As we all know, it’s important for a woman to stay as healthy as she can if she’s pregnant or planning a baby. According to the March of Dimes Foundation, a non-profit organization for pregnancy and baby health in the United States, the first step to have a healthy pregnancy is to start taking a daily multivitamin containing the B vitamin folic acid.
“Your health before and during pregnancy has a direct impact on your baby,” says Dr. Siobhan Dolan, a medical advisor to the March of Dimes and co-author of the non-profit’s book Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby: The Ultimate Pregnancy Guide. Dr. Dolan says it’s also a good idea to eat foods that contain folate, the natural form of folic acid, including lentils, green leafy vegetables, black beans, and orange juice. In addition, some foods are fortified with folic acid, including enriched grain products such as bread, cereal, and pasta; and corn masa products such as tortilla chips and tacos.
Besides taking a daily multivitamin containing folic acid to prevent serious birth defects of the brain and spine, women can take other steps to avoid infections that can hurt them and their babies during pregnancy. Foodborne illnesses, viruses, and parasites can cause birth defects and lifelong disabilities, such as hearing loss or learning problems.
Other tips from the March of Dimes for moms-to-be:
- Be up-to-date with your vaccinations (shots). Talk to your healthcare provider about vaccinations you should receive before or during pregnancy, including your flu shot and Tdap booster.
- Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, raw or runny eggs, unpasteurized (raw) juice or dairy products, raw sprouts — or products made with them.
- Handle foods safely. Be sure to wash all knives, utensils, cutting boards, and dishes used to prepare raw meat, fish or poultry before they come into contact with other foods.
- Maintain good hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before preparing or eating foods; after being around or touching pets and other animals; and after changing diapers or wiping runny noses.
- Do not put a young child’s food, utensils, drinking cups, or pacifiers in your mouth.
- Protect yourself from animals and insects known to carry diseases such as Zika virus, including mosquitos. This includes avoiding travel to areas where the virus is circulating.
- Stay away from wild or pet rodents, live poultry, lizards and turtles during pregnancy.
- Let someone else clean the pet litter boxes!
Source: prnewswire.com
Read also: How to Lose Weight after Pregnancy
