Nutrition and Health | First 1000 days
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Nutrition and Health

Choose healthy food for a healthy and happy child (brain and body).

Babies who are malnourished in the womb, have a higher risk of dying in infancy. These babies are more likely to face lifelong cognitive (brain), physical and chronic health problems. Remember that everything the mom eats, drinks or takes in during pregnancy, is taken in by the growing baby too. Bad substances can have a very negative effect on your baby. 

Mother / Caregiver
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Eating good healthy food and keeping safe and healthy can leave a long-term positive legacy by programming the baby’s genes to help reduce the risk of diseases such as heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes later on in life.  If you are healthy during pregnancy, the chances are better that your baby will grow up healthy.

Good nutrition is essential to ensure you’re healthy during pregnancy, and that your baby is born with a strong body and smart brain. 

Babies who are malnourished in the womb have a higher risk of dying in infancy and are more likely to face lifelong cognitive (brain), physical and chronic health problems. Remember that everything the mom eats, drinks or takes in during pregnancy is taken in by the growing baby too. Bad substances can have a very negative effect on your baby.

  • Stop drinking alcohol after a missed period
  • Eat healthy food
  • Stop smoking
  • Do regular exercise

Do you know that there are counsellors at your antenatal clinic to talk to about the best feeding options for your baby? Speak to the nurse at your clinic if you have any concerns. 

Some reading material on pregnancies:

Teenage Pregnancy_Eng.pdf (pdf, 786.48 KB)
Maternity Teenage Booklet_Afr.pdf (pdf, 548.17 KB)
Maternity Pamphlet 2_Eng.pdf (pdf, 1.06 MB)
Maternity Pamphlet 1_Afr.pdf (pdf, 391.32 KB)
Maternity Booklet_Eng.pdf (pdf, 3.69 MB)
Maternity Booklet_Afr.pdf (pdf, 3.58 MB)
No alchohol.pdf (pdf, 80.88 KB)
No Alcohol Afr.pdf (pdf, 81.83 KB)
No Alcohol Xho.pdf (pdf, 81.72 KB)
Child
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Making sure that babies get the right kind of care, nutrition and stimulation is the best chance society has at breaking the cycles of poverty, violence and alcohol- and drug abuse.

The right nutrition during this 1 000-day window can have a profound impact on a child’s ability to develop and learn.

During pregnancy, babies draw all of their nutrients from their mother. If mom lacks key nutrients, so will her baby, putting the child’s future health and development at risk.

Healthy food during the first 1000 days period from pregnancy to your baby’s 2nd birthday is crucial because:

  • Besides the body growing rapidly, 80% of your baby’s brain growth takes place in the first 2 years of life.