Graze, Sip and Dip for a Healthy Pregnancy
What’s going on in there? Every mother wonders how her habits affect how her baby is growing. Once upon a time it was thought that a baby in the womb grew according to a predetermined genetic blueprint, and as long as a mother took reasonably good care of herself, her baby would grow according to that genetic blueprint. Genes were believed to be so powerful that they determined growth, and that there was not much that nurturing could change. In other words, it was thought that nature was much more important than nurture in regards to prenatal development.
New research shows that how the genes behave and how they affect your baby’s growth, for better or worse, are very much influenced by what a mother eats and does, and even by her level of unresolved stress. And research in the new field of epigenetics shows that a baby’s womb environment can set up a baby for health, or disease, for the rest of her life. Does diabetes or heart disease being in the womb?
You are your baby’s first filter. The brain grows the fastest during pregnancy, especially during the last three months, and it is the organ most susceptible to toxins. The mother, as well as the placenta, acts as a filter for these toxins. What goes into your mouth, your gut, even possibly your thoughts conceivably could pass into your baby. Following are the nine top tips for a healthy pregnancy and baby:
- Learn about the fetal effect.
- Graze for good health.
- Eat the top twelve pregnancy superfoods.
- Gain the weight that’s right for you.
- Exercise right for two.
- Don’t worry, be pregnant.
- Sleep peacefully.
- Go green; avoid environmental pollutants.
- Practice the pills-and-skills model of self-care.
To get more information on how to eat for a healthy pregnancy, you can download “How to Eat: Graze, Sip and Dip,” a complete chapter from The Healthy Pregnancy Book: Month by Month, Everything You Need to Know from America’s Baby Experts. This chapter will teach you the benefits of grazing, sipping and dipping as well as answer common questions like:
- I’m a vegan, but I wonder if it’s a safe diet while pregnant?
- How many extra nutritious calories do I need while pregnant?
- I hear a lot about vitamin D deficiency. How much vitamin D do I need?
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If you would like to work with a Certified Health Coach during your pregnancy, or postpartum, you can find a Coach in your area.