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Ways To Stay Healthy During Pregnancy
Ways To Stay Healthy During Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Audra Meadows, MD, MPH, an obstetrician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,
helps patients optimize their health before, during and after pregnancy. Here are
12 tips from Dr. Meadows to help you increase your chances of having a healthy
pregnancy and a healthy baby.
3. Stay hydrated.
A pregnant woman’s body needs more water than it did before pregnancy. Aim for
eight or more cups each day.
Raw and unpasteurized animal products can cause food poisoning. Some fish,
even when cooked, can be harmful to a growing baby because they’re high in
mercury.
6. Don’t drink alcohol.
Don’t drink alcohol before and during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Drinking
alcohol increases the risk of having a baby with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
(FASD). FASD can cause abnormal facial features, severe learning disabilities and
behavioral issues.
Alcohol can impact a baby’s health in the earliest stages of pregnancy, before a
woman may know she is pregnant. Therefore, women who may become pregnant
also should not drink alcohol.
7. Don’t smoke.
Smoking is unhealthy for you and your unborn child. It increases the risk of sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS), premature birth, miscarriage and other poor
outcomes.
8. Get moving.
Daily exercise or staying active in other ways can help you stay healthy during
pregnancy. Check with your doctor to find out how much physical activity is right
for you.