6 Surprising Benefits of Pregnancy

Health Becomes a Habit

Pregnancy causes many women to institute all kinds of positive health changes and drop bad habits. For instance, experts say pregnancy is one of the most effective inspirations for quitting smoking. "It's also a great motivator for getting fresh air and exercise," says David Acker, MD, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. And research has also shown that one group of women in particular, those with diabetes (Types I and II), make good use of pregnancy to learn how to better manage their disease. Often these new habits become shifts to a healthier lifestyle.