What lifestyle advice should I provide to pregnant patients to promote maternal and fetal health?

Lifestyle advice for pregnant patients to promote maternal and fetal health includes:

• Nutrition and diet: Encourage eating a variety of different foods daily to ensure a balanced intake of nutrients without the need to "eat for two." Avoid specific harmful foods and drinks, but no special diet is required. Tailor advice to individual needs, preferences, and cultural background, and provide non-judgemental, evidence-based information. Support access to healthy food through schemes like Healthy Start if eligible ³.
• Physical activity: Advise continuing or gradually increasing safe physical activity during pregnancy, minimizing sedentary time such as prolonged sitting. Tailor advice to the patient’s usual activity and preferences, following UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidance on physical activity in pregnancy ³.
• Smoking, alcohol, and recreational drugs: Advise avoidance of smoking, alcohol consumption, and recreational drug use during pregnancy to reduce risks to mother and baby ¹,².
• Immunizations: Recommend immunizations for influenza, whooping cough, and COVID-19 to protect mother and baby from infections ¹,².
• Weight management: Measure height and weight at booking to calculate BMI. For BMI over 30 kg/m2, offer gestational diabetes testing; for BMI over 40 kg/m2, discuss referral to specialist obesity services. Focus on maintaining a healthy diet and physical activity rather than weight loss, as intentional weight loss is not recommended during pregnancy ³.
• Infection risk reduction: Discuss reducing risks of infections that can impact the baby, such as group B streptococcus, and safe use of medicines and supplements ¹,².
• Mental health and social support: Discuss mental health, provide support resources, and ensure opportunities for private discussion, especially if domestic abuse is suspected. Provide information on local antenatal classes and breastfeeding workshops ¹,².
• Contact and support: Inform how to contact midwifery teams for non-urgent advice and maternity services for urgent concerns like pain or bleeding ¹,².