Pregnancy requires closely monitoring the foods you put into your body. You may have enjoyed a variety of foods when you were not pregnant, but some of them may now be a danger to your unborn child. Fortunately, a variety of nutritional foods can help safeguard your body and your baby from potential infections, and encourage healthy development of your baby in the womb. Eating a balanced diet and regularly visiting your health-care provider for checkups will ensure a happy and healthy nine months of pregnancy.
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
Dark green leafy vegetables are the most nutrient-rich foods available. The Center for Young Women's Health notes they are a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals, necessary for a healthy baby. Dark green vegetables like arugula, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach and broccoli contain high amounts of vitamins A, C and K, as well as folate, iron and calcium. The iron present in spinach, for example, can lower the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, the March of Dimes reports. Folate, or folic acid, is especially important to pregnant women because it prevents birth defects of the brain and spinal cord while dually protecting the mother against cancer and stroke, according to the March of Dimes. In some cases, supplementing regular vegetable intake with prenatal vitamins containing additional folic acid is recommended, as a pregnant woman should consume 600 mcg of the compound every day.
Yogurt
MayoClinic.com recommends eating yogurt as part of a balanced diet due to the calcium, which helps to build baby's bones and teeth. Additionally, calcium-rich yogurt can prevent osteoporosis in the mother. Dairy products like yogurt also contain vitamin A, D and protein--required for a healthy body. The March of Dimes advocates regularly consuming calcium-rich yogurt because it helps the nervous, muscular and circulatory systems. Yogurt also helps to balance "good" bacteria within the body, preventing yeast infections, which are common in pregnant women.
Oranges and Grapefruits
Oranges and grapefruits are both sources of vitamin C and folic acid. Vitamin C is essential for healthy tissues and immune system in both mother and baby, according to Women's College Hospital. Vitamin C is particularly important since it is responsible for the production of collagen, the structural protein of cartilage, tendons, bones and skin, which is needed for healthy development. The BabyCenter advocates that pregnant women over 18 years old consume at least 85 mg of vitamin C per day.
