Pregnancy Information

Womens Health - Pregnancy Nutrition is for All Women of Child Bearing Age


During pregnancy your nutrition needs are going to increase. Even before becoming pregnant it is a good idea to make every effort to start eating healthy and taking a women's multivitamin. A prenatal multivitamin is a better choice during pregnancy.

Let's start with the recommended daily intake of food during pregnancy.

DURING PREGNANCY :

7 or more Fruits and Vegetables (3 fruits/4 vegetables)
Fruits and Vegetables high in vitamin C are the best. These include strawberries, melons, oranges, papaya, tomatoes, peppers, greens, and broccoli.

9 or more Whole Grain Products
A fortified breakfast cereal containing iron and folic acid is the best way to start each day. Enriched bread, rice, pasta, and any whole grain product are your other choices.

4 or more dairy products
Low-fat milk or non-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese are the obvious choices.

60 grams of protein (two or more 2-3 ounce portions of lean meat)
Other sources of protein include eggs, nuts, dried beans, and peas. Do not eat undercooked or uncooked meat or fish. (NO SUSHI) Do not eat deli luncheon meats

PREGNANCY NUTRITION FACTS

Fish

Some fish are higher in mercury content than others. Mercury can cause problems with your growing baby's brain and nervous system.

Fish to avoid completely:
shark
swordfish
king mackerel
golden snapper
white snapper

Fish eating limitations:
Limit your intake of fish to 12 ounces a week
Limit your intake of white tuna or tuna steak to 6 ounces a week

Safest fish to eat:
shrimp
salmon
catfish
light tuna

Weight

Calorie intake should only be increased by 300 a day during pregnancy for the average woman.
Weight gain should be around 28-40 pounds for women that are underweight at pregnancy.
Women that are overweight at pregnancy should gain only 15-25 pounds.
Weight gain should be around 2-4 pounds the first trimester and 3-4 pounds a month for the remaining time.
Excess weight gain is hard to lose after pregnancy because your body's fat increases up to one third during pregnancy.
Breast feeding burns 500 or more calories per day making it easier to lose weight.
Consult your health care provider for your specific healthy weight gain.

Vitamins and Minerals

Check the RDA chart for your needs during pregnancy.

Folic Acid is a special concern because a deficiency can lead to neural tube birth defects. Your multivitamin should contain 400 mcg of folic acid. Birth defects happen before you even know you're pregnant so always take a multivitamin with folic acid during child bearing age.

Vitamin C taken in doses over 500 mg/d can lead to your baby being born dependent on large quantities of vitamin C.

Iron is also of special concern because the average American diet does not provide enough iron during pregnancy. If your prenatal multivitamin does not contain enough iron your doctor will prescribe an additional supplement. Iron is needed for you and the baby to have healthy teeth, bones, and blood.

Water is often overlooked during pregnancy but it is vital for you and your baby. It carries the nutrients from your body to the baby and it helps prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, swelling and urinary tract infection. A minimum of 6 eight ounce glasses a day is required. Juice can count toward your 6 glasses but be careful of the added calories. Any drink containing caffeine actually reduces the fluid in your body and cannot count towards your 6 glasses.

Calcium is needed by you and the baby for strong teeth and bones. During pregnancy you need 1,000 mg/d and 1,300 mg/d if you are less than 18 years old.

Alcohol Consumption

There is no safe time or amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy. No alcohol is the only way to insure the health of your baby. Alcohol you drink goes to your baby through the umbilical cord. Alcohol affects the baby's growth, the baby's brain, and can cause birth defects. These effects will remain with your unborn child for his/her entire life. FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) is the name given to anyone affected by their mother's alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Problems learning, memory retention, and hearing are just a few things that alcohol can do to your child.

Caffeine

Caffeine in large quantities can lead to low weight babies. It also reduces the amount of vital water in your body. Although not yet proven, some studies suggest that it may harm the fetus. While not as dangerous as alcohol it should still be avoided.

Diabetics

Diabetics can have perfectly normal babies like every other woman. There are a just a few things you need to be careful of.
1. Keep your blood sugar under control for a minimum of 3 months before becoming pregnant.
2. Make sure you get enough folic acid at all times during your child bearing years (400 mcg/d).
3. Don't let your blood sugar get too high during pregnancy. This can lead to birth defects or your baby having blood sugar level problems

Ways To Control Morning Sickness

*Eat 6 small meals instead of 3 large ones
*Don't go without eating for long periods of time
*Don't drink fluids with your meals
*Don't eat greasy, spicy, or fried foods
*Avoid unpleasant smells
*Don't get over tired

Hello, my name is Frank Keller and I am the owner of the Women's Health Supplements website. Don't be fooled by the name, we are not another vitamin retailer. All articles are not just reviewed by me they are written by me. From artificial sweeteners and bottled water to pregnancy nutrition every word is written to help you make an informed decision about your health. Content is chosen from your suggestions.

