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How to stay healthy during pregnancy


12 Ways to Stay Healthy During 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.

1. Eat healthy foods.

Eating healthy foods is especially important for pregnant women. Your baby needs nutrients to grow healthy and strong in the womb. Eat plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, calcium-rich foods and foods low in saturated fat.

2. Take a daily prenatal vitamin.

Taking a daily prenatal multivitamin can help ensure you get the right amount of the key nutrients you and your baby need during pregnancy. These include folic acid, iron and calcium.

3. Stay hydrated.

A pregnant woman’s body needs more water than it did before pregnancy. Aim for eight or more cups each day.

4. Go to your prenatal care checkups.

Women should get regular prenatal care from a health care provider. Moms who don’t get regular prenatal care are much more likely to have a baby with low birth weight or other complications. If available, consider group prenatal care.

5. Avoid certain foods.

There are certain foods that women should avoid eating while pregnant. Don’t eat:

  • Raw or rare meats
  • Liver, sushi, raw eggs (also in mayonnaise)
  • Soft cheeses (feta, brie)
  • Unpasteurized milk

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.

9. Get a flu shot.

The flu can make a pregnant woman very sick and increase risks of complications for your baby. The flu shot can protect you from serious illness and help protect your baby after birth, too. Ask your doctor about getting a flu shot.

10. Get plenty of sleep.

Ample sleep (7 to 9 hours) is important for you and your baby. Try to sleep on your left side to improve blood flow.

11. Reduce stress.

Reducing stress is crucial for improving birth outcomes. Pregnant women should avoid, as much as they can, stressful situations. Recruit your loved ones to help you manage stress in your life.

12. Plan the right time to get pregnant.

“If you are choosing to become pregnant at a time when you know that you’re at your healthiest, that increases your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy birth,” says Dr. Meadows.

This not only means that women should make sure that they are healthy before they become pregnant, but they also should consider their age before getting pregnant. Mothers who have children early in life (earlier than 16-years-old), or late in life (older than 40) are at greater risk for having a premature birth. Also, women who become pregnant again too soon (less than 18 months in between births) are even more likely to have a premature baby.

Audra Meadows, MD, MPH

Audra Meadows, MD, MPH is an obstetrician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH).

Before you go,

If you’re thinking about pregnancy, managing a pregnancy complication or looking for tips on newborn care, our experts can help support you at every step in your journey. Read more pregnancy and childbirth articles.

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Staying Healthy During Pregnancy (for Parents)

Now that you're pregnant, taking care of yourself has never been more important. Here's how to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.

Prenatal Health Care

Key to protecting the health of your child is to get regular prenatal care. If you think you're pregnant, call your health care provider to schedule your first prenatal appointment. Many health care providers, though, won't schedule the first visit before 8 weeks of pregnancy, unless there is a problem.

At this first visit, your health care provider will probably do a pregnancy test, and will figure out how many weeks pregnant you are based on a physical examination and the date of your last period. He or she will also use this information to predict your delivery date (an ultrasound done sometime later in your pregnancy will help to verify that date).

If you're healthy and there are no complicating risk factors, most health care providers will want to see you:

  • every 4 weeks until the 28th week of pregnancy
  • then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks
  • then once a week until delivery

Throughout your pregnancy, your health care provider will check your weight and blood pressure while also checking the growth and development of your baby (by doing things like feeling your abdomen, listening for the fetal heartbeat starting during the second trimester, and measuring your belly). During the span of your pregnancy, you'll also have prenatal tests, including blood, urine, and cervical tests, and probably at least one ultrasound.

When choosing a health care provider to counsel and treat you during your pregnancy, your options include:

  • obstetricians/gynecologists (also known as OB/GYNs): doctors who specialize in pregnancy and childbirth, as well as women's health care
  • family practitioners: doctors who provide a range of services for patients of all ages — in some cases, this includes obstetrical care
  • certified nurse-midwives: advanced practice nurses specializing in women's health care needs, including prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care for uncomplicated pregnancies. There are also other kinds of midwives, but you should look for one with formal training who's been certified in the field.

