Women's compliance with nutrition and lifestyle recommendations before pregnancy: general population cohort study
BMJPublished 12 February 2009Open access
Hazel Inskip, Sarah Crozier, Keith M. Godfrey, S E Borland, Cyrus Cooper, Siân Robinson
Citations202
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TL;DR
Only a small proportion of women planning a pregnancy follow the recommendations for nutrition and lifestyle, and as many pregnancies are unplanned, improved nutrition and lifestyles of women of childbearing age is also required.
Abstract
Only a small proportion of women planning a pregnancy follow the recommendations for nutrition and lifestyle. Greater publicity for the recommendations is needed, but as many pregnancies are unplanned, improved nutrition and lifestyles of women of childbearing age is also required.
Keywords
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