Cebu City – In the first 1000 days of a child's life, proper nutrition will have a big impact on the child's health, productivity as an adult, and the community's development making the First 1000 Days the crucial window of time for a child's growth and development.

Before an infant is even conceived, nutrition is a vital part of preparing for pregnancy. Factors such as the weight compared with the height and what a woman eat can play an important role in your health during pregnancy and the health of the developing baby. Couples should work to improve their health and to do that, both should be promotive in nurturing a healthy pregnancy to reduce the risk of preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and other pregnancy-related issues. These are points to aim:

Improve mental well-being - A less stressful atmosphere increases the likelihood of a good pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood. In addition to enhancing the entire pregnancy experience, mental wellness can improve birth outcomes, reduce the risk of pregnancy problems, and ease labor pains.

Balance diet and folic acid - Women who eat a healthy diet should not typically need supplements during the preconception period. However, Vitamin B9 is crucial for the neural tube development of the unborn child and only a small number of foods contain folic acid.

Healthy body weight - An essential component of a good pregnancy is a healthy body weight. Maternal obesity is associated to additional issues such maternal morbidity, premature deliveries, macrosomia, and juvenile obesity. Moreover, increased chances for serious outcomes, including as stillbirth, preterm birth, and intrauterine growth retardation, are linked to maternal underweight.

So, before a positive pregnancy test, planning for healthy preconception (refers to the time before a woman becomes pregnant) is important. Preconception health is crucial for all people of reproductive age, including women and their partners. // DMO II Gabe Henriel P. Sucalit, RND