Give Your Baby a Healthy Start
Planning a family is an exciting time for any couple. There are books to read, videos to watch and doting relatives all too willing to share their stories. With the possibility that your baby could live to be 80, 90, 100 years and beyond, soon-to-be parents need to understand their choices and how those choices will affect the baby for his or her lifetime.
The best thing you can do for your baby is to give him or her a good head start in life by having a healthy pregnancy. But did you know that having a healthy pregnancy can actually begin before conception? Healthy lifestyle habits prior to conception will better your chances of providing the best developmental environment for your child while they are in the womb.
Risky behaviors should be avoided, such as using drugs, over-indulging in alcohol, and exposure to tobacco products. Just as important as the list of “what not to do when planning a baby” is the list of “things to start doing.” This includes proper nutrition, prenatal vitamins, exercise, and stress reduction.
Proper Nutrition is Vital
Proper nutrition is vitally important to the health of your baby. The food you eat becomes the building blocks your baby’s Innate Intelligence will use to develop their eyes, ears, lungs, heart, muscles, skin and brain. There are many ways to determine which foods are most beneficial and why, but to keep things simple, follow this guideline: If it grows, eat it. If it comes in a package with an ingredient list of more than 5-6 items, choose something else. Foods that have been processed the least usually offer more nutrients, are more readily digested, and are healthier than those foods that are highly processed and contain chemicals.
In addition to eating healthy, prenatal vitamins can ensure that moms receive adequate amounts of Vitamins A, B-1, B-2, Niacin, B-6, B-12, C, D, and E, as well as Folic Acid, Calcium, Iron, and usually Zinc. Prenatal vitamins should be considered 6 weeks before conception. Choose vitamins from a trusted source that don’t include fillers and chemicals. Check the ingredient list to see if your vitamins were derived from a whole food source, or if they were engineered in a chemical factory. Remember, what you put in your body directly affects your unborn child.
Get Your ESS in Shape
Exercise is beneficial to both Mom and baby. Studies show that a mom who exercises through the duration of her pregnancy may experience little to no morning sickness, nausea, back pain, swelling, and other irritations sometimes seen in pregnancy. All 3 components of The 100 Year Lifestyle Workout should be a part of your fitness plan. So wherever you are on your journey toward motherhood, the time has come to Get Your ESS in Shape: Endurance, Strength and Structure (your spine and nervous system).
Moms should take all steps necessary to lessen stress before and during pregnancy. Stress takes a toll on the mother’s body and can adversely affect her ability to adapt. Chiropractic adjustments relieve the effects of stress on the nervous system, allowing the body to function and adapt at higher levels.
The lifestyle choices you make now will have an effect on your baby from the moment of conception until their very last breath 80, 90, and maybe even 100 years down the road. Take the steps necessary to start enjoying a healthy active life while providing your baby the foundations for theirs.
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