Eat Wise and Exercise Daily to Avoid Pregnancy Complications: Study

A healthy diet and regular exercise help prevent pregnancy complications, suggests a study.

A healthy and nutritious diet is vital during pregnancy for the developing fetus. A recent study by the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute advises expectant mothers to keep a strict watch over their diet and physical activity to escape risk of pregnancy and birth complications. Studies in the past have shown ifatty food, salt and physical inactivity increase vulnerability of gestational diabetes and stroke, heart diseases and cancer in later years. In the current trial, experts observed differences in birth weight of children, mothers' diet after conception, level of physical activity and body weight to assess how these lead to serious complications.

"While it might have been expected that healthier eating and increased physical activity during pregnancy would be associated with differences in weight gain, our findings highlight that weight gain in pregnancy is not an ideal measure of pregnancy health," said Jodie Dodd, study author and professor from the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute and the Women's and Children's Hospital in a news release.

"Importantly, however, these changes in diet and physical activity were directly associated with significant improvements in outcomes for babies," she adds.

In addition, the researchers also instructed the participants to incorporate healthy changes like increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, cutting down on fatty food and indulging in mild physical activities like brisk-walking for at least 15 to 20 minutes daily. The group of women who adhered to these advice gave birth to children with healthy and normal body weight. The incidence of birth defects like respiratory distress syndrome and even prolonged hospital stays and treatments after birth were low in children born to mothers who followed healthy eating and exercising tips.

"Approximately 50% of women are overweight or obese during pregnancy. Until this study was conducted, there had been little evidence about the overall benefits of dietary and lifestyle interventions on this group of women. Our hope is that by following some simple, practical and achievable lifestyle advice, pregnant women can improve their health and the outcomes for their babies. We would, of course, recommend that these lifestyle changes be adopted as much as possible before women become pregnant," said Rosalie Grivell, co-author and researcher from the University's Robinson Research Institute.

More information is available online in the British Medical Journal.