Knowing what foods to eat when pregnant, and applying what you know, can help you feel better during your pregnancy as it provides you with the necessary energy to carry on with your daily activities as your baby develops inside you. It also provides your baby with all the nutrients required to grow and develop normally to full term. We realize that it is not that easy to keep a balanced diet when you are craving strange foods or suffering from severe morning sickness. However, with a little extra effort to maintain a healthy pregnancy diet, we are confident that both you and your precious baby will be rewarded with great health.
One of the most common pregnancy myths is the myth that you are required to eat for two. So this means that if your normal diet consists of 2000 calories, you’ll need to consume 4000 calories when you are pregnant. Here is some good news for you: This is absolutely wrong. All the calories your baby needs in the first trimester are 100, and 300 in the second and third trimesters. An extra snack of a cup of yogurt and a piece of fruit can do just fine.
You have to know that being pregnant does not mean you have to give up all the foods you like, but you do have to make smarter choices. For example, you can substitute potato chips with homemade baked potatoes, and replace soda drinks with fresh fruit or vegetable juices. Potato chips and soda drinks are just empty calories and they do not give your baby the nutrients he needs to grow in a healthy way. In fact some irresponsible food choices could lead to miscarriage.
So what are the kinds of foods to eat when pregnant? First, you have to know what nutrients your body and your fetus need in order for you to choose what is considered a healthy pregnancy diet.
Start off with choosing foods that are rich in iron. Iron is essential for the production of more blood, which in turn helps prevent anemia. You can find iron in green leafy vegetables like spinach, whole grain bread and some kinds of cereals, all constituents of a healthy pregnancy diet.
Another very important nutrient is protein. Protein aids with cell wall development of all the main organs including the heart and lungs, so 3 servings of foods rich in protein are required. Examples of foods rich in protein are meat, fish, poultry, cereals, tofu and beans.
Calcium is crucial for the development of your baby’s bones and teeth. It is also essential for the mother because it is known that during pregnancy the mother’s bones and teeth can become weaker. An average intake of 1200 mg of calcium is recommended, and foods to eat when pregnant that contain calcium include milk, yogurt and cheeses (try to avoid soft cheeses).
There are some other vitamins and minerals that should be provided during pregnancy including vitamin D and folic acid (folate), but these kinds of vitamins are prescribed in supplements by your doctor as part of your healthy pregnancy diet.
All mothers worry about the health of their baby’s. They always want what is best for them, and good health is mainly accomplished through knowing what are the best foods to eat when pregnant, because that is where the baby’s health is determined.
Posts Tagged ‘Healthy Pregnancy’
Babies are the sweet fruits of our love for each other. Pregnancy is a significant issue for any couple or any woman. In order to get good yields that result in to healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, prior arrangements are necessary. Start the process of planning a pregnancy. It is advisable to try and establish whether you are healthy enough to carry a pregnancy. With modern technology you and your partner’s health can be evaluated to determine whether it is now ripe for you to have a pregnancy. Having a chat with your doctor about your health and environment can help make changes to some of the factors if need be.
Having a check up done on you before planning a pregnancy might help you pinpoint any disease you might be having. In order to have a successful pregnancy, it is important to have your health under your control. The woman’s health is a major factor which will determine the final results of the pregnancy. Most conditions and diseases can be controlled today or cured altogether. It takes a healthy woman to have a healthy baby. Check whether you have any medical problems before getting pregnant. Some of these medical problems include diabetes, anemia and hypertension. It is important to remember that most of the medications and drugs that you take can adversely affect your pregnancy.
Your family’s health history gives you a good starting point while evaluating your health yourself. Although they are rare, hereditary diseases are lethal as they cause death and many times they are the sources of preventable disability. Some of these diseases run in families. It would be wise to get a medical check up while in the process of planning a pregnancy. If any disease is detected, genetic counseling and testing can devise ways and means of ensuring that this disease does not affect the unborn child. In the process of planning for a pregnancy you and your partner should undergo tests to establish whether there is any existence of any such disease. Some of these life threatening diseases include Thallasaemia, stay-sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia and sickle cell just but to mention the most significant. You and your partner can make the doctors work easier by revealing some of these maladies that afflict your family
When a woman is pregnant, she becomes more prone to diseases. Her vulnerability is very high hence planning a pregnancy is paramount. This brings the issue of infections and vaccinations which can keep some of these infections at bay. During pregnancy some infections can have adverse effects on the pregnancy. They will inflict serious defects or illnesses to the unborn child. Some of the most serious infections to deal with are sexually transmitted disease like Gonorrhea, Chamydia, Genital herpes, Syphilis and HIV. These diseases not only affect your fertility but have a high rate of infecting and harming your baby. It would be prudent to consult your doctor if you need any vaccinations which should always be prior to the pregnancy. The doctor might actually advise you to get vaccinated against rubella (German measles) and tetanus during the time of pregnancy. Your lifestyle is a major influence on the outcome of your pregnancy. Drug taking, smoking and stress related problems can highly affect the health of your unborn baby.