Any of these is a good choice if you're healthy and there's no reason to anticipate complications with your pregnancy and delivery. However, nurse-midwives do need to have a doctor available for the delivery in case an unexpected problem arises or a cesarean section (C-section) is required.

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Nutrition and Supplements

Now that you're eating for two (or more!), this is not the time to cut calories or go on a diet. In fact, it's just the opposite — you need about 300 extra calories a day, especially later in your pregnancy when your baby grows quickly. If you're very thin, very active, or carrying multiples, you'll need even more. But if you're overweight, your health care provider may advise you to consume fewer extra calories.

Healthy eating is always important, but especially when you're pregnant. So, make sure your calories come from nutritious foods that will contribute to your baby's growth and development.

Try to maintain a well-balanced diet that incorporates the dietary guidelines including:

  • lean meats
  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • whole-grain breads
  • low-fat dairy products

By eating a healthy, balanced diet you're more likely to get the nutrients you need. But you will need more of the essential nutrients (especially calcium, iron, and folic acid) than you did before you became pregnant. Your health care provider will prescribe prenatal vitamins to be sure both you and your growing baby are getting enough.

But taking prenatal vitamins doesn't mean you can eat a diet that's lacking in nutrients. It's important to remember that you still need to eat well while pregnant. Prenatal vitamins are meant to supplement your diet, and aren't meant to be your only source of much-needed nutrients.

Calcium

Most women 19 and older — including those who are pregnant — don't often get the daily 1,000 mg of calcium that's recommended. Because your growing baby's calcium demands are high, you should increase your calcium consumption to prevent a loss of calcium from your own bones. Your doctor will also likely prescribe prenatal vitamins for you, which may contain some extra calcium.

Good sources of calcium include:

  • low-fat dairy products including milk, pasteurized cheese, and yogurt
  • calcium-fortified products, including orange juice, soy milk, and cereals
  • dark green vegetables including spinach, kale, and broccoli
  • tofu
  • dried beans
  • almonds
Iron

Pregnant women need about 30 mg of iron every day. Why? Because iron is needed to make hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells. Red blood cells circulate throughout the body to deliver oxygen to all its cells.

Without enough iron, the body can't make enough red blood cells and the body's tissues and organs won't get the oxygen they need to function well. So it's especially important for pregnant women to get enough iron in their daily diets — for themselves and their growing babies.

Although the nutrient can be found in various kinds of foods, iron from meat sources is more easily absorbed by the body than iron found in plant foods. Iron-rich foods include:

  • red meat
  • dark poultry
  • salmon
  • eggs
  • tofu
  • enriched grains
  • dried beans and peas
  • dried fruits
  • dark leafy green vegetables
  • blackstrap molasses
  • iron-fortified breakfast cereals
Folate (Folic Acid)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all women of childbearing age — and especially those who are planning a pregnancy — get about 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of folic acid supplements every day. That can be from a multivitamin or folic acid supplement in addition to the folic acid found in food.

So, why is folic acid so important? Studies have shown that taking folic acid supplements 1 month prior to and throughout the first 3 months of pregnancy decrease the risk of neural tube defects.

The neural tube — formed during the first several weeks of the pregnancy, possibly before a woman even knows she's pregnant — goes on to become the baby's developing brain and spinal cord. When the neural tube doesn't form properly, the result is a neural tube defect such as spina bifida.

Again, your health care provider can prescribe a prenatal vitamin that contains the right amount of folic acid. Some pregnancy health care providers even recommend taking an extra folic acid supplement, especially if a woman has previously had a child with a neural tube defect.

If you're buying an over-the-counter supplement, remember that most multivitamins contain folic acid, but not all of them have enough to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant women. So, be sure to check labels carefully before choosing one and check with your health care provider.

