Congratulations! You’re pregnant! Now, let’s get down to business. According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC), everything you do in the next nine months, from what you eat to what you drink to how physically active you are and what you weigh, has the potential to affect your child’s current and future growth.
In fact, a new report by NWHRC explores the growing body of research that finds conditions in utero (i.e., while you’re pregnant) have the potential to affect your child’s health even decades down the road.
For instance, one study found that women who drink during pregnancy could increase their child’s risk of alcohol addiction later in life, even with just one drinking binge. Other studies suggest significant correlations between a mother’s nutrition during pregnancy and her child’s risk for being overweight and developing diabetes and heart disease later in life.
The message? Eat right today and prevent future health problems for your child.
There are two components to “eating right” when you’re pregnant. One is the type of food you’re...