When you are pregnant, any foods you eat can nourish or injure your growing baby and may also affect your own long-term health. However, any nutrition-related risks to a healthy pregnancy can be easily prevented with proper medical care, a healthy diet and an awareness of foods that should be limited or avoided.
Obesity-Related Complications
"Eating for two" may conjure up images of a pregnant woman indulging in any food that she craves with little concern for calories. However, many women already consume more calories than is healthy for their bodies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly one in five pregnant American women are obese, with a body mass index greater than 30. Although pregnancy weight gain nourishes a developing baby, being obese before conception or gaining too much weight during pregnancy increases the risks of miscarriage, birth defects, stillbirth, gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery, pre-eclampsia and obesity in the child later in life. Expectant mothers who carry extra weight should follow their doctor's guidelines for weight gain and engage in daily, moderate exercise. If you are trying to conceive, prepare your body for pregnancy by achieving a healthy weight and being active.
Poor Fetal Development
A diet with too few calories or limited vitamin-rich foods can lead to a lack of weight gain or dietary deficiencies during pregnancy. Women who do not gain enough weight may deliver babies who are premature, underweight or born with neural tube defects, or problems with the brain or its ability to send messages to the body. Every woman of childbearing age should consume an adequate amount of folate, a B-vitamin that is essential for the proper development of a baby's spine and brain. Folate is found in leafy green vegetables, fortified cereals and dried beans. In additional to folate, all pregnant women need iron, calcium, vitamin D, and B-vitamins to grow a healthy baby. If dietary restrictions make this difficult, most standard prenatal vitamins contain these vitamins and minerals.
Developmental Delays
Avoid toxic substances such as alcohol, lead and mercury. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, an irreversible condition that often results in physical deformities and learning/behavioral problems in children. Lead, found in some imported candies from Mexico, can increase risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery and developmental delays in children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that mercury found in fish, has also been linked to neurological complications. However, because of the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy, expectant mothers are advised to consume low-mercury fish, including salmon, canned light tuna and pollock, instead of high-mercy species, such as shark and swordfish.
Avoiding Poor Nutrition
The key to a healthy pregnancy is prevention and preparation. Seek prompt and regular medical care as soon as you learn you are pregnant. Throughout your pregnancy, consume a balanced diet, take appropriate prenatal vitamins as recommended by your medical provider and avoid harmful substances. Seeing a registered dietitian is highly recommended to discuss dietary habits and ensure that proper calorie balance, nutrient intake and food safety are met during and after pregnancy.
References
- "Eat Right"; American Dietetic Association; Obesity, Reproduction and Pregnancy Outcomes; May 2009
- "Eat Right"; American Dietetic Association; Nutrition and Lifestyle for a Healthy Pregnancy Outcome; March 2008
- March of Dimes; Obesity and Pregnancy; March 2010
- Centers For Disease Control and Prevention; "Maternal and Infant Health Research: Pregnancy Complications"; December 2010
- Centers For Disease Control and Prevention; Facts About Folic Acid; March 2011
- Environmental Protection Agency; Fish Consumption Advisories; October 2010
