| ant women have special dietary needs. They need to | | | | fetal growth. Among the best sources of folate are |
| follow a healthy diet not only for their body, but more | | | | leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, and dried beans |
| importantly for the development of their unborn child. | | | | and peas, while the synthetic form of folate found in |
| The expression “eating for two” plainly | | | | supplements and fortified foods (such as cereals) is |
| describes this need for greater nutrient intake during | | | | known as folic acid.lPregnant and lactating women |
| pregnancy. Some women unfortunately interpret this | | | | need calcium and vitamin D to maintain the integrity of |
| as gorging on as much food as they can stomach. | | | | their bones, while providing for the skeletal |
| While pregnant women are expected to gain a certain | | | | development of the fetus and the production of breast |
| amount of weight during pregnancy, it can be | | | | milk. Vitamin D increases intestinal absorption of |
| dangerous to gain too much weight from eating too | | | | calcium and is essential for the body to use calcium |
| much food. Eating for two does not mean increasing | | | | efficiently. Calcium helps the circulatory, muscular and |
| one's food intake, but refers to improving the quality of | | | | nervous systems run normally. If there's not enough |
| one's diet. What pregnant women must keep in mind is | | | | calcium in the pregnant woman's diet, the calcium the |
| that the baby is not as big as a full grown adult, so his | | | | baby needs will be taken from the mother's bones. |
| her dietary consumption is greatly different. | | | | The best sources of calcium and vitamin D are dairy |
| Pregnancy is governed by several complex processes | | | | products.lAdditional iron is needed during pregnancy to |
| that require women to increase their body's supply of | | | | increase the maternal red blood cell mass and to |
| vitamins and minerals in order to meet the demands of | | | | supply the growing fetus and placenta. The body uses |
| an expanding blood supply, the growth of maternal | | | | iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in the red blood cells |
| tissues, a developing fetus, loss of maternal tissues at | | | | that carries oxygen to the body's tissues. During |
| birth and preparation for lactation. Nutrient deficiency | | | | pregnancy the need for iron doubles, because the |
| may lead to problems during pregnancy, and these can | | | | blood volume expands to accommodate changes in a |
| generally be averted or helped if the mother follows a | | | | woman's body and the baby must make his or her |
| sensible diet. Among these health issues are anemia, | | | | entire blood supply. Lack of iron in the blood may result |
| fluctuating blood pressure, preeclampsia, deep vein | | | | not only in fatigue and increased susceptibility to |
| thrombosis (DVT) and diabetes in pregnancy. | | | | infections, but may also increase the risk of pre-term |
| During pregnancy the basic principles of healthy eating | | | | delivery and low birth weight. Iron can be found in |
| remain the same — plenty of fruits, vegetables | | | | abundantly in lean red meat, poultry and fish.lProtein is |
| and whole grains and lean sources of protein. This is | | | | crucial for your baby's growth, especially during the |
| aided by the fact that during pregnancy, your body | | | | second and third trimesters. Getting enough protein is |
| becomes more efficient at absorbing nutrients in the | | | | important for both mother and baby to build muscle |
| digestive system. Instead, the body doesn't excrete | | | | and other tissues, enzymes, hormones, and antibodies. |
| nutrients to build up stores of vitamins and minerals. | | | | Good sources of protein include lean meats, poultry, |
| However, certain nutrients must be emphasized in the | | | | fish, beans, nuts, and low- or non-fat dairy products.lIt is |
| diet. These nutrients, such as folate (folic acid), calcium, | | | | important that pregnant women consume adequate |
| vitamin D, iron, protein and essential fatty acids (EFAs), | | | | amounts of essential fatty acids (EFAs) in their daily |
| are essential for the baby's growth and | | | | eating patterns for proper fetal neural and visual |
| development.lWomen need more folate, a B vitamin, | | | | development. |
| during pregnancy to support their expanding blood | | | | Women are also encouraged by their doctors to keep |
| volume and the growth of maternal and fetal tissues, | | | | track of what they are eating in a diary, to make sure |
| and to decrease the risk to the fetus of neural tube | | | | that their diet encompasses all the required nutrients. |
| defects (NTDs). NTDs are serious abnormalities of the | | | | Having a sensible diet coupled with mild exercise will |
| brain and spinal cord. Lack of folate also may increase | | | | help ensure that both mother and baby are healthy |
| the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight and poor | | | | and happy. |