by Patricia Hughes
During pregnancy, you need enough of certain vital nutrients to support both your needs and the needs of your growing baby. Iron, calcium and protein are three important nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet. With proper meal planning and including the right foods in your diet, you and your baby can get all the nutrients you need while sticking to a vegetarian or even a vegan diet.If you are vegetarian or vegan, you will have to make some modifications to your diet to ensure enough of these important nutrients. Talk to your health care provider for advice on meal planning. You may find that some doctors are not knowledgeable about a vegan diet in pregnancy. A nutritionist is a good source of information for getting the nutrients you need in your diet.
Nutritional concerns are most concerning for vegan mothers. Protein is one concern. The baby needs protein for the development of various tissues in the body. Since vegans do not eat any animal products, such as cheese, milk and eggs, getting protein is a bit trickier.
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by Patricia Hughes
If you always eat a healthy and well balanced diet, you may not need to make changes when you discover you are pregnant. However, most of us aren’t that perfect. Once women become pregnant, what we ingest suddenly takes on new significance.
Increase Fluid Intake for the well being of both you and your baby. Milk and juice are good sources of nutrients, but don’t forget to drink your water. Water is important for many reasons during pregnancy. Water is needed for the production of amniotic fluid. This fluid protects the baby during pregnancy and is constantly being replaced. Dehydration can lead to preterm labor. This is another good reason to include plenty of water in your diet.
For the mother, staying well hydrated has several benefits. Staying well hydrated can reduce some common pregnancy discomforts, such as morning sickness and constipation. When you are dehