How to Give Birth to a Healthy Baby: Pregnancy Planning, Preeclampsia Prevention, and Safe Delivery

World-renowned obstetrics and gynecology specialist from UCSF, Dr. Philip Darney, MD, shares expert guidance on how to give birth to a healthy baby and reduce the risks of pregnancy complications. In conversation with Dr. Anton Titov, MD, the expert explains the importance of pregnancy planning, early prenatal care, and avoiding toxins such as alcohol, tobacco, and environmental pollutants. The discussion also covers the most frequent cause of early neonatal death — prematurity — and highlights how regular prenatal visits can detect and manage dangerous conditions like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes before they become life-threatening. Breastfeeding, healthy maternal habits, and hospital-based care when needed all play a role in ensuring both the newborn’s and mother’s health.

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• Planning Pregnancy to Reduce Risks
• Prematurity: The Leading Cause of Early Neonatal Death
• Avoiding Toxins and Maintaining Maternal Health
• Breastfeeding for Infant Health
• Managing Preeclampsia and Gestational Diabetes
• Warning Signs of Preeclampsia
• Full Transcript

Planning Pregnancy to Reduce Risks

Dr. Philip Darney, MD, stresses that one of the most important factors in a healthy pregnancy is planning it. Planned pregnancies are more often carried to term, lowering the risk of complications. Women who use contraception to plan their pregnancies tend to have healthier outcomes because the pregnancy occurs at the right time for the mother’s health and circumstances.

Prematurity: The Leading Cause of Early Neonatal Death

All around the world, prematurity is the principal cause of early neonatal death and pregnancy loss. Planned pregnancies are less likely to end prematurely, making pregnancy planning a critical tool in protecting both mother and child. Reducing prematurity rates also reduces infant mortality and improves long-term health outcomes for children.

Avoiding Toxins and Maintaining Maternal Health

Avoidance of toxins — including alcohol, tobacco, and environmental chemicals — is entirely within the mother’s control. These substances can directly impact fetal development and pregnancy outcomes. Dr. Philip Darney, MD, advises that eliminating these exposures is an essential step toward ensuring the safe birth of a healthy child.

Breastfeeding for Infant Health

Breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits for newborns. Breastfed babies are more resistant to infection and tend to grow up healthier. Dr. Philip Darney, MD, encourages breastfeeding for as long as possible as part of optimal newborn care, alongside proper maternal health habits.

Managing Preeclampsia and Gestational Diabetes

Some pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, require hospital-based care. Preeclampsia is a form of high blood pressure that typically develops later in pregnancy. Gestational diabetes, if not treated, can lead to excessive fetal growth and complications during delivery. Both conditions can be detected early through prenatal screening, allowing for timely intervention.

Warning Signs of Preeclampsia

Signs of preeclampsia include rising blood pressure, protein in the urine, and excessive weight gain during the second half of pregnancy. Regular prenatal visits are critical to detect these symptoms before they progress into serious complications. By identifying issues such as hypertension or gestational diabetes early, doctors can take preventive action to protect both mother and baby.

Full Transcript

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: What can a mother do for the safe birth of a healthy baby? What is the most frequent cause of early neonatal death? What causes pregnancy loss? Leading expert in obstetrics and gynecology shares his experience on how to give birth to a healthy baby.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: How to give birth to a healthy child? How to give birth to a healthy child? Planning of pregnancy is very important. Planned pregnancy is carried to term more often. When is it safe to give birth? Normal pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. Avoidance of toxins is important. Early prenatal care is very important. Signs of preeclampsia are rising blood pressure and protein in urine. Regular visits to the doctor and blood pressure measurement in pregnancy are very important.

Medical second opinion confirms that preeclampsia diagnosis is correct and complete. Medical second opinion also confirms that preeclampsia treatment is required. Medical second opinion helps to choose the best treatment for preeclampsia. Get a medical second opinion on preeclampsia and be confident that your treatment is the best.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: How to give birth to a healthy baby? What can a woman do to ensure that her child is born healthy? What can a woman do to make sure her baby stays healthy in early infancy and beyond?

Dr. Philip Darney, MD: Well, the health of the baby is determined in large part by the health of the woman herself. We mentioned some of the things a woman can do to be healthy for her pregnancy. Perhaps the most important health advice is to plan the pregnancy. All around the world the principal cause of early neonatal death and a pregnancy loss is prematurity. Planned pregnancies are less likely to be born premature. So the use of contraception in order to plan a pregnancy is important. Then the pregnancy comes when the woman wants it to come.

The avoidance of toxins is important. Do not use alcohol or tobacco. Avoid exposure to environmental toxins. A woman must preserve the health of the newborn. Seeking prenatal care is important. Breastfeeding has been shown to result in babies who are more resistant to infection. Breastfed babies grow up healthier. So breastfeeding for as long as possible is an important aspect of good care for the newborn baby.

Dr. Philip Darney, MD: Then there are special situations where hospital care is required. The type of care received only in the hospital might be important. For example, the development of preeclampsia can be treated. Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that develops during the later stages of pregnancy. Screening for diabetes is important. A woman who develops diabetes during pregnancy receives treatment to avoid excessive weight gain in herself and in the fetus. That can be an important aspect in pregnancy management.

I would say there are several critical factors for a healthy pregnancy. It is important to plan a pregnancy and avoid outside toxins. They can adversely affect the development of the baby.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: You mentioned preeclampsia. It is a very important risk factor for the health of pregnant women. What are the signs of preeclampsia that the woman should know and recognize?

Dr. Philip Darney, MD: That’s why prenatal care is important. Because rising blood pressure is the critical problem during pregnancy. Protein in the urine and excessive weight gain may happen toward the latter part of the second trimester of pregnancy. Regular prenatal visits and documentation of expected fetal growth during pregnancy are both important.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: This is a very important point, because some of the symptoms could develop quite late in the pregnancy. But high blood pressure can be caught by health professionals before it develops into such a significant problem as preeclampsia.

Dr. Philip Darney, MD: Yes. Two good examples are hypertension during pregnancy and the development of gestational diabetes.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: How to give birth to a healthy child? What are the signs of high-risk pregnancy, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes? Regular prenatal visits find early warning.