Information on Pregnancy Diet

A Pregnancy Diet ideally should be light, nutritious, easily digestible and rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins. What the pregnant woman eats plays a crucial role. It facilitates in maintaining the maternal health and the needs of the growing fetus as well. A well-balanced diet also provides strength and vitality required during labour and successful lactation in the postpartum years.

A simple guide to Pregnancy Diet suggests

• A pregnant woman needs approximately 2500 Kilocalories per day
• Alactating woman needs approximately 2600 Kilocalories per day

The main sources of a calorific Pregnancy Diet are fish, meat, eggs, dairy products, nuts, seafood, grains and cereals. The diet also recommends that in addition to principal food, at least half-a-litre of milk, plenty of green vegetables and citrus fruits should be consumed daily.

Iron is one of the essential components of the Pregnancy Diet. During pregnancy, there is a possibility of having negative iron balance. Routine blood tests are required to detect whether the mother-to-be is anemic or the daily food intake lacks iron. A pregnant woman can be given 45 mg of absorbable iron daily. It helps in meeting the dietetic iron requirement from the 16th week of Pregnancy. Have lots of green vegetables and whole grains in your diet to supplement the iron content. Iron is more easily absorbed by the body if it is taken with vitamin C. So, drink fresh fruit juices or citrus fruits. Varied doses of vitamins like A, D, Folic Acid and B12 are also prescribed as a supplementary nutritional therapy.

Dietetic advices should be given with due consideration to the socio-economic conditions, food habits and individual tastes and preferences. Moreover, the quantitative intakes of nutrients should vary among pregnant women or lactating mothers. It maintains the scheduled weight gains during pregnancy and lactation.

Last, but not least, each Pregnancy Diet plan should be reasonable and realistic to individual woman. Following are some quick tips that would keep you healthy and hearty during pregnancy

• Do exercise regularly and as prescribed
• Don’t overeat
• Avoid food items or compounds that you are allergic to
• Don’t skip breakfast
• Avoid fast food, greasy snacks and spices
• Nausea, vomiting, morning sickness and Edema are some common ailments of Pregnancy. Don’t worry
• There is a tendency of constipation during pregnancy. Take plenty of water and fluid supplements, vegetables and milk to regulate the bowel movement
• Avoid smoking or alcohol
• Avoid over-the-counter purchase of medicines.
• Visit the doctor or obstetrician for regular check ups.