Lifestyle Changes in Pregnancy, Why

¶ … lifestyle changes in pregnancy, why they are important, and how to implement the necessary changes into everyday life. For most people, pregnancy is an expectant time of joy, a little trepidation, and some major lifestyle changes. Those lifestyle changes are essential for baby and mom health, and can result in a happier, healthier, and developmentally sound new baby.

Expectant mothers have to change their lifestyles to ensure their baby's health, but because their bodies are changing and altering, and because they need to remember they are eating and drinking for two now. Their baby's nutrition and development depend on the mother, so lifestyle changes are a necessity during pregnancy. Diet, exercise, sleep, and moods can all change during pregnancy, so lifestyle changes are essential for keeping mom emotionally balanced, healthy, and happy throughout the pregnancy. Diet is one of the most important lifestyle changes during pregnancy.

That is because the mother's diet affects just about every part of the baby's development, so healthy eating, and eating enough to nourish the baby, is of vital importance. Mothers should eat a healthy diet, and should eat about 100 to 300 extra calories a day for baby's health, and they should not gain more than 35 pounds during the pregnancy (Editors, 2009). They should eat fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, some carbohydrates, and limit fats and empty calories. They should also take vitamin supplements.

However, it is important to have regular checkups and understand that large amounts of some vitamins and minerals can be dangerous. The Editors at Planned Parenthood note, "Beware that it is possible to get too much of some vitamins and minerals during pregnancy. For example, too much vitamin a can cause birth defects. Health care providers often prescribe a prenatal vitamin for women to take before and during pregnancy to make sure they get the right amount of vitamins" (Editors, 2009).

Exercise is also extremely important during pregnancy, and mothers should develop a safe, recommended exercise plan, and talk with their physician about what exercises are safe and what to avoid, so as not to harm the baby. Other lifestyle changes are essential during this time, as well. Smoking and drinking can adversely affect the baby in many ways, and can lead to developmental and learning problems later in life.

A group of researchers note, "Because smoking leads to adverse intrauterine conditions that may affect development of the auditory perceptual abilities of the exposed infants, it could result in fundamental differences in perceptual skills that set the stage for reported problems in later language outcomes" (Key, Ferguson, Molfese, Peach, Lehman & Molfese, 2007). Thus, an important lifestyle change is to quit smoking before getting pregnant, or as soon after pregnancy as possible. Drinking alcohol can also have very serious affects on the baby.

Another group of researchers state, "Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been associated with adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Children with FAS have more skeletal anomalies, cardiac defects, and genitourinary malformations than the general population" (Damgaard, Jensen, Petersen, Skakkebaek, Toppari & Main, 2007). Pregnant women should not drink alcohol, and they should not drink while they are attempting to become pregnant, either.

These may be two of the biggest lifestyle changes for many women, but they are critical for the baby's health and safety, and should not be ignored. Drug use is another important aspect of lifestyle change for expectant mothers. They should not take any drugs, legal or illegal, without checking with their healthcare professional, and they should stop using illegal drugs as soon as possible. Stress is a big part of everyday life, and expectant mothers need to reduce stress in their lives.

Expectant mothers can also experience trouble sleeping and other stressors, so it is very important to gain the support of family members, friends, and co-workers in an attempt to lighten stress and reduce the stresses that can affect the baby. Working can actually help increase the health of the mother. Another researcher states, "Studies consistently show that infants of women who work during pregnancy have better health than infants of women who are not employed" (Lindsay, 2004).

Getting plenty of rest to engaging in enjoyable and pleasant activities help ensure there is less lifestyle stress and more pleasure and enjoyment. Here, friends, family, and especially the father can get involved to help the mother enjoy a happier, restful, and enjoyable pregnancy. How do expectant mothers make these lifestyle changes? Clearly, many of them may be difficult for mothers to immediately implement and change.

Many expectant mothers join support groups, where they share their frustrations and triumphs, and gain support and understanding from other women in the same situation. This can help them.