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Fluids

It's important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, during pregnancy. A woman's blood volume increases dramatically during pregnancy, and drinking enough water each day can help prevent common problems such as dehydration and constipation.

Exercise

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes (that's 2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week if you're not already highly active or doing vigorous-intensity activity.

If you are very active or did intense aerobic activities before becoming pregnant, you may be able to keep up your workouts, as long as your doctor says it's safe. Before beginning — or continuing — any exercise routine, talk to your doctor.

Exercising during pregnancy has been shown to be very beneficial. Regular exercise can help:

  • prevent excess weight gain
  • reduce pregnancy-related problems, like back pain, swelling, and constipation
  • improve sleep
  • increase energy
  • boost your mood
  • prepare your body for labor
  • lessen recovery time after the birth

Low-impact, moderate-intensity exercise activities (such as walking and swimming) are great choices. You also can try yoga or Pilates classes, videos, or exercise apps that are tailored for pregnancy. These are low-impact and they work on strength, flexibility, and relaxation.

But you should limit high-impact aerobics and avoid sports and activities that pose a risk of falling or abdominal injury. These include contact sports, downhill skiing, scuba diving, and horseback riding.

It's also important to be aware of how your body changes. During pregnancy, your body makes a hormone known as relaxin. It's believed to help prepare the pubic area and the cervix for the birth. The relaxin loosens the ligaments in your body, making you less stable and more prone to injury.

So, it's easy to overstretch or strain yourself, especially the joints in your pelvis, lower back, and knees. Also, your center of gravity shifts as your pregnancy progresses, so you may feel off-balance and at risk of falling. Keep these in mind when you choose an activity and don't overdo it.

Whatever type of exercise you choose, make sure to take lots of breaks and drink plenty of fluids. Slow down or stop if you get short of breath or feel uncomfortable. If you have any questions about doing a sport or activity during your pregnancy, talk to your health care provider.

Sleep

It's important to get enough sleep during your pregnancy. You'll probably feel more tired than usual. And as your baby gets bigger, it will be harder to find a comfortable position when you're trying to sleep.

Lying on your side with your knees bent is likely to be the most comfortable position as your pregnancy progresses. It also makes your heart's job easier because it keeps the baby's weight from putting pressure on the large blood vessels that carry blood to and from your heart and your feet and legs. Lying on your side can also help prevent or reduce varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and swelling in your legs.

Some doctors specifically recommend that pregnant women sleep on the left side. Because one of those big blood vessels is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus off of it. Lying on your left side helps blood flow to the placenta and, therefore, your baby.

Ask what your health care provider recommends. In most cases, lying on either side should do the trick and help take some pressure off your back. For a more comfortable resting position either way, prop pillows between your legs, behind your back, and underneath your belly.

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Some Things to Avoid

When you're pregnant, what you don't put into your body (or expose your body to) is almost as important as what you do. Here are some things to avoid:

Alcohol

Although it may seem harmless to have a glass of wine at dinner or a mug of beer out with friends, no one has determined what's a "safe amount" of alcohol to consume during pregnancy. One of the most common known causes of mental and physical birth defects, alcohol can cause severe abnormalities in a developing fetus.

Alcohol is easily passed along to the baby, who is less equipped to eliminate alcohol than the mother. That means an unborn baby tends to develop a high concentration of alcohol, which stays in the baby's system for longer periods than it would in the mother's. And moderate alcohol intake, as well as periodic binge drinking, can damage a baby's developing nervous system.

If you had a drink or two before you even knew you were pregnant (as many women do), don't worry too much about it. But your best bet is to not drink any alcohol at all for the rest of your pregnancy.

Recreational Drugs

Pregnant women who use drugs may be placing their unborn babies at risk for premature birth, poor growth, birth defects, and behavior and learning problems. And their babies could also be born addicted to those drugs themselves.

