Pregnancy, the most vital phase in a women life, makes her go through several psychological, emotional and physical changes. With the evolving baby in your body, your body begins to demand more from its average intake of diet. This is where a balanced diet bridges the gap for extra nutrients that your body requires for a healthy pregnancy.
Plan Your Diet Wisely
Although the demand for nutrients increases during pregnancy, but it is always wise to plan and choose food from various food groups. Ensure that your nutrition during has food like vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses and milk products which are rich in calcium, protein, Vitamin A,B and C. Apart from these food combinations you have to ensure that you have certain nutrients which are vital for you and your childs growth during your stage. For the sake of ease let us list down the nutrients which play a significant role in our diet
Folic Acid In Diet
Folic acid, better known as Folate, is rich in vitamin B and is found mostly in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, orange juice and kale(type of Cabbage). Folate prevents your child from serious abnormalities of the brain and spine. Lack of Folic acid leads to inadequate growth of the fetus, underdeveloped brain, incomplete closure of spinal cord, preterm delivery and low birth weight.
Calcium in diet
Calcium is another
important nutrient, which should be a part of your Diet. Calcium is used by the body. When a womens body begins to lack in calcium, the body itself begins to take calcium from the bones needed for the baby, thus making the bones weak and in the end fragile enough to break, osteoporosis. Having dairy products like fat free milk, hard cheese, green leafy vegetables like kale, fortified food like Orange juice and cereals will help you overcome your deficiency for calcium.
Iron In Diet
During your period, the need for iron intake also increases. Iron in our blood helps carry oxygen to the blood cells. During women have blood in excess volume, so this excess blood requires an excess amount of iron. During not just your blood cells but your growing childs cells require oxygen, this is where again the demand for the amount of oxygen is fulfilled by iron.
Lack of iron leads to Anemia, which can result in preterm delivery or low weight baby, excessive low iron could make your child anemic in infancy. Iron deficiency can be made up by having red meat, shellfish, beans, potatoes and iron fortified cereals.
Concerns On Weight Planning
Pregnancy weight has always been a matter of concern for women during pregnancy. Weight varies from women to women and from to pregnancy, so you need not worry too much.
If you are underweight try to gain a little weight as underweight women mostly have underweight babies. Doctors normally try to ensure that you gain weight through your diet. If you do not your body fat is used to support pregnancy.
If overweight you obviously do not want to gain more, but losing weight during is not a good idea as it could affect your child. Thus, overweight women should try not to gain anything more than 15 pounds throughout their pregnancy.
On a closing note, have a balanced and disciplined diet for a happy and healthy motherhood.
