A 12-month campaign has been launched across Surrey to encourage women to get fit and healthy before they try for a baby. Launched on 3 August, #ReadyforPregnancy aims to raise awareness of how women’s health when they get pregnant affects them and their baby not only throughout their pregnancy, but also at birth.
The campaign will focus on a different aspect of health each month. These can improve a couple’s chances of conceiving and going on to have a happy and healthy pregnancy and birth. Topics include taking regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, stopping smoking and mental wellbeing.
Gemma Puckett, Head of Midwifery at Ashford & St Peters Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is such an exciting time for couples but we know that most women don’t seek health advice before becoming pregnant and are often unaware of the risks to themselves and their baby. There is a clear link between a mother’s health before pregnancy, the risks she is exposed to or exposes herself to, and her baby’s health.
“We want to every woman in Surrey to know how to prepare themselves for a healthy pregnancy which they can enjoy, and a few small changes can make a big difference. #ReadyforPregnancy is a great way to help raise awareness of things women can do before conception to improve fertility, pregnancy health and their baby’s future health.”
The campaign will run on social media across Surrey and you can keep updated by following https://twitter.com/surreyheartland or www.facebook.com/SurreyHeartlandsICS. You can also find out more at https://www.healthysurrey.org.uk/children-and-families/ready-for-pregnancy.
