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Healthy mum, Healthy baby
By IndiaTodayPrevention | Prevention Mon 4 Aug, 2014 11:33 PM IST
By Vaidehee Deshpande
Even before she begins to seem real to you, your lifestyle choices have begun to lay the foundation for your baby's healthy life.
They also affect your well-being. Expert advice to steer you the right way.
Eat Smart
While in the womb, the placenta brings your baby food and oxygen and takes away any waste products. Your diet certainly
has a huge impact on the development and growth of your baby as it has for you. So watch your plate. Make minerals count.
"If you don't have enough calcium, for instance, the body will take calcium from your bones, increasing your risk of
osteoporosis later in life," says Kolkata-based nutritionist Hena Nafis.
Insufficient iron can cause anaemia, preventing your baby from getting enough oxygen. "Vitamin D deficiency may put the
foetus at risk for abnormal bone growth and delayed physical development," says Dr Satish Saluja, neonatologist, Sir Ganga
Ram Hospital, New Delhi. The same applies if you are breastfeeding, as you are essentially providing all the nutrients your
baby needs through breast milk.
Avoid empty calories. A pregnant woman doesn't need to 'eat for two'-an idea that our culture seems to propagate. "You only
need an extra 200-300 calories per day. Similarly, a breastfeeding mother needs an additional 400-500 calories per day,"
says Prevention advisor Dr Arvind Taneja, senior consultant, Paediatrics, Max Healthcare, New Delhi.
Watch your weight. "Similarly, if you are underweight during pregnancy, you are more likely to have a miscarriage or
preterm delivery/underweight baby. An underweight mother also puts the baby at risk for a variety of problems such as
hypothermia, feeding difficulties and infections," says Dr Anita Soni, consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Mumbai's Dr
LH Hiranandani Hospital. "On the other hand, research shows that women with a high BMI are at a greater risk of
complications during pregnancy (gestational diabetes, hypertension, blood clots) and labour (long labour, difficulty in
delivering baby's shoulder)," she adds. In this case, risks to the baby include birth defects (congenital abnormalities),
stillbirth, and increased chances of health problems later in life.
Best for both
Pre-natal
Find out how much weight you should gain for your BMI and try to keep it within the healthy range.
Eat folate-rich foods such as spinach, cabbage and cauliflower. Combine iron-rich foods with Vitamin C-rich ones to improve
absorption Choose low-fat calcium sources such as low-fat milk and yoghurt.
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Ask your doctor about Vitamin D supplements.
Post-natal
Drink plenty of fluids. Do not crash diet while breastfeeding. Eat when you are hungry, not when you are stressed or tired.
Observe if any particular foods you eat trigger gas or diarrhoea in your baby; avoid them.
Check with your doctor about calcium and iron supplements.
Exposure to Chemicals
While the placenta acts as a barrier between the mother and the foetus, preventing the passage of various harmful
substances, it is not 100% foolproof. A number of chemicals that you come in contact with on a daily basis can be unsafe for
your baby, says Shah. For example, exposure to certain cleaning products may lead to wheezing in the baby, while chemicals
from pesticides and insecticides can cause neural abnormalities.
Best for Both Pre-natal and Post-natal
Avoid 'antibacterial products', plain soap and water are good.
Limit use of cosmetics (nail polish, perfume, lipstick, hair dye), household cleaning products and air fresheners that are
heavily fragranced. Fragrances contain dozens of harmful chemicals including phthalates that are known hormone
disrupters. Stop using insecticides in your home (pest-control treatments and insect killing sprays). Instead keep surfaces
clean, remove trash in a timely manner, use boric acid or vinegar or organic cleaning products instead. Don't use products in
aerosol cans.
Avoid fish likely to have mercury such as tuna, mackerel, and restrict fish intake to 2-3 servings per week. Switch to organic
fruits and vegetables.
Do not self-medicate.
Stay Cheerful
What's going on in your mind may also affect your baby's emotional health. "Since the mother and baby share the same
hormones, an increase in stress hormones like cortisol can affect the baby's brain wiring adversely," says Dr Dinesh Banur,
paediatrician at Columbia Asia Hospital, Bengaluru.
According to a recent study in Biological Psychiatry, kids whose mothers were depressed during pregnancy have a lifelong
increased risk of mental illnesses such as anxiety and mood disorders due to abnormal brain wiring. Stress can also lead to
preterm labour, miscarriage, low birth weight and increased risk of infection. "Maternal stress can also affect the baby after
birth. The mom may fail to lactate and find it difficult to bond with the baby, both of which affect the infant adversely," adds
Banur. In case of a pre-existing mental illness, Dr Monica Chib, senior consultant, psychiatry at Indraprastha Apollo
Hospitals, Delhi, advises women to plan their pregnancy to determine the feasibility of getting pregnant. If you are already
pregnant, monitoring the illness through pregnancy is critical. Depending on the severity of the condition, medication or
therapy may be advised.
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Best for Both
Pre-natal
Make sure there is careful monitoring of the foetus to check for any congenital abnormalities, especially if the mother is on
medication. Seek family support and train them to look for signs of the condition worsening, such as sleeplessness or intense
mood swings.
Do things to stay stress free: listen to music or pursue a hobby.
Post-natal
If you are on medication, consult the doctor before initiating breast-feeding. Continue regular psychiatric evaluation.
Get adequate sleep. Flag any unusual changes in mood or behaviour. Seek family support in care giving.
Catch up on Sleep
"The increased progesterone in the first trimester may contribute to daytime drowsiness. Morning sickness and your inability
to keep food down may also make you a bit tired," says Prevention advisor, Dr Duru Shah, chairman of Gynaecworld and
Gynaecworld Fertility Clinic, Mumbai. If you can, lie down for a couple of hours during the day. Get 8 hours of sleep at night.
Insufficient sleep not only increases chances of health problems in the mother, but also reduces the amount of growth
hormone released and affects the development of the baby. Sleep deprivation also takes up the risk of preterm delivery and
post-partum depression in the mother.
Best for both
Pre-natal
Listen to your body and rest when you are tired, even during the day. In case of high-risk pregnancy, get 10 hours of sleep at
night and follow the doctor's instructions about rest during the day.
Post-natal
Avoid the temptation to do household chores, or catch up on Internet time while the baby sleeps, instead get your shut-eye at
that time.
Get adequate rest, but also stay active, go for a walk or do yoga.
Get your husband to help you with nighttime care of the baby.
Attend to Chronic Issues
Pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, if not managed properly, can have an adverse effect on the
foetus. Uncontrolled diabetes increases the chances of foetal malformation, stillbirth, overweight baby and abnormal labour.
Uncontrolled hypertension affects the blood supply to the foetus leading to undernourished and underweight baby, and can
also cause abnormal or preterm labour. Other conditions like chronic renal disease, epilepsy, or auto-immune conditions
also require close monitoring. Consult an expert to ensure that the drugs you are taking for your health condition are safe for
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your baby. Pregnancy can further deteriorate many pre-existing conditions, but there are steps you can take to protect your
baby.
Best for Both
Pre-natal
If you have pre-existing conditions, routine antenatal care is essential.
Take your medication as prescribed.
Consult an expert to manage your condition.
Post-natal
Neonates can have low blood sugar if the mother had diabetes. Inform your baby's paediatrician of any illnesses you had
during pregnancy. Seek the doctor's advice before initiating breastfeeding as some drugs are contraindicated during
breastfeeding. As a mother, you are the gatekeeper of your baby's future health so guard your little one well while taking
good care of yourself.
Reproduced From Prevention. 2014. LMIL. All rights reserved.