Nutrition for Pregnant women

A pregnant woman needs extra care and good nutrition for both herself and the foetus developing in her womb. As far as the nutrition for pregnant women is concerned, the would-be mother should develop healthy nutritional habits. Proper intake of nutrients is necessary for health pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Nutrition

The nutritional needs of a pregnant is always higher than that of a non-pregnant woman. As far as nutrition for healthy pregnancy is concerned, a women needs to include a variety of nutritional items in her diet. This is needed for getting the amount of calories, vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins recommended by the physician.

Protein

Both the mother and the baby in the womb requires good amount of protein. The doctors often advise the expectant mother to have 60 grams of protein per day. 10 grams of protein are approximately equivalent to 1½ ounces of meat.

Iron

The doctors generally doubles iron contents from 15 milligram per day to 30 milligram per day at the time of pregnancy. Other than this, food rich in iron are also recommended by the doctors.

Calories

An expectant mother requires more or less 300 calories per day. This is needed for the rapid growth of her baby.

Folic Acid

Folic acid plays a significant part in the development of cells. It also helps in developing the fetal structures. Thus, a pregnant woman must take food rich in folic acid. According to latest research, consumption of folic acid during pregnancy can bring down the risk of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) like spina bifida in babies.

Calcium

A pregnant woman is usually recommended 1000 milligram of calcium per day. Items like yogurt, butter, cheese and milk are full of calcium.

Nutritional Recommendations for Healthy Pregnancy

Here are few nutritional recommendations for the pregnant women of India:

• The pregnant women must drink a minimum of 8-10 cups to water daily. This is needed for clear urination.
• Intake caffeinated beverages should be limited during pregnancy.
• It is always better to avoid carbonated fluids a the time of pregnancy.
• Fibrous fruits, grains and leafy vegetables should be kept in a pregnant woman's diet. These are need to avoid constipation.
• Intake of Vitamin is must during pregnancy. However, excessive intake of Vitamin A has often led to defective births. So, consult your doctor, before you go in for a particular vitamin.
• The body also requires minerals a the time of pregnancy.
• Avoid tobacco during pregnancy.
• Wash the fruits and vegetables properly before eating.
• It is always better to stay away from the items with fermentative effects.