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DIET
Nutritional Needs
Pregnancy is the most nutritionally demanding period in woman’s
life. Pregnancy deals with rapid cell division
and organ development of the baby. Adequate supply
of nutrition is required to meet the increased
demands of your body. During pregnancy eating
should be pleasure as it is throughout life. Expected
mothers should continue to enjoy their favorite
foods in moderation .The nutritional needs are
higher by 300 Calories over the pre-pregnant state.
This will ensure that you will have adequate weight
gain.
Most mothers-to-be think that they need to “eat for two” for
proper growth of the baby. However, “eating for
two” may not be always be required. If you are
already above the ideal body weight (Obese) or
have diabetes, you need not eat for two. The amount
of food that you can eat during pregnancy is dependent
on your physical activity, your pre-pregnant weight,
and presence of any illness.
The diet during pregnancy should be adequate to provide for:
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Pregnancy diet ideally
should be nutritious and easily digestible.
The foetus has been a parasite of the
mother for all its nutritional needs
up to the first trimester (three months).
In the second and third trimester
an additional 300-calories/per
day
is recommended.
What
should I eat?
| Eat when you are hungry. Take small frequent meals. |
Eat high-quality protein, complex carbohydrates,
Sources
of proteins, carbohydrates 
and lots
of fruits and vegetables. |
| Avoid eating at fast food restaurants. |
| Carry quality snack foods with you. |
| Try to avoid processed food and foods that come
pre-prepared in packages (they
usually have added fat, sugar
or salt.) |
| Arm your cupboard and refrigerator with healthy
staple foods, which require
little preparation – cheese,
fresh wholegrain breads, cereals,
milk, etc…. |
| To be on the safe side, it is better not to drink
alcohol at all during pregnancy.
When you drink alcohol
is transported from the mother’s
blood to that of the foetus.
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| Avoid smoking during
pregnancy. Even passive smoking
(smoking by partners/close ones)
is also harmful to the baby. |
| Avoid self-medication. |
If you are in any of the following categories, your
diet should be carefully evaluated
and recommended by your clinician
and a trained dietician.
- Diabetes prior to pregnancy.
- Diabetes during pregnancy.
- Weight above 200 pounds / 100 kg .
- Weight below the average for your height (that
means if you are underweight). .
- Women with histories of anorexia and / or bulimia.
- Women with digestive system disorders.
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Recommended:
book
"The
new parent"
by author Martha |
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