Everything an expectant mother eats, her baby also eats. You want to give your child the best life possible, and this begins in the womb, by nourishing your baby with healthy food and following your doctor's guidelines for diet and activity. Pregnant women should add some foods to their diet and eliminate others.
Effects of Diet on Pregnancy
What a mom eats during her pregnancy can affect her baby's health and development for years to come. If too few nutrients reach the baby, he might not develop properly, and adding extra nutrients can help some systems develop better. A healthy diet can also help keep mom going as pregnancy can sap energy. The right foods can also prevent common problems during pregnancy, such as constipation and nausea.
Types of Foods Pregnant Women Need
According to the Brigham and Women's Hospital, it's especially important to consume healthy protein--chicken, turkey, fish, lean meat, low fat dairy products, beans, nuts and tofu--to keep energized. Pregnant and breastfeeding women need healthy fats found in olive oil, avocados, peanut butter, nuts and seeds for baby's development. During pregnancy, you should get plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains.
Other Considerations
According to KidsHealth website, pregnant women should consume an extra 300 calories each day, and they need extra vitamins and minerals to support their own system as well as that of the baby. Some vitamins are especially important during pregnancy, such as folic acid and vitamins A, C, B6, B12 and D. Colorful fruits and vegetables, lean meat and fish, and whole grains contain many of these nutrients. Calcium is also vital for baby's developing skeleton, so boost consumption of dairy products.
Preventing Common Problems
Morning sickness affects most women in the first trimester, but moms can try eating small amounts of bland foods, including crackers or toast, throughout the day to ease their stomach. Also, many women find that eating something small when they first wake up in the morning or sucking on hard candy helps prevent nausea. Your expanding uterus can cause problems in the digestive tract, leading to constipation, but fiber in whole grain products, including whole what bread, oatmeal and brown rice, can keep your system moving. Many women experience heartburn during pregnancy, but cutting back on spicy foods and carbonated drinks can prevent it.
Warnings
Expectant moms should avoid some foods altogether. MayoClinic.com warns that seafood high in mercury, such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish, isn't safe because mercury can damage a baby's nervous system. To avoid ingesting harmful bacteria or viruses, pregnant women should steer clear of raw seafood, lox and seafood that might be contaminated with pollution. The risk of bacterial food poisoning is higher during pregnancy, so avoid undercooked meat, poultry and eggs as well as unpasteurized cheese and juice. Be sure to wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and limit consumption of liver.
