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Writer's pictureAjalon J. Stapley

Family First Fact #13

Updated: Apr 11, 2023

Fact: A pregnant mother's health & behavior effects her baby's health & development.

  • Baby’s brain development is greatly effected by “maternal nutrition, infection and stress during pregnancy.”

  • Baby’s first brain activity begins around six weeks, everything the mother does (or does not do) effects baby's development.

  • "One study found that a mother's stress during pregnancy changes the neural connectivity in the brain of her unborn child.”

  • Obesity in pregnant mothers effects baby's brain development and behavior, also associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

  • Smoking can lead to miscarriage, birth defects, premature birth and infant death.

  • Alcohol can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and organ damage. Also effects fetal development stages and attributed to lower IQ’s.

Why It Matters: "About 1 in 33 babies (about 3 percent) is born with a birth defect in the United States each year." Certainly not all birth defects can be prevented, however...there are things expecting mothers can do to increase their chances of having a healthy baby.


What You Can Do:

  • “The most important factor in optimal brain growth is to live a healthy lifestyle,” including healthy diet, exercise, no alcohol or cigarettes and reduced stress.

  • Talking to your baby “will boost language and memory skills” as well as lay groundwork for their social and emotional development.

  • Relaxing music can calm both mom and baby, and help baby learn new sounds and tones.

  • Just be mindful that everything you do effects the baby, take care of yourself -- you take care of your baby.


[Image can be found at Very Well Family website here.]

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I'm Ajalon; mother of three, army wife, avid traveler and horrible crafter who is tired of all the negativity! So I write about politics, culture, faith and family in a way that leaves you edified, educated and empowered. (Yes...even about politics.)

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