Keep fit and healthy while pregnant
With birth rates being typically higher in September and October, it seems that the beginning of the year is a popular time to conceive.
As such baby charity Tommy’s and Asda are lending a helping hand to would-be-parents, with the help of the charity’s ‘Having a Healthy Pregnancy’ guide, available for free in Asda Pharmacies.
The guide is Tommy’s staple pregnancy health publication, produced to help women maximize their pregnancy health.
It provides key information on the different stages of pregnancy and antenatal care, and was revised in 2012 - with funding from Asda - to also focus on evidence-based lifestyle advice, including diet & nutrition, weight management, exercise, smoking cessation and maintaining good mental well-being.
Beckie Lang, Health Campaigns Manager for Tommy’s, said: “For many, pregnancy provides an excellent opportunity to adopt better lifestyle choices.
“Pregnancy is a very exciting journey that will bring many changes to your body, your lifestyle and your family. However, we know changing behaviour and certain habits can be hard, so our ‘Having a Healthy Pregnancy’ guide aims to show women the best ways to have a healthy, happy nine months, giving your baby the best possible chance to be healthy and strong.”
The 104-page full-colour-book has ten chapters including a detailed pregnancy calendar, chapters on diet, weight, exercise, smoking, mental health and drugs and alcohol, as well as information on antenatal care and preparing for birth.
Faisal Tuddy, Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist at Asda, said: “Working in partnership with Tommy’s, we will continue to help provide support and advice for women trying for a baby, mums-to-be and new mums.
“Women can visit any Asda Pharmacy, at any time, for information or guidance on pregnancy starting from as early as the pre-conception stage - and it costs nothing.”
Tommy’s has also recently been certified by the Information Standard, so those who refer to Tommy’s publications, can feel reassured that the information they receive is evidence-based, reliable and trustworthy.
Tommy’s believes it is unacceptable that one in four women will lose a baby every year, either at pregnancy or birth.
As such the charity aims to ensure that every baby has the best chance of being born healthy, by funding research into pregnancy problems such as miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and disseminating pregnancy health information that will help parents-to-be have a healthy baby.
To find your nearest Asda store, go to: www.storelocator.asda.com/
For further information on Tommy’s guide go to: www.tommys.org/asda
Have you picked up a copy of the guide? Did you find it useful? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
FemaleFirst