If you're pregnant and using drugs, a health clinic such as Planned Parenthood can recommend health care providers, at little or no cost, who can help you quit your habit and have a healthier pregnancy.

If you've used any drugs at any time during your pregnancy, it's important to inform your health care provider. Even if you've quit, your unborn child could still be at risk for health problems.

Nicotine

Pregnant women who smoke pass nicotine and carbon monoxide to their growing babies. The risks of this include:

  • prematurity
  • low birth weight
  • sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
  • asthma and other respiratory problems in the child

If you smoke, having a baby might be the motivation you need to quit. Talk to your health care provider about options for kicking the habit.

Caffeine

High caffeine consumption has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, so it's probably wise to limit or even avoid caffeine altogether if you can.

If you're having a hard time cutting out coffee cold turkey, here's how you can start:

  • Cut your consumption down to one or two cups a day.
  • Gradually reduce the amount of caffeine you get by combining decaffeinated coffee with regular coffee.
  • Eventually try to cut out the regular coffee altogether.

And remember that caffeine is not limited to coffee. Many teas, colas, and other soft drinks contain caffeine. Try switching to decaffeinated products (which may still have some caffeine, but in much smaller amounts) or caffeine-free alternatives.

If you're wondering whether chocolate, which also contains caffeine, is a concern, the good news is that you can have it in moderation. Whereas the average chocolate bar has anywhere from 5 to 30 milligrams of caffeine, there's 95 to 135 milligrams in a cup of brewed coffee. So, small amounts of chocolate are fine.

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Food Smarts & Other Precautions

Although you need to eat plenty of healthy foods during pregnancy, you also need to avoid food-borne illnesses, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, which can be life-threatening to an unborn baby and may cause birth defects or miscarriage.

Foods you'll want to steer clear of include:

  • soft, unpasteurized cheeses (often advertised as "fresh") such as feta, goat, Brie, Camembert, and blue cheese
  • unpasteurized milk, juices, and apple cider
  • raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs, including mousse, tiramisu, raw cookie dough, homemade ice cream, and Caesar dressing (although some store-bought brands of the dressing may not contain raw eggs)
  • raw or undercooked meats, fish (sushi), or shellfish
  • processed meats such as hot dogs and deli meats (unless they are reheated until steaming)

Also, although fish and shellfish can be an extremely healthy part of your pregnancy diet (they contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and are high in protein and low in saturated fat), you should avoid eating:

  • shark
  • swordfish
  • king mackerel
  • tilefish
  • tuna steak (bigeye or ahi)
  • marlin
  • orange roughy

These types of fish may contain high levels of mercury, which can cause damage to the developing brain of a fetus. When you choose seafood, limit the total amount to about 12 ounces per week — that's about two meals. Also, if you like canned tuna, pay attention to the type in the can. Canned light tuna generally contains smaller fish and can be eaten twice a week. But albacore/white tuna contains larger fish and should only be eaten once per week. Check any local advisories before eating recreationally caught fish.

Changing the Litter Box

Pregnancy is the prime time to get out of cleaning kitty's litter box. Why? Because toxoplasmosis can be spread through soiled cat litter boxes and can cause serious problems, including prematurity, poor growth, and severe eye and brain damage. A pregnant woman who becomes infected often has no symptoms but can still pass the infection on to her developing baby.

Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medicines

Even common over-the-counter medicines that are generally safe may be considered off-limits during pregnancy because of their potential effects on the baby. And some prescription medicines may also cause harm to the developing fetus.

To make sure you don't take anything that could be harmful to your baby:

  • Ask your health care provider which medicines — both over-the-counter and prescription — are safe to take during pregnancy.
  • Talk to your health care provider about any prescription drugs you're taking.
  • Let all of your health care providers know that you're pregnant so that they'll keep that in mind when recommending or prescribing any medicines.
  • Also remember to discuss natural remedies, supplements, and vitamins.