Please visit us at http://www.womens-health-supplements.net to review our articles or to give us your recommendations for new articles. Healthy eating and a good nutrition plan takes very little of your time but is the single most important thing you can do for your health. Have a happy and healthy day!


MORE RESOURCES:

Times LIVE (blog)

PHOTO:Celine Dion Reveals Growing Pregnancy
Peace FM Online
Accesshollywood : Superstar singer Celine Dion has revealed her growing baby bump to the public for the first time since announcing her pregnancy with twin ...
Celine Dion doing well in 6th month of pregnancy despite rumorsExaminer.com
Celine Dion, Rene Angélil Distressed by reports of Pregnancy ComplicationsGather.com
Celine Dion debuts baby bump in French magazineSan Francisco Chronicle (blog)
World Correspondents (blog) -NBC Connecticut -The Daily Blabber from iVillage
all 182 news articles »


New study reveals info on stress and pregnancy
WECT-TV6
A first of its kind study is revealing some new information on stress and pregnancy. The study examined the association between high levels of what's called ...

and more »


Alcohol use during pregnancy is discouraged
Marion Star
The ninth day of the ninth month was chosen as a reminder to women to abstain from alcohol during their nine months of pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or ...
Drinking and pregnancy don't mixVernon Morning Star

all 2 news articles »


New York Daily News

Applegate enjoying her career, pregnancy
abc7.com
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- "Going the Distance" is out and it co-stars actress Christina Applegate. The cancer survivor is enjoying a busy career, while enjoying ...
Pregnant Christina Applegate is Going The Distance as she takes her baby bump ...Daily Mail
Christina Applegate, The Boxer Rebellion, Nanette Burstein, and Geoff ...About - News & Issues (blog)
Review: 'Going the Distance' covers lots of comedic groundThe Aurora Sentinel

all 1,159 news articles »



Get 'tuned up' for pregnancy before you conceive
Lansing State Journal
"The majority of women over age 35 have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies," said Dr. Jim Link, an obstetrician/gynecologist with Partners in Women's ...

and more »


Quidel says rapid pregnancy test gets FDA nod
Reuters
O), a provider of rapid diagnostic tests, said it received US marketing approval for its new pregnancy test. The three-minute RapidVue human chorionic ...
Quidel Announces FDA Clearance of Its RapidVue(R) hCG Pregnancy Lateral Flow ...MarketWatch (press release)
Quidel gains FDA clearance for pregnancy testMass Device

all 17 news articles »


Times LIVE (blog)

Mariah Carey Speaks Out on Pregnancy
Us Magazine
Pregnancy rumors swirled earlier this summer and reignited last week when the singer, 41, stepped out in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in a $140 Pea in the Pod ...
Mariah Carey says she's too 'superstitious' to discuss her possible pregnancyNew York Daily News
Mariah Carey Is 'Superstitious' about PregnancyPeople Magazine
Mariah Carey: Pregnancy Rumors Heat UpABC News
Washington Post -Hollywood Reporter -Monsters and Critics.com
all 535 news articles »


Washington Times

Local agencies miss out on health grant
Northfield News
Pawlenty's latest snub of federal health care money was this week's rejection of an $850000 grant for teen pregnancy prevention which his own health ...
Our view: Party of 'No' is no party for MinnesotaWinona Daily News
Minnesota: Gov. Pawlenty Rejects $850000 for Sex EducationTheBody.com
Dear governor: Our kids need a safety netMinneapolis Star Tribune
Marshall Independent -Daily Kos (blog) -RH Reality Check (blog)
all 497 news articles »


CBS News

Christina Applegate's Pregnancy Diet: Fried Cheese
People Magazine
Comparing a pregnancy to a nursery rhyme. Worry about your skinny body – why not stop being selfish – worry about baby on the way. So happy for her! ...
Christina Applegate's Pregnancy Is Making Her Obnoxious and Mean (VIDEO)TV Squad (blog)
Pregnant Christina Applegate Goes on "Douchebag" RantUs Magazine
Applegate: 'Pregnancy makes me act out'Digital Spy
Babble (blog) -Celebrity Baby Scoop (blog) -Hollywood Life (blog)
all 102 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006