Wednesday, August 1, 2018

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Making Healthy Babies


“If I had my life to live over, instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.”
                                                                       --Erma Bombeck

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Thinking of getting pregnant?  There are so many things to consider if you are.  One of the best things that we can do is ensure that parents are healthy before they start thinking about making a baby.  Planning a pregnancy and making a baby means first making a commitment to quit smoking, to exercise, eat right, and avoid alcohol and drugs.  It also means getting to a healthy weight. 

The fact is that when a girl or woman becomes pregnant, being at an unhealthy weight increases her risk for a “high risk pregnancy” and delivering a baby with health complications. 

If you know someone who is thinking about becoming pregnant, talk with them about the importance of getting to a healthy weight first.  According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity was 39.8%, affecting 93.3 Americans in 2015-2016.  

It is time we dare to get embarrassed and talk with those we love about being at a healthy weight as part of prepregnancy planning.  Raising the awareness of this important step can help ensure that we are truly Growing Healthy Kids.

With love and gratitude,
Nancy Heinrich, MPH
Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.