What advice should I provide regarding lifestyle modifications during pregnancy to promote maternal and fetal health?

Advice on lifestyle modifications during pregnancy to promote maternal and fetal health includes:

• Healthy Eating: Encourage eating a variety of foods daily, including at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, to ensure a balanced intake of nutrients for both mother and baby. Reassure that there is no need to "eat for two," but to avoid specific harmful foods and drinks. Tailor advice to individual dietary habits, preferences, and cultural needs, and consider affordability and access to healthy foods. Provide information about support schemes such as Healthy Start if eligible ³,¹.
• Physical Activity: Advise continuing or gradually increasing safe physical activity during pregnancy, minimizing sedentary time. Tailor advice to the woman’s usual activity levels and preferences, ensuring safety and comfort ³.
• Sleep Position: Advise avoiding going to sleep on the back after 28 weeks of pregnancy and consider using pillows to maintain a side-lying position, as sleeping on the back in late pregnancy may be linked to stillbirth ¹,².
• Weight Management: Measure height and weight at the first antenatal appointment to calculate BMI and discuss weight sensitively. For women with 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 specific weight targets due to uncertainties about optimal weight change ³.
• Monitoring and Support: Discuss general health, wellbeing, mental health, and any social factors that may affect lifestyle. Offer additional support or referrals as needed, including for mental health or domestic abuse concerns ¹,².