Diet For Pregnant woman

 

Vitamins for pregnant women that help ensure a healthy child at birth

While many doctors suggest taking vitamins and supplement throughout a woman’s life, it is especially important for women during pregnancy. Vitamins for pregnant women are available in abundant supply, and provide the proper nutrients and ingredients necessary for the healthy development of any baby.

The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends a prescribed level of proper vitamins for pregnant women to ensure that the baby is getting the proper nutrients to develop their organs, bones and cells and to get the best shot at living a healthy life.

While maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy will help provide many of the nutrients that the baby requires, many doctors will prescribe various vitamins for pregnant women to give the extra boost that a women’s body will need to add to the baby’s development.

Vitamins for pregnant women should almost always include calcium. The recommended dose of calcium per day is 1,200 mg. Calcium helps bone development and aids in lowering the mother’s blood pressure. A study conducted in the Journal of Epidemiology in 2000 determined that pregnant women suffering from low calcium levels put themselves at added risk of lead poisoning.

Vitamins for pregnant women should include a healthy amount of iron. Iron is important in that it provides needed energy and strength for a woman, and helps to keep the heart strong. The recommended daily minimum intake of iron for pregnant women is 27 mg. and most vitamins containing iron have at least that much.

Folic acid is also an important nutrient found in vitamins for pregnant women. Folic acid is important in helping to prevent various birth defects such as mental retardation, spinal bifida and even cleft palate. Most prenatal vitamins contain between 600-1000 mcg of folic acid.

Consultation with your primary health care provider is important in deciding which vitamins for pregnant women to choose from. Taking more than the recommended dose of any required nutrient can be just as dangerous as eating foods or consuming liquids that are harmful. A healthy diet combined with the proper vitamins for pregnant women will ensure that the baby starts life with the necessary nutrients needed for a long and happy life.

Tips for healthy eating during pregnancy

Healthy eating during pregnancy is one of the biggest keys to a healthy, full-term pregnancy and getting the nutrients that you baby needs. Making smart choices about your diet will ensure a great start for your child.
First things first, it’s important to know what to avoid during pregnancy. Consuming caffeine during pregnancy can have very negative effects on your baby, raising its heart rate and in some cases leading to low birth weight. Consumption of alcohol in any amount can also lead to birth defects, such as learning disabilities, diminished cognitive functions and emotional disorders. Understanding and following tips for healthy eating during pregnancy will help to avoid medical problems caused by consuming anything that may be harmful to your child.
Generally, with most pregnancies, a woman will typically gain the least amount of weight during her first trimester (app. 1-5 lbs.), and then gain around a pound per week in the second and third trimesters. Healthy eating during pregnancy throughout all phases is important to gaining the appropriate amount of weight and having healthier babies.
Many women will experience bouts of nausea during pregnancy, making consumption of full meals somewhat difficult. Eating smaller meals or snacking with healthy foods between meals is certainly an acceptable means of healthy eating during pregnancy. As your pregnancy continues, your baby will crowd your stomach more, making it less palatable to eat a full meal, so being creative with your eating schedule is okay as long as you are meeting the required daily nutrients needs for you and your baby.
Inevitably, many women will also experience various cravings of different foods that they may not otherwise find tempting. Although healthy eating during pregnancy is of vital importance, the occasional cookie or bowl of chocolate ice cream won’t be harmful, as long as it remains the exception rather than the norm.
Healthy eating during pregnancy will not only help to boost the health and well being of you and your baby, it will ensure that your baby is equipped with all the proper vitamins and nutrients that will lead to a successful birth and start to life.

Choosing a healthy diet for pregnant women

It has often been said that a pregnant woman should be eating for two. While it is important to provide the proper nutrition for both you and your baby, the above statement is not necessarily correct. Choosing the correct diet for pregnant women is vital for the long term health of both you and your baby.
According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), pregnant women should be consuming an average of 2500-2700 calories per day, or about 300 calories more per day then when they’re not pregnant. Pregnant women who plan to breastfeed average slightly more per day. When choosing the proper diet for pregnant women, the above goal can easily be achieved while providing your baby with the nutrients necessary for a healthy, full-term pregnancy.
A well balanced diet for pregnant women should include all of the basic food groups: meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables. Fat and carbohydrates are also important ingredients for any balanced diet for pregnant women, and also provides the energy necessary to get through each day.
A 55-35-10 split is highly recommended for a healthy diet for pregnant women according to Dr. Phillip Owen, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology in the U.K. He recommends that 55 percent of calories per day should come from the carbohydrate group (bread, pastas, rice, corn, potatoes), 35 percent of calories per day should come from fat, mainly found in butter, oils and dairy products, and 10 percent calories per day should come from protein, found in meat, eggs, various beans and dairy products.
“You are what you eat” is also a very important statement when considering the proper diet for pregnant women. For instance, drinking large amounts of coffee will increase caffeine intake, which can raise the heart rate of your baby.
Any proper diet for pregnant women  should always include lots of water. Water helps to carry the nutrients from the food you eat to your baby, and in turn it helps to decease constipation and any bladder related infections. Six 8-ounce glasses of water per day is recommended to ensure proper transportation of all vital nutrients.
Pregnant women are encouraged to consult their physician to ensure that they are following the proper diet for pregnant women, and to ensure the health and well being of their baby.