On Maternal Health Awareness Day, We Salute the AAHPO Maternal Health Experts
Today is the fifth annual Maternal Health Awareness Day observed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG ). This year, the theme is Holding Ground on Maternal Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 80% of deaths during and after pregnancy are preventable.
Maternal health is a high priority for the AAHPO Board of Directors. Four members of the BOD are obstetricians or maternal health researchers: Lucy Tovmasian, MD, Lena Merjanian, MD, Kim Hekimian, PhD and Samuel Badalian, MD, PhD.
Lucy Tovmasian, MD
Lena Merjanian, MD
Kim Hekimian, PhD
Samuel Badalian, MD, PhD
We also Salute these AAHPO OB/GYNs: Hasmik Stepanyan, MD, Marine Sahakyan, MD
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Maternal Health Q&A from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Q. Why is it important to eat healthy during pregnancy?
A. Eating well is one of the best things you can do during pregnancy. Healthy eating helps your fetus grow and keeps your body healthy throughout all the changes that pregnancy brings.
Q. What does it mean to eat healthy during pregnancy?
A. The popular saying is that when you’re pregnant, you should “eat for two,” but that doesn’t mean that you should eat twice your usual amount of food during pregnancy. Instead, you should aim to eat twice as healthy.
Q. How do I know if I’m eating healthy?
A. Eat fresh, whole foods if you can. Eat a variety of foods from the five food groups. Eat fewer foods that are high in saturated fat or sugar. Focus on getting the right amount of nutrients to support your fetus’s growth and your health.
