Did you know that an unhealthy lifestyle during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous for both the baby’s development before and after birth, as well as the mother’s health? It’s essential to understand the benefits of staying healthy and avoiding unhealthy habits during pregnancy in order to keep both mother and child safe.
Things to be avoided
In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is important to not only have a proper nutritious diet and regular exercise, but also to quit various unhealthy habits such as junk food, smoking, drinking and substance abuse.
Junk foods: Eating junk food during pregnancy may have negative consequences for both the mother and child. Excessive fat intake can affect the mother’s heart health, and some studies suggest that it may also increase the risk of miscarriage or having an obese child. Therefore, it’s best to avoid junk food during pregnancy.
Smoking and staying around people who do: There are toxic compounds associated with smoking that damage the health of the unborn child and the mother. Even exposure to second-hand smoke effects the health badly. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid smoking and stay away from smokers during pregnancy.
Drinking alcohol: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a range of serious health complications for both the mother and the fetus, including liver damage, impaired fetal growth and development, and increases the risk of miscarriage. So if you’re pregnant, it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether to protect yourself and your baby.
Illegal or prescription drugs (without doctor’s advice): The use of illegal drugs during pregnancy can be extremely harmful to the mother and the unborn child. These substances can cause serious and fatal complications during and after pregnancy, and should be avoided at all costs. If you are pregnant and taking prescription drugs, make sure to consult with your doctor before continuing.
Benefits of staying healthy
Staying away from the previously mentioned practices not only assures better health, but also promotes significant benefits for both the mother and child.
As a mother, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks associated with unhealthy habits like drug use during pregnancy. These habits can impair immunity and increase the chances of developing anemia, blood and heart infections, skin infections, hepatitis and other infectious diseases. If the mother becomes infected, the fetus can also be affected, which can lead to developmental problems.
By staying healthy and avoiding these unhealthy habits, you can protect yourself and your baby from infection-causing microbes.
Smoking, drinking and substance abuse during pregnancy can lead to a slowdown in the growth and development of the fetus, which in turn can lead to premature birth. However, by staying healthy during pregnancy, you can prevent miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth associated with these unhealthy habits.
A pregnant woman who drinks alcohol is more likely to give birth to a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which can cause serious birth defects like facial deformities, heart problems, mental retardation, low birth weight, and low birth rate. Reducing exposure to smoking, recreational drugs, and alcohol by leading a healthy lifestyle can help prevent these birth defects.
Children of addicted parents are at greater risk of developing addiction themselves. By avoiding drug addiction during pregnancy, you can help your child avoid this potential health issue. Additionally, avoiding drug addiction during pregnancy can also help your child avoid other associated physical and mental health issues, such as learning disabilities, vision or hearing defects, sleeping concerns, attention problems, and behavioral issues like hyperactivity.
Now that you know how staying away from unhealthy habits during pregnancy can impact your baby, make sure you take the necessary steps to lead a healthy lifestyle. This means eating right, getting enough rest, and exercising regularly. It’s important to take care of yourself during pregnancy so that you can have a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy.
