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Pregnancy and Parenting

Guidance for expecting parents and early childhood

Pregnancy and Parenting

Before and During Pregnancy

Folic acid supplementation before and during early pregnancy prevents neural tube defects[1].

Start taking folic acid at least one month before conceptionⓘ.

Regular prenatal care significantly improves pregnancy outcomes[3].

What to Avoid During Pregnancy

No amount of alcohol during pregnancy is known to be safe[4].

Smoking during pregnancy affects fetal growth, and quitting improves outcomes[5].

Maternal stress and anxiety can affect birth outcomes[6].

Breastfeeding

Early breastfeeding initiation is associated with better infant survival[7].

Exclusive breastfeedingⓘ is recommended for the first six months when possible.

Breastfeeding benefits include improved immunity, reduced infection risk, and better long-term health outcomes for both mother and baby.

Early Parenting

Responsive parenting in early childhood promotes better development[9].

Warm, consistent parenting leads to better child behavior[10].

Responsive parentingⓘ is more important than any specific parenting style.

Screen Time for Young Children

Screen time quality matters more than quantity for young children[12].

Excessive screen time in early childhood is linked to language delays[13].

For children under 2:

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References

  1. Zhang Q et al. (2014). Preventive Effects of Folic Acid Supplementation on Adverse Maternal and Fetal Outcomes. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
  2. Chen XK et al. (2013). Adequate Prenatal Care Reduces the Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
  3. Lewis SJ et al. (2012). Fetal Alcohol Exposure and IQ at Age 8: Evidence from a Population-Based Birth-Cohort Study. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
  4. Howe LD et al. (2019). Associations of maternal quitting, reducing, and continuing smoking during pregnancy with longitudinal fetal growth. PLOS Medicine. [DOI]
  5. Pesonen AK et al. (2016). Maternal Prenatal Positive Affect, Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms and Birth Outcomes. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
  6. Smith ER et al. (2017). Delayed breastfeeding initiation and infant survival: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
  7. Jeong J et al. (2021). Parenting interventions to promote early child development in the first three years: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Medicine. [DOI]
  8. Pinquart M (2018). Parenting behaviors that shape child compliance: A multilevel meta-analysis. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
  9. Madigan S et al. (2023). Screen exposure, parent-child interactions and comprehension in 8-month-old infants: The mediating role of shared viewing. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
  10. Madigan S et al. (2024). Examining the relationship between language development, executive function, and screen time: A systematic review. PLOS ONE. [DOI]