Pre-Pregnancy Health Tips

 
There are a number of steps that the mother can take prior to pregnancy to ensure that she and the baby are healthy during pregnancy:

1. The mother should consume a 400 milligram supplement of folic acid each day in order to ensure that her body has a good level of this vitamin stored when entering pregnancy. This can help aid against neural tube defects.

2. It is highly advisable that the mother achieve her ideal weight before becoming pregnant. Extra weight can make pregnancy much more difficult, and being underweight can be a serious health risk not only to the baby, but also to the mother. Along with achieving this weight, ensuring that the mother's diet is healthy and provides proper nutrition is important as well.

3. If the mother is taking prescribed drugs for either a chronic or an acute illness, she should consult with her doctor regarding the effects that this drug may have on the mother and the baby.

4. Alcohol, recreational drugs, smoking, and caffeine should all be avoided both before and during pregnancy to ensure optimal health of the mother and the baby.

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