Are You Ready for Pregnancy? Being healthy before you start trying for a baby can help your chances of conceiving and going on to have a happy and healthy pregnancy and birth. Making a few small changes to your lifestyle can make a big difference for you and your baby. NHS health and care services across Surrey have come together to launch a 12-month campaign called #ReadyforPregnancy to raise awareness of things women and their partners can do before conception to improve fertility, pregnancy health and their baby’s future health. Eating healthily and watching your weight Eating a healthy, nutritious diet is especially important if you’re planning a pregnancy. Your baby relies on you to provide the right balance of nutrients to help them grow and develop properly even after they are born. By aiming for a healthy weight, you increase your chances of conceiving naturally and having a healthy pregnancy and baby. Being overweight when you become pregnant can affect the way your baby develops in the womb and it also increases the risk of miscarriage. Going smoke-free Quitting smoking is the most important thing you and your partner can do to give your baby the best start in life. If you are planning a pregnancy or are already expecting, talk to your GP practice, midwife or local stop smoking service about the support available for both of you to quit. Getting in to shape If you’re not used to exercising, or haven’t done any in a while, now is a good time to start. Try starting with 10 minutes of daily activity and build up to 30 minutes each day. The more active and fit you are during pregnancy, the easier it will be for you to adapt to your changing shape and weight gain. It will also help you to cope with labour and get back into shape after the birth. Taking food supplements Taking a folic acid supplement when you are trying to conceive until you’re 12 weeks pregnant is really beneficial. It can reduce the risk of problems in your baby’s development in the early weeks of pregnancy and lessen birth defects such as spina bifida. The NHS recommends taking 400 micrograms of folic acid every day as well as eating foods that contain folate such as leafy green vegetables. Find out more about preparing for your pregnancy by searching online for ‘Ready for Pregnancy Surrey’ and #ReadyForPregnancy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
26 LookLocal - SEPTEMBER 2020
