Hello everyone, hope you liked my previous post on play-based learning. Thank you so much for all the love and following our Summer Holidays Story Series on Instagram. Today, I want to share my pregnancy experience and learnings with you hence dedicating this post to all the lovely expecting parents out there. I know how it feels when you have a little human growing inside you. The feeling that you are the sole nurturer of a new life is marvelous. But then there are endless doubts and fears pertaining to baby’s growth and development. One thing I used to do when I was expecting a baby, was read and gather up all the information related to baby growth. You must be doing the same, right? However, many times it would leave me confused and then I would take help of my gynecologist to clear up my doubts.

I remember once during my initial routine check-up, I asked my doc about baby’s brain development in the womb. And I was astonished to know that the neural tube, from which the baby’s brain and spinal cord develop, is formed by the 4th week of conception. Isn’t this amazing? That time she told me how my nutrition intake directly boosts my baby’s brain development.

Our baby’s physical as well as mental growth solely depend on what we eat and how we take care of ourselves both pre and post-pregnancy. In one of my previous posts, I talked about FeedIQ and how mothers not just pass on the genes to the growing baby but also IQ through proper nutrition and stimulation exercises.

You may read that post HERE!

A baby’s brain development is based on the environment, genetics and nourishment she/he receives in utero and via breastfeeding. This is called FeedIQ.

I am sharing the 5 best tips my gynecologist gave me to ensure proper growth & development of my baby as well as for a healthy delivery.

5 tips to have a healthy, happy and smart baby

1) Eat Nutritious Diet

This is one advice we get from almost everyone. I had never cared about nutrition until I found I was expecting a baby. And suddenly I wanted to be mindful of what I eat for my baby’s optimal growth. On every visit to my doc, she would suggest adding a variety of food groups in my daily diet. Foods like green leafy vegetables, nuts, dairy products, legumes, and grains provide essential nutrients for baby’s brain development. So, if you want a smart and intelligent baby, you should take care of what you eat as you will be directly feeding IQ to your baby.

Source – simmom.in

Did you know that 70% of the brain growth occurs during fetal life

I tried best to follow her instructions but there were some foods like spinach and dairy products which I couldn’t eat due to strong aversion during my whole term. And that is why she wanted me to take additional supplements to support fetal development.

You may also read 5 essential nutrients for a baby’s brain development!

2) Take Supplements

My hemoglobin, vitamin D, and iron levels were already low and due to severe food aversions, I was not able to include some important food items in my diet. Hence, I was advised to take additional nutritional supplements. If you are not able to meet your recommended daily intake of nutrients, then it’s really important to take supplements to fulfill body’s requirement. There are many nutritional supplements available in the market. SimMom IQ is a specialized nutrition offering with IQ+ blend of brain nutrients and high-quality protein that helps in fetal brain development and healthy birthing. However, you should always consult your doctor before taking any nutritional supplement.

3) Stay Active

Many people take advantage of pregnancy and use it as an excuse to laze around, I was the same. I had become a couch potato and somedays would not even change my place for the whole day. It was during my 3rd-trimester scan when my doctor told me that baby’s weight was lagging even though I was gaining some good kilos. I realized the importance of being fit and active quite late. But as soon as I came to know about it, I was on my feet. I wanted my baby to be healthy.

The latest research has shown that exercise during pregnancy can increase neurons in your baby’s brain by 40%.

Our body releases some hormones during physical activity which are good for the baby. Working out not only helps in strengthening baby’s brain but also helps in improving your stamina which you will need during labor.

4) Talk to your baby

Source – Pinterest
(thebump.com)

I have heard many people say that it’s good to talk to your baby in the womb since babies can hear us. It’s true! In fact, talking to your baby plays a crucial role in his brain development. This is also a great way to bond with the baby. Whenever I used to talk to my baby, I would feel his movement. It felt as if he was responding to me. You can also read good books aloud during pregnancy. Talking, singing, and reading can help in your baby’s brain development. Sometimes, it may feel funny to talk to your tummy, but you will start loving that feeling too.

5) Say No to Alcohol & Smoking

It’s hard to stay away from alcohol in today’s social life, especially if you are a party animal. Similarly, cigarette smoking is linked to our highly stressful lifestyles. However, you should immediately stop smoking and drinking as these can have adverse effects on baby’s brain health. As per a study at Wayne State University, in Detroit, women who drank occasionally during pregnancy were 3 times as likely as non-drinkers to have a child diagnosed with behavioral problems.

Smoking can increase the risk of birth defects in babies.

The damage due to higher levels of alcohol in the fetal blood can be long-lasting and severe, ranging from mental retardation to heart damage. So, quit smoking and drinking during pregnancy to have a healthy baby.

We all wish to have healthy and smart babies however we ignore the importance of right lifestyle choices which could, in turn, help in boosting baby’s brain development. I hope you find these tips useful. Don’t forget to share the post with other expecting parents. And do leave a comment below so that I know you visited this blog. Thanks!

References:

www.nature.com

www.developinghumanbrain.org

www.simmom.in/feediq

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

All content here, including advice from the doctor, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in case of any questions related to your health.

This is a sponsored post, however, all opinions are mine.

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