Actively aiding in your baby’s development

The struggles of motherhood are no secret, particularly in the foetal stage. The fear for one’s baby’s health throughout the foetal stage is common to many mothers, with the inherent risks of pregnancy ranging from high blood pressure to gestational diabetes and even depression. The physical discomfort caused by the weight of carrying a growing human being along with the occasional pain due to the swelling of lumps in the armpits as a result of axillary extensions of breast tissue caused by the body gearing up for milk production certainly do not make the emotional element a breeze. The constant concern for your baby’s well-being can make something as simple as sleeping a battle too. However, the waking concern over one’s sleeping position when pregnant is a necessary one, with studies showing that women who go to sleep lying on the back have a 2.3-fold increased risk of late stillbirth (after 28 weeks’ gestation) compared with women who sleep on their side. This was according to a Midland and North of England Stillbirth Study trial of 2017. From the moment of conception, a mother’s well-being is directly linked to that of her offspring. For instance, newborns of mothers who were depressed during pregnancy are four times more likely to have a low birth weight than babies born to mothers who are not depressed.It is therefore of utmost importance that mothers become mindful of their behaviour, thoughts and even habits throughout the gestation period, as change in the aforementioned does become a necessity in most cases. “I had to change my eating habits to healthier as well the portions had to be adjusted since both my pregnancy were declared high-risk pregnancies,” said pregnant mother of one, Monique du Preez.Fortunately, there are many things you can do to actively play a role in aiding your baby’s development. These include light forms of exercise such walking and swimming, as some women have reported an easier labour and overall pregnancy experience as result of exercise. With regards to eating habits, an increase in one’s daily dairy serving will directly aid in the strengthening of your baby’s bones during the foetal stage, ensuring that your baby is born strong and healthy.“It’s not easy changing your habits during pregnancy, but having good support system makes the change easier,” Du Preez added.However, this is limited to unpasteurised milk or unpasteurised milk products as they may contain bacteria that can cause infections. An example of these may include soft cheeses such as blue cheese. There are additional pleasurable benefits of changing one’s habits during the gestation period such as the exploration of various positions during sex. To ensure a safe pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby, one would naturally have to eliminate alcohol consumption and stop habits such as smoking as it can result in premature birth or even miscarriages.

Actively aiding in your baby’s development

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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Actively aiding in your baby’s development

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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