Maternal wellness plays a big role in a baby’s health long before birth. A mother’s nutrition, emotional health, sleep, and physical activity all affect how a baby grows and develops. When mothers feel supported and healthy, their babies benefit in real and lasting ways. This also connects closely to protecting babies from illness through vaccines and disease prevention. Caring for the mother is one of the best ways to care for the baby.

Maternal wellness is more than a personal goal. It is a key part of healthy pregnancy and early infant development. Research shows that a mother’s overall health can affect birth weight, early development, and the chance of being born too early. Supporting mothers with good nutrition, stress support, regular sleep, and routine medical care helps create the best possible environment for a growing baby.

Nutrition is one of the most important parts of maternal wellness. Eating a balanced diet with enough folate, iron, calcium, and omega 3 fats support brain development, bone growth, and overall growth for the baby. Prenatal vitamins can help fill nutrition gaps when food alone is not enough. Following guidance from a healthcare provider helps make sure both mother and baby get what they need during pregnancy.

Physical activity and sleep are also important. Gentle movement like walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga can improve circulation, support strength, and ease common pregnancy discomforts. Getting enough rest helps with mood, energy, and immune health. Simple routines that support regular movement and good sleep benefit both mother and baby.

Mental and emotional well-being matter just as much as physical health. Pregnancy can bring many changes that affect mood and stress levels. Talking with trusted people, asking for help, and using healthy ways to manage stress can make a positive difference. Planning, whether for medical visits, postpartum support, or daily routines, can help reduce worry and build confidence during pregnancy.

Preventive care, including vaccines during pregnancy, is another important part of maternal and baby wellness. Some vaccines given during pregnancy are meant not only to protect the mother but also to protect the baby after birth. Babies are born with immature immune systems and cannot make strong antibodies right away. When a mother is vaccinated during pregnancy, protective antibodies pass from mother to baby before birth. This helps protect the baby in the first weeks of life, when they are most vulnerable. Most of this protection is passed during the third trimester and slowly fades over the first months of life.

In general, vaccines during pregnancy fall into a few groups. Some are recommended during every pregnancy, such as the pertussis vaccine given as Tdap, which helps protect newborns from whooping cough. Some vaccines are recommended depending on the season (typically in the fall/winter) and timing of pregnancy, such as influenza, COVID, or RSV. Consider the use of the maternal vaccine for RSV in advance of or during the RSV season. The RSV vaccine during pregnancy is generally not recommended if the infant will receive nirsevimab (monoclonal antibody for RSV). Nirsevimab is a preventative that is offered to many infants during their first RSV season and the preferred method of infant protection against RSV by the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations.

All of these elements show how closely maternal wellness and baby wellness are connected. The healthy eating, emotional balance, regular sleep, physical activity, and preventive care, including recommended vaccines, all support fetal development, strengthen early immune protection, and lower the risk of complications. By caring for yourself, you are giving your baby a strong and healthy start.

In the end, wellness is built through small and steady steps. Choosing nourishing foods, staying active, getting rest, seeking emotional support, and following medical guidance all add up. Each step a mother takes to care for herself helps her baby during pregnancy and beyond.  

Simple next steps:

• Ask your doctor or midwife about prenatal vitamins.
• Ask what vaccines are recommended during pregnancy and what immunizations/preventatives may be offered to the infant at birth or during the fall/winter season.
• Ask for trusted resources to learn more about pregnancy and infant health. 

We would love your feedback on maternal and baby wellness tools and resources that are needed. If you are a parent/guardian or expectant parent, or you work with parents in your centre, please take a few moments to complete our Baby Wellness Survey.

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Sanofi. 

Families Canada