Importance of baby's brain development during pregnancy
For your patients who are expectant mothers, knowing that their baby's developing brain is cared for can provide them with peace of mind. As their healthcare provider, you must ensure this developing fetal brain is not overlooked.
During pregnancy, a baby's brain growth is crucial to its overall development. The fetal cortical brain development begins early in the pregnancy and progresses rapidly throughout the third trimester. Pregnant women play a significant role in promoting their baby's brain development through a healthy lifestyle. The weeks of pregnancy are when the developing baby's brain forms millions of brain cells, which are essential for cognitive functioning later in life.
Fetal early brain development is influenced by various factors, including the mother's nutrition, stress levels, and overall health (Fitzgerald et al., 2020). Different brain tissues develop during pregnancy, contributing to the newborn's cortical brain development and brain structural imaging results after birth. Newborn cortical brain development, particularly the brain cortical thickness, is associated with better cognitive function and overall cognitive functioning.
Ensuring a healthy pregnancy can lead to biological and psychological benefits for the baby. A well-nourished and stress-free mother can significantly enhance the quality of the neonatal brain tissues, leading to better neonatal brain cortical development.
Types of support a healthcare professional can give a mother
During pregnancy, the foundation for a baby's lifelong cognitive development begins to take shape. As a healthcare professional, you have the remarkable opportunity to influence this process positively. Maternal health and lifestyle choices, such as physical activity, significantly impact newborn brain cortical development. To promote fetal brain development, the support a mother receives during pregnancy influences their physical and mental health. Here are some of the things you can do while they are under your care:
Provide nutritional guidance
In all things, nutrition. We can't stress enough how pivotal the role of nutrition is to pregnant women. A mother's nutrition is found to have a link with neurodevelopment and the baby's brain power. Without proper nutrient intake, brain defects can be expected. Along with them are altered cognitive brain functions, visual problems, and motor skills deficits (Cortés-Albornoz et al., 2021).
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2023) states that a healthy diet for pregnant women includes nutrients like protein, folic acid, iodine, and choline. Calorie intake should also increase as the pregnancy progresses. Advise your patients to limit caffeinated and sugary drinks and avoid alcohol. It would be of great help if you could provide them with a reference or a handout to quickly remind them of what should be included in their diet.
Offer mental health support
Pregnancy can be challenging, bringing a rollercoaster of emotions to the mother, and sadly, sometimes, their mental health is neglected. During your consultations, encourage them to talk about their feelings to someone they trust.
If there are support groups for expecting mothers, you can encourage them to join so that they know they are not alone. Recommend some ways to destress, or if the patient is undergoing some serious mental health conditions, refer them to a mental health provider so that appropriate treatment plans and care can be given to them.
Recommend safe exercises
Exercise can be an excellent way to promote a pregnant woman's health as long as there are no complications during pregnancy. You can suggest they do simple activities like walking, yoga, and swimming.
Physical activity in healthy pregnant women during the 1st and 2nd trimesters significantly affects newborn brain development. Greater maternal exercise levels are associated with increased neonatal brain cortical thickness, which can result in better cortical brain development (Na et al., 2022).
Provide counseling (in case the patient is using substances)
There might be instances where you end up having a patient who is using substances. Counseling her involves talking about the risks these substances can pose to her baby's brain and overall development.
Acknowledge her side and help her understand how substances like drugs or alcohol can affect the baby's growth and health. You must work together to find ways to reduce or stop substance use, providing support and resources like therapy or support groups. You may also refer her to a substance abuse counselor if further interventions are necessary.
Conduct regular check-ups
Regular check-ups during pregnancy are crucial for ensuring your patient and her baby stay healthy. After giving birth, support continues with check-ups to monitor the baby's growth and development, and guidance is provided to assist the patient with breastfeeding, nutrition, and adjusting to life with her new baby. These check-ups and support are essential for ensuring a healthy pregnancy and a positive start for the baby's life and brain development.
Key takeaways
In summary, here are the essential things to remember:
- A baby's brain undergoes critical development during pregnancy. Proper nurturing at this stage can significantly impact lifelong cognitive abilities and emotional well-being.
- Healthcare professionals can provide invaluable guidance and support. From prenatal vitamins to regular check-ups, they ensure the optimal conditions for brain growth and overall health.
- Simple lifestyle adjustments such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and managing stress play crucial roles.
- Throughout pregnancy, the baby's brain forms essential structures and neural connections. Each trimester presents unique growth opportunities, accentuating the need for consistent prenatal care and healthy practices.
Carepatron: The best healthcare OS available
Carepatron is the best healthcare OS for obstetricians and gynecologists because we offer comprehensive tools and resources tailored to your needs.
With features like appointment scheduling, you can effortlessly manage patient visits and reduce no-shows. Telehealth capabilities allow you to offer remote consultations, making it easier for pregnant patients to access care. The patient portal ensures that patients can view their health records, book appointments, and communicate with you securely.
Carepatron also provides thousands of resources, including worksheets for nutritional guidance, exercise recommendations, and counseling support. This platform helps you streamline regular check-ups and offer personalized care plans. Integrating these features can enhance patient engagement and improve health outcomes.
Ready to transform your practice? Try Carepatron today!
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References
Cortés-Albornoz, M. C., García-Guáqueta, D. P., Velez-van-Meerbeke, A., & Talero-Gutiérrez, C. (2021). Maternal nutrition and neurodevelopment: A scoping review. Nutrients, 13(10), 3530. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103530
Fitzgerald, E., Hor, K., & Drake, A. (2020). Maternal influences on fetal brain development: The role of nutrition, infection and stress, and the potential for intergenerational consequences. Early Human Development, 150(PMC7481314), 105190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105190
Na, X., Raja, R., Phelan, N. E., Tadros, M. R., Moore, A., Wu, Z., Wang, L., Li, G., Glasier, C. M., Ramakrishnaiah, R. R., Andres, A., & Ou, X. (2022). Mother's physical activity during pregnancy and newborn's brain cortical development. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.943341
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2023, May 19). Eat healthy during pregnancy: Quick tips. https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/pregnancy/nutrition-and-physical-activity/eat-healthy-during-pregnancy-quick-tips
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