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Pregnancy is not the time to diet. Dieting can really affect your baby negatively and by doing dieting you may deprive your baby from important food groups. During pregnancy managing your body weight is important to keep you and your baby healthy. Expecting women really need to make sure that whatever they are eating throughout the pregnancy is providing enough and required nourishment to the baby.

Pregnancy changes everything from your body to your living style. To keep your body healthy enough to cope with the changes occurring your body, you have to consume the healthiest diet. Happy and healthy pregnancy requires the mother’s diet to be full of nutrients. Baby’s main source of nutrition is what the mother eats. A mother should take a diet which include a bunch of healthy foods and drinks.

A mother should be emotionally and physically happy and healthy because it effects the baby. Eating healthy and wholesome food will lead to happy pregnancy as well as happy and healthy baby. A pregnant woman needs a lot of minerals and vitamins in her diet. These nutrients are not only good for mother but also essential for the baby. A maintained and balanced diet helps in the growth and development of the baby.

Lists of Foods to Eat During Pregnancy:

All the way through pregnancy mother should have the healthiest and nutritive diet to keep herself and the baby fir and healthy. This is the list of foods which the mother should eat during her prenatal period.

  • Intake of Fruits And Vegetables:

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables all day. You can take them in any form. You may have them in the form of juices, dried, canned, fresh or frozen. Fruits and vegetables has greater level of vitamins and nutrients in them which are very essential for both mother and the baby. Mostly doctors prefer eating fruits as a whole rather than having juices because juices contains higher sugar content in them.

  • Food Full of Starch and Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates and starch provide huge amount of energy to the body and helps the body to stay active all day. They are a very vital component of diet for an expecting woman. You may eat pastas, bread, rice and potatoes to consume carbohydrates and starch.

  • Consumption of Protein:

A lot of proteins are needed during prenatal period. Protein is a building component and helps in the growth and development. It helps in building up of body organs of the baby like heart and brains etc. Most common sources of protein are poultry, meat, fish, beans, nuts and tofu etc.

  • Dairy products:

3 to 4 servings of dairy products are important in one day. Dairy products helps in keeping the body strong and especially the bones and teeth. During pregnancy the bones of the mother weakens and these products help in restoring the energy. Milk, yogurt and cheese are a good source of dairy products.

  • Requirement of Iron:

Pregnant woman needs double amount of iron as she needs in her daily life. Extra quantity of minerals are required to produce more blood to fulfil the need of baby and to supply adequate amount oxygen. Not getting sufficient amount of iron can lead to issues like anemia and can cause several infections. Iron-rich cereals, poultry and beans etc. are a vital source of iron.

  • Role of Calcium:

Calcium is the most important mineral and required in the building up and development of baby’s bones and teeth. If mother’s consumption of calcium is not good then the baby will fulfil its need of calcium through the mother’s bone. Green leaves, milk, yogurt, cheese and calcium rich food is the source of calcium.

  • Importance of Zinc:

Zinc is an essential element used in tracing. Role of zinc in growth and development, cellular reliability and many biological functions including several metabolisms is very significant. Zinc helps in the development of fetus. You can adequate amount of zinc in your body by eating turkey, ham, shrimp, oysters, dairy products, peanut butter, ginger and onions etc.

Healthy Habits to Include in Your Daily Routine:

These are some important points which a pregnant woman should include in her routine.

  • Always Have Breakfast Like a King:

Do not forget breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. Try eating ready-to-eat foods in breakfast or have fresh fruits and juices. Breakfast also helps in managing the weight. Breakfast also helps in coping up with morning sickness.

  • Eat Foods That Release Energy Slowly:

Avoid eating foods that release their energy immediately. Such food may result in crash. Eat less sugary foods.

You should instead try these:

  1. Whole grain bread
  2. Good quality rice
  3. Potatoes and sweet potatoes
  4. Pastas and beans
  • Drink Plenty Of Water:

During pregnancy drink adequate amount of water. Mother’s body require extra fluids to meet the demands of pregnancy. You may mix up or add other things in your water to make it tasty and sparkly.

  • Eat Less But Frequently:

Eating less amount of food keeps you from nausea and helps you throughout the day. It helps you with other sort of sickness. It makes you feel more comfortable, keeps frequent and rapid pregnancy cravings in control and also manages digestion and heartburn.

  • Be Active:

You should keep yourself active and keep doing simple exercises. Staying active will help you both and will help your body to be ready for delivery.

  • Add Prenatal Vitamin And Folic Acid In Your Routine:

Adding prenatal vitamins in your daily diet will help you in keeping yourself fit and healthy. Iron helps in keeping the body healthy. Folic acid keeps your body from birth deficiencies.

Things to Limit in Your Diet:

Those things which can cause you and your baby harm should be limited in your diet.

  • Limit Soft Cheeses And Lunch Meat:

These things can cause bacterial problems in your body which may cause harm to you and your baby. Eat limited amount of sushi and hotdogs during pregnancy.

  • Limit Intake Of Caffeine:

Excessive intake of caffeine can hurt your baby. But 200mg caffeine is safe during pregnancy.

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy:

Foods and beverages that can hurt your baby should be strictly avoided during pregnancy.

  • Avoid Consumption Of Alcohol, Unpasteurized Food And Raw Meat:

Consumption of alcohol is really harmful for the growing baby. Eating unpasteurized food and raw meat can cause food poisoning, blindness and mental disability in the baby.

The Myth about Eating For Two:

 Throughout the pregnancy you do not need to eat any extra calories for your little one until the third trimester starts.

Above are some simple tips for a happy pregnancy. In case of any confusion or trouble straightaway call upon on your midwife or doctor.