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State of the Art Reviews: Nutrition and Lifestyle for a Healthy Pregnancy

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, hricciot{at}bidmc.harvard.edu

Nutrition and lifestyle factors can maximize health in pregnancy and lower future risk of disease for both mother and fetus. Education can make a big difference for patients in pregnancy outcomes, anxiety, and future health. Pregnancy is a time when attention to proper weight gain can reduce the risk of future obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. There is mounting evidence that fetal "programming" for future risk of disease begins in utero and varies with nutritional exposures during different times of pregnancy, although the exact mechanisms remain to be elucidated. It is clear that a few simple precautions and enhancements of diet and lifestyle can prevent birth defects and perinatal infections and may reduce future health risks. Exercise in pregnancy is safe and should be encouraged for healthy women.

Key Words: nutrition • pregnancy • diet • fetus • prenatal care • fetal programming • exercise

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