able to have vaccination, if needed. It is also worthy of having vaccination against hepatitis B. Every mother to be shall minimize the consumption of chemical and herbal medicines and completely eliminate stimulants. Negative effects of smoking, alcohol and drugs on fertility, pregnancy and foetal development have been proved. Smoking is a known cause of low birth weight, miscarriages, or placenta pathology, the children of mothers who smoke cigarettes bear an increased risk of hyperactivity and sudden cot death. Alcohol shall be avoided at any stage of pregnancy because it could be the causative agent of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is characterized by facial distortion and damage to the nervous system, in the form of retarded physical and mental development. Newborns of mothers who use drugs while being pregnant are more frequently born prematurely, have smaller weight than healthy newborns and suffer from disorders of the nervous system. Strong tea and coffee seem to be the least harmful stimulants. However, it is recommended for a pregnant not to drink more than 2 cups a day.
Although it is difficult nowadays, exposure to stress shall be avoided, because it is a proven cause of infertility, and during pregnancy a risk factor for premature delivery and foetal growth inhibition. Before planning to become pregnant, the future mother had better tried to achieve a proper body weight. Both the obesity and underweight involve the risk of complications. The obesity increases the likelihood of gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, high birth weight and related complications, premature birth, infertility and venous thrombosis. The underweight, in return, increases the frequency of low birth weight, infertility, perinatal mortality. The pregnancy tends to increase mother’s weight, whereas the correct weight gain depends on mother’s mass before pregnancy and shall be the lower, the greater the weight before pregnancy.
Moderate exercise 3 to 5 times a week for about 30 minutes has a positive effect on the fertility of women and their health during pregnancy. The most recommended and safe forms of activity in pregnant women include: walking, swimming, stationary cycling, jogging and aerobics. A pregnant woman can have normal sex, if the pregnancy has a proper course and her doctor sees no contraindications.