Healthy lifestyles before and during pregnancy
Long before the baby is born
Making sure people are healthy and well before getting pregnant is key to giving every child the best start in life.
Positive outcomes for both parents and babies begin long before the baby is born.
To improve the health of all babies and children, it's important to think about care and support for healthy conception and pregnancy for everyone of reproductive age, no matter their gender, income, or age.
For those not actively preventing pregnancy, poor health habits like smoking, drinking alcohol, or unmanaged medical conditions can cause complications if they become pregnant unexpectedly.
Raising awareness of these risks helps encourage people to take steps to prevent negative outcomes.
Forty-five percent of pregnancies and one-third of births are unplanned or come with mixed emotions, though most pregnancies that reach full term still result in positive outcomes.
A planned pregnancy is usually healthier than an unplanned one because it gives parents time to prepare, make healthier lifestyle changes, and improve preconception health. This preparation can lower the risk of negative health outcomes for both the parent and the baby.
Changing behaviours like quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and maintaining a healthy weight can lead to better overall health outcomes for both the parent and their child.
Raising awareness about preconception health with people who are unsure about becoming pregnant is a responsible approach.
It helps them to understand the importance of maintaining good health, reduces the risks for potential unplanned pregnancies, and allows them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and overall well-being.
Even if pregnancy is not a definite plan, being prepared can make a significant difference in health outcomes.
Wider determinants of health and preconception
There are lots of factors that can affect someone's health and wellbeing, and these are known as the wider determinants of health.
They can include social, economic, and environmental factors, all of which can affect preconception health, influencing fertility, pregnancy outcomes and the health of future generations.
When talking about preconception health, it's essential to understand and acknowledge these wider determinants. Simply telling people to change their behaviour without addressing these underlying factors can lead to increased stress, guilt, and frustration, especially if they lack the time or opportunities to make these changes.
Always be aware of asking people to do something that they are unable to and be empathetic and non-judgemental when offering suggestions of changes that they might want to consider.
The factors that can impact on people
Social networks and emotional support
Strong social support from family, friends, and community can improve mental and reproductive health. Lack of support may increase stress and impact decision-making around pregnancy.
Preparing for a potential pregnancy involves emotional challenges and without support, individuals may feel overwhelmed.
Offering to provide access to community resources and professional guidance, while encouraging the development of alternative support networks, can help people to overcome these challenges and have healthier happier pregnancies.
Housing and living conditions
Poor housing, such as mould, damp, overcrowding and unsafe environments, can lead to health issues. Individuals should seek advice from their housing office or landlord.
People can get advice and support from their housing office or landlord - housing officers are based in district and borough councils.
Access to healthcare
Limited access to healthcare can lead to unmanaged health conditions (for example, diabetes and hypertension), increasing pregnancy risks.
Addressing lifestyle factors like smoking, substance abuse, or obesity is essential.
Cost of good quality food
The high cost of nutritious food can limit access to essential vitamins and minerals, leading to deficiencies that can affect reproductive health.
If someone is more than 10 weeks pregnant or has a child under 4, they may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk through the Healthy Start scheme.
Financial stability and employment
Job security provides financial stability and healthcare access, while poor working conditions may increase risks of infertility, miscarriage or birth defects.
Find out about employment rights while pregnant.
If there are concerns about debt and other financial concerns then our affordable credit team can offer support.
To find out more benefits and support available contact our welfare benefits team.
Education
Education impacts health literacy, employment, and health behaviours.
Higher education levels are linked to better health outcomes and informed decision-making.
Find out about adult education courses available in Derbyshire.
More information
Our welfare benefits team can support you to find out about the benefits entitlement to and how to claim.
Citizens Advice believe no one should have to face these problems without good quality, independent advice.
Derbyshire Unemployed Workers' Centres are part of a larger network of TUC Unemployed Workers' Centres. Their aim is to prevent or relieve poverty among the unemployed, underemployed, and unwaged.
Community banks and access to credit some forms of borrowing can be very expensive when it is worked out what and individuals will have to pay back by the end of the agreement. Make sure individuals work out what sort of credit suits them.
Feeding Derbyshire is a network of affordable food projects that aims to improve accessibility to good quality, affordable food and reduce the negative impact of hunger by ensuring projects and initiatives are inclusive and reach the most vulnerable people in the county.
Information on other websites
Staying healthy
Staying healthy and well before, and during pregnancy, is good for parents and children.
Pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity
Being overweight or obese before pregnancy can lead to numerous health risks for both the parent and baby. For the pregnant individual, these risks include:
- gestational diabetes
- pre-eclampsia
- gestational hypertension
- increased likelihood of caesarean birth and surgical site infection
- poorer perinatal mental health outcomes
For the baby, risks include:
- preterm birth
- being small or large for gestational age
- birth defects and congenital abnormalities
- perinatal death
The risks increase for individuals with class 2 and 3 obesity.
Being underweight (BMI less than 18.5) also carries risks, such as:
- miscarriage
- preterm birth
- low birth weight
Many women and people struggle to lose weight between pregnancies. Family weight is often influenced by diet, physical activity, and socioeconomic factors. Addressing these factors can create a healthier environment for future pregnancies.
Messages for professionals to share
- advise pregnant people to contact their doctor or midwife as soon as they know they are pregnant
- encourage maintaining a healthy weight and discuss the risks of being underweight or overweight in pregnancy
- promote a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to support development and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity later in life
Physical activity
Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight and manage conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. It also improves mental health by reducing stress, anxiety and depression, while improving mood and overall well-being.
Inactivity during the preconception period can negatively impact fertility, mental health and pregnancy outcomes.
Encouraging moderate, consistent exercise before and during pregnancy can help improve fertility, manage weight, and reduce pregnancy risks.
Resources
To support someone to lose weight or quit smoking, Live Life Better Derbyshire is here to help the people of Derbyshire live life better.
Derbyshire Family Health Service is a team of healthcare professionals here to support you and your family as part of the 0-19-year-olds free public health and wellbeing services.
Health, exercise, and nutrition for the really young (HENRY). HENRY is a unique intervention to support parents and carers to give their child a healthy, happy start in life.
Livewell Derby is Derby City Council’s healthy lifestyle service. The scheme provides free support to adults and children for up to 12 months to help them lose weight, become more active, quit smoking and improve their health.
Healthy Start - if someone is more than 10 weeks pregnant or has a child under 4, they may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
Preconception health and interconception health
Preconception health means the health of anyone during their reproductive years.
This is typically between the ages of 16 and 44, regardless of whether they are planning to become pregnant or not, as well as before, and between, pregnancies.
Preconception health refers to the health and well-being of people before they become pregnant.
Interconception health refers to the health and well-being of people between pregnancies.
Interconception health specifically focuses on the time between the end of one pregnancy to the beginning of another, addressing any issues that may have happened during the previous pregnancy and optimising health for any future pregnancies.
Preconception health services benefit anyone of reproductive age – regardless of whether they are planning a pregnancy or not.
Improving preconception health can lead to healthier pregnancies, reduced complications, and better outcomes for everyone.
There is a clear link between a baby’s health and their parent’s health.
Healthy parents are more likely to have healthy babies who then grow into healthy children.
Preconception health is important not just for mothers, but for fathers and partners as well.
The health and lifestyle choices of both parents can significantly impact fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and the long-term health of the child.
This includes adopting healthy habits like avoiding smoking, reducing alcohol, eating well and staying active.