If you were prescribed a medicine before you became pregnant for an illness, disease, or condition you still have, talk with your health care provider, who can help you weigh potential benefits and risks of continuing your prescription.

If you become sick (e.g., with a cold) or have symptoms that are causing you discomfort or pain (like a headache or backache), talk to your health care provider about medicines you can take and alternative ways to help you feel better without medicine.

Healthy Pregnancy Habits: From Start to Finish

From the first week of your pregnancy to the fortieth, it's important to take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. Even though you have to take some precautions and be ever-aware of how what you what you do — and don't do — may affect your baby, many women say they've never felt healthier than during pregnancy.

How to keep your teeth healthy during pregnancy

Dental health is often under attack during pregnancy, because the lack of minerals and vitamins in the diet of the future mother negatively affects their condition. Also, hormonal changes in the mother's body have a negative impact on dental health. The synthesis of estrogens increases, the volume of blood in the body increases, the vessels expand, including those on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. As a result, the gums can bleed even with a slight impact of the toothbrush, become vulnerable to the effects of pathogenic bacteria. nine0003

To a large extent, certain vitamins and microelements are responsible for the condition of the teeth, which must be supplied to the body in sufficient quantities.

Vitamin A ensures metabolism and full secretion of the salivary glands. Vitamin A (retinol) is rich in animal products - egg yolk, fish oil, butter. Pro-vitamin A (carotene) is present in brightly colored vegetables and fruits, herbs, berries. For better absorption of the vitamin, it is recommended to eat foods with fats (for example, carrots with vegetable oil). nine0003

Vitamin D is necessary for the proper absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Mom can get it from food and from the outside - taking sunbaths. When exposed to ultraviolet light, vitamin D is naturally released on the skin. Seafood, egg yolk, butter, potatoes, parsley are rich in this vitamin.

Vitamin C is an important component of healthy teeth and gums, is involved in the process of bone tissue regeneration and improves the structure of gum vessels. Being a powerful antioxidant, it participates in redox processes, protects teeth from falling out and loosening. Contain vitamin C spinach, citrus fruits, cabbage, rose hips. nine0003

Calcium, Phosphorus and Fluorine are the main minerals responsible for dental health. As pregnancy progresses, the need for calcium increases. With an insufficient amount of this trace element, it is “washed out” of the mother’s bones and teeth. So the mother's body seeks at all costs to provide calcium to the developing skeleton of the fetus. The acid-base balance of saliva also changes, which can also provoke the development of caries. Calcium contains cabbage, celery, dairy products. nine0003

Cereals, cheese, fish, cottage cheese, nuts, legumes are rich in phosphorus. Phosphorus is best absorbed from animal products.

Fluorine is responsible for the condition of tooth enamel, prevents the appearance of microcracks. Fluorine is found in meat, potatoes, walnuts, bran, milk, apples, grapefruits. However, this trace element is best absorbed from drinking water.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely to fully provide the body with these vitamins and microelements, getting them only from food. Vitamins are often destroyed at the stage of storage and preparation of products. In addition, not all products are possible to consume in sufficient quantities to obtain the desired amount of trace elements. It is advisable to take vitamin and mineral complexes to compensate for the lack of nutrients. Elevit Pronatal is a complex of vitamins, minerals and trace elements designed specifically to meet the needs of women during pregnancy planning, during gestation or during lactation. Elevit contains trace elements and vitamins involved in maintaining the health of the future mother's teeth and the formation of a strong skeleton of the fetus. The composition of the drug also includes iron, vitamin D and folic acid in an increased dosage. The transfer of genetic information is impossible without folic acid. Particularly in need of it are dividing and growing cells, including those of the developing cardiovascular and nervous systems. Elevit Pronatal, with an optimal dose of folic acid 800 mcg, has been clinically proven to reduce the risk of birth defects (1). The accumulation of the necessary reserve of this vitamin occurs 2 times faster than when taking a multivitamin with a folic acid content of 400 mcg (2)

(1) Czeizel A.E. Primary prevention of neural-tube defects and some other major congenital abnormalities: recommendations for the appropriate use of folic acid during pregnancy. Paediatr Drugs. 2000 Nov-Dec;2(6):437-49.

