Discover 7 essential steps to prepare for a healthy pregnancy, including maintaining a healthy weight, cleaning up your diet, taking vitamins, and reducing stress. Book a complimentary wellness consultation today!
7 Essential Steps to Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy and Baby
Many women don’t realize that their health long before they get pregnant can have a profound impact on their future baby’s health. From protecting against allergies, asthma, and gut problems to lowering the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even mental health issues, your pre-pregnancy wellness is crucial.
If you’re planning to start a family, here are seven key ways to prepare your body and boost your chances of having a healthy baby.
1. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Entering pregnancy at a healthy weight is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of prenatal and birth complications. Being overweight can increase the likelihood of needing a C-section and puts your baby at higher risk of childhood health issues like asthma, allergies, and obesity, as well as long-term problems like diabetes and heart disease.
At My Wellness Solutions, we offer personalized programs to help you maintain a healthy weight through whole foods, smart eating habits, and detoxifying treatments to help you shed unwanted pounds and eliminate past toxicity.
2. Go Organic
Exposure to pesticides during pregnancy can negatively affect your baby’s neurological development, with studies linking pesticides to lower IQ scores and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder. While it may not be realistic to go 100% organic, focus on avoiding the Dirty Dozen—foods with the highest levels of pesticide contamination.
3. Limit High-Mercury Fish
Newborns are exposed to around 300 chemicals at birth, and mercury is one of the most harmful. Found in some fish, mercury can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy and affects the baby’s neurological and hormonal systems. To protect your baby, avoid fish that are high in mercury. Check out the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for a list of fish to avoid.
4. Clean Up Your Cosmetics
Many women apply multiple cosmetic products each day, unaware that these products contain harmful chemicals like lead in lipsticks and eyeliners. Your skin absorbs these chemicals, and they can be passed on to your baby during pregnancy. The good news is that the EWG offers resources to help you choose safer cosmetics and body products.
5. Maintain a Healthy Gut Microbiome
A healthy gut microbiome in the mother is essential for the baby’s health. Your gut flora is passed on to your baby during a vaginal birth and through breastfeeding, helping to protect them from gut problems, allergies, and autoimmune conditions.
To improve your gut health:
- Avoid antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.
- Eat a wide variety of foods, especially leafy greens and fermented foods.
- Take a high-quality probiotic.
6. Take the Right Vitamins
Taking the right vitamins is crucial for a healthy pregnancy. Folic acid (specifically the active form, methylfolate) is essential for protecting your baby from neural tube defects, miscarriage, preterm birth, and other complications. Fish oil and vitamin D3 are also important for supporting both your health and your baby’s development.
We recommend taking:
- 400 mcg to 1 mg of methylfolate
- 1,000 to 2,000 units of vitamin D3 daily
7. De-Stress
Stress can disrupt your hormones, cause fertility problems, and increase the risk of health issues during pregnancy. In fact, 80% of all health problems are believed to be stress-related. Chronic stress during pregnancy can also increase the risk of mental health issues for your child.
To combat stress, focus on activities like yoga, meditation, exercise, or counseling. Making necessary life or work changes can also help you feel more at peace, benefiting you and your future baby.
Ready for a Healthy Pregnancy?
If you want to ensure you’re taking all the right steps toward a healthy pregnancy, consider booking a complimentary wellness consultation. We’ll work together to identify any necessary lifestyle changes and explore how our holistic treatments can support your health goals as you prepare for your future baby.
Click here to book your assessment and start your journey toward a healthy pregnancy
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