What Foods To Eat During Pregnancy

The Benefits Of A Good Diet

The foods that you must eat during pregnancy are foods rich in vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fiber content. The reason behind this is that, the mother’s and the infant’s health depends on the food that the mother eats. A healthy pre pregnancy and pregnancy diet ensures that the mother does not get anemia and pre eclampsia. Morning sickness, fatigue, constipation and mood swings go down to quite an extent. Proper diet is also important for the growth and development of the fetus in the mother’s womb.

So What Foods Should You Eat During Pregnancy To Stay Healthy?

Proteins- Proteins are made of amino acids. They help in the development of the fetus. Foods rich in protein are nuts, tofu, fat free milk and yoghurt.

Carbohydrates- You should eat foods rich in complex carbohydrates, as opposed to simple carbohydrates. Some foods, which are a good source of complex carbohydrates, are whole grain bread, cereals, vegetables, and fresh fruits.

Fruits and Vegetables- Freshly cooked green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits are an important part of a good pregnancy diet plan. Fruits like mango, papaya, apricots, and vegetables like spinach, lettuce, carrots, beans, sweet potato, and potatoes, all constitute a healthy pregnancy diet.

Milk and Milk Products- These are a great source of calcium and calcium is very good for the bones, teeth and muscular development of the infant in the mother’s womb. Remember, if the fetus does not get enough calcium, it will absorb it from the bones of the mother’s body.

Water and Fluids- You must have 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, to keep your self hydrated. You can also drink juices, but avoid drinking caffeinated drinks like colas, tea, and coffee.

That was some know how on foods to eat during pregnancy. Why don’t you read up on diet and nutrition in some good books and magazines too? Awareness about this important aspect of pregnancy can help you understand your situation better.

Baby Stage During Pregnancy-How The Baby Develops

The different baby stages in the mother’s womb are now known to mankind. This is because of the tremendous advance in medicine. From the first trimester to the final stages of pregnancy, we know how the baby takes shape.

The First Trimester

In the first trimester, your baby’s eyes and ears begin to develop. The liver starts producing bile and urine is secreted. During this stage, your baby weighs about half an ounce. At this stage of pregnancy, you will feel nauseas and tire easily. Other pregnancy discomforts you may feel are frequent urination and constipation. You may gain a few pounds of weight during this phase of pregnancy.

The Second Trimester

By the end of this trimester, all your baby’s vital organs, like the heart, the kidneys, and lungs will be formed. It will also be able to open and close its eyes and the sex organs will begin to form. Its digestive system also begins to function during the second trimester.

Your feelings of nausea and tiredness will subside by this time and by the fifth month; you will even be able to feel your baby move.

The Third Trimester

In this final phase of pregnancy, your baby develops rapidly. The vital organs take shape and the five senses develop. Your baby will soon be able to recognize your voice from inside the womb. As you near the end of your pregnancy, your baby will drop into your lower abdomen or take the birth position.

It is imperative to visit the doctor regularly, at least twice a week in the initial stages of the third trimester, and then every week as your pregnancy due date draws near. You might want to discuss with the doctor about labor and whether you will have a natural birth or not. Soon you will be ready for the delivery stage of pregnancy

To take you through the baby stages during pregnancy, read a lot. Read about pregnancy and about how your baby develops in your tummy, about eating right and doing all the things necessary to have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

The Benefits Of Supplements Are Many

The benefits of supplements are a reality that cannot be ignored. There is a higher rate of birth defects among underfed mothers during periods of famine. Even today, after all the advances that man- kind has made, the average American diet is not healthy. This is because, it is high on sugars, fatty foods and salt and low on complex carbohydrates. A balanced diet consists of fresh fruits, freshly cooked green leafy vegetables, legumes and pulses, grains and milk and milk products.

A pregnant woman has a growing fetus inside her and to be able to sustain the baby’s growth, the mother must eat a nutritious diet. She may not get all her nutrition from the food she eats, especially because her requirement for folate(folic acid) and calcium doubles during pregnancy. She will have to take nutritional supplements.

Folic Acid Supplements

Folic acid is usually prescribed in dosages of 400mcg to pregnant mothers or even during the pregnancy planning stages. This prepares the mother for a healthy baby. A baby, who lacks folic acid, may develop severe abnormalities of the spine and brain. Two disorders are spina bifida and neural tube defect (NTD). Folic acid intake also prevents spontaneous abortion, placental abruption, premature babies and low infant birth weight. Folic acid is present in natural form in green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and nuts.

Calcium Supplements

Another important requirement for a pregnant mother is calcium. Calcium helps in building strong bones, teeth, and muscles. It also helps prevent pre eclampsia, hypertension, premature babies and low birth weight.

Foods rich in calcium are milk, yoghurt, and cheese. Avoid having any milk product, which is not made from pasteurized milk.

Therefore, the benefits of supplements are many and it is important that you take these special pre natal vitamins daily, for the good health of your baby and you. However, do consult a doctor before taking any vitamins during pregnancy.

How The Baby Develops In The Mother’s Womb, Week By Week

It is important to monitor your pregnancy week by week, so that there is no chance of any complication occurring. Week by week changes occur in your baby’s body. You may like to know that the human being grows faster in the mother’s womb than any other time of its life.

The First Trimester – Week 1 To Week 14

In the first two weeks of the first trimester,r fertilization takes place, when the female egg and the male sperm fuse together to form an embryo. This means you are pregnant. In the third week, the implantation of the fertilized cell begins. By the fifth week of pregnancy, you start feeling nauseas and suffer from morning sickness. During week six, your baby’s head starts to form. Its heart starts to beat too and little eyes, a tiny tongue, legs arms and jaws begin to develop by week seven. By week eight and nine, the cerebellum begins to develop and the body also determines at this time, whether the baby will be a little boy or girl. By week fourteen, the baby learns how to breathe, suck, and swallow in the mother’s womb.

The Second Trimester- Week 15-Week 26

By the beginning of the second trimester, your baby has a pronounced neck on which the head rests, instead of on the shoulders. The toenails begin to grow and the muscles become strong. By week 18, your baby will have little webbed hands and feet, the eyes and ears will be in position. It is at this time that the baby derives a distinct identity with its tiny unique fingerprint.

By week 19 of pregnancy, if it is a baby girl then eggs starts developing in her ovaries and by week 21, the testes move from the pelvis to the scrotum. By the ends of this week, your doctor hears a tiny heartbeat through the stethoscope. By week 23, the body shapes into the form of a baby and by week 24, you can hear the heartbeat by putting your ear to the pregnant mom’s stomach. The nostrils fully open up and brain wave activity starts.

The Third Trimester- Week 27-Week 40

In the third trimester, the baby grows even more rapidly in size. The internal organs are also developing fast; the lungs, the five senses, and the immune system of the baby are all taking shape. In the final weeks, your baby will drop into its birth position. You are all set to go into the delivery stage and you should be ready for a bundle of joy, anytime soon.