The Importance of Good Health During Pregnancy
How your health can impact your pregnancy—and your child.
How your health can impact your pregnancy—and your child.
Pregnancy can be overwhelming, but expecting mothers should take care not to neglect their health—for their own sake, as well as that of their baby.
New research suggests that viral infections during pregnancy could result in brain changes in the child, leading to abnormal behavior in offspring.
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In the past, inflammation in the womb has been associated with an increased risk of psychiatric disorders in offspring. However, these results are largely based on the development of male offspring. So, researchers from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada set out to determine how female offspring are affected by the same type of inflammation.
The researchers injected pregnant rats with an immunity stimulant to produce a simulated viral infection, thus causing inflammation in the womb.
The offspring from the injected rats showed behavioral abnormalities—such as reduced working memory, altered fear responses, and lower rates of sociability—consistent with those found with schizophrenia and autism.
These results suggest contracting a viral infection during pregnancy, such as the flu, could affect brain development and potentially result in mental health conditions in offspring.
To ensure that you don’t put yourself at risk for inflammation or infection during your pregnancy, here are a few simple tips. (You might already follow these pieces of advice—but a little caution could never hurt when it comes to you and your baby’s health.)
Washing your hands after you’ve been in public is particularly important. Use soap and clean water to scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Basically, the advice for staying healthy while you’re pregnant is more or less the same as it would be if you weren’t—but that doesn’t mean you should overlook it.
And if you get sick, don’t panic! Just make sure to take the time to rest and get better.
Maintaining your physical and mental health during pregnancy can be a challenge, but never forget: the little things (like drinking water and getting enough sleep) do count. So try your best to take care of yourself and, by extension, your baby. And don’t be afraid to go to your doctor if you’re not feeling well—that’s what they’re there for!
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