(2) Brämswig S., Prinz-Langenohl R. et al. Supplementation with a multivitamin containing 800 microg of folic acid shortens the time to reach the preventive red blood cell folate concentration in healthy women. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2009 Mar;79(2):61-70. nine0003

Important to know - St. Petersburg citizen's health

A woman who plans to become a mother should review her lifestyle at least three months before pregnancy. First of all, you should start taking folic acid at 4-8 milligrams daily. This nutrient, from the point of view of evidence-based medicine, is an excellent prevention of malformations in the fetus, in particular, chromosomal pathology. Moreover, both spouses need to take folic acid. And after the woman became pregnant, the drug should be continued for another 12 weeks. This is the critical period when the unborn baby may develop malformations, which, if possible, must be prevented. nine0003

Down with bad habits!

Smoking and alcohol are prohibited for pregnant women. They need to be forgotten. And if you swear to yourself that you will smoke just one cigarette and drink only a stack, know that even small doses are very harmful, especially in the first trimester, and can provoke an abortion.

Limit "communication" with gadgets.

Our everyday life is impossible without computers and tablets, especially for those whose work is directly related to gadgets. However, they all have electromagnetic radiation, which must be limited to pregnant women in the early stages. The fact is that electromagnetic waves also lead to malformations in the fetus. nine0003

Be careful with medicines.

If a pregnant woman has a chronic disease and she has to constantly take medications, it is advisable to switch to more gentle drugs that will not lead to malformations in the fetus. In the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, any medication should be used with extreme caution. It is during this period that the "laying" of all the organs of the child occurs. It is impossible to know for sure which medicine and how it will affect his health.

No stress!

Stress is an incredibly dangerous thing for a future mother. They must be avoided at all costs. In extreme cases, if a woman is nervous, she can be prescribed valerian preparations to normalize her psycho-emotional state. Herbal medicine is not contraindicated either, but you should not abuse herbs, and the use of St. John's wort should be completely abandoned, as it can lead to abortion.

Do not overeat!

A pregnant woman's diet should include protein foods, vitamins, dairy products, fish, lots of vegetables and fruits. It is important that the food is balanced in terms of calories. Many people experience different taste preferences during pregnancy. Someone wants herring, and someone is drawn to sweets or grapes. You don’t need to deny yourself what you want, but you can’t overeat either. If you constantly eat sweets and sweet fruits, you quickly gain weight, and if you lean on herring and pickles, there will be problems with the kidneys, swelling will appear. nine0003

When buying products, you need to make sure that they do not contain harmful additives (dyes, stabilizers, preservatives, and so on). All of them negatively affect the development of the fetus. As for coffee, there are no strict restrictions. The use of tea also does not bear any negative consequences. Everything is useful in reasonable quantities.

Do not breathe household chemicals!

Constant contact with household chemicals is very harmful, especially in the early stages. At risk are young and healthy women who work closely with these products. Often, their pregnancy has to be interrupted due to pathologies in the development of the fetus. It is categorically impossible to constantly breathe fumes from household chemicals - they can act toxic, corrode the lungs and even destroy brain cells. Another thing is if you need to clean the toilet bowl or sink once a week at home. The main thing is to try not to inhale the fumes and quickly leave the room after treatment. Better yet, not a pregnant woman, but members of her family would clean the toilets. nine0003

Do not wear uncomfortable clothing or footwear.

High heels are not recommended because they increase the pressure on the pelvic floor. Clothing should be as little as possible synthetics, hard elastic bands and belts. It is important to choose natural fabrics and loose fit so that the body is light and comfortable.

Physical activity.

Even when planning to become a mother, a woman should start strengthening the abdominal muscles, back and pelvic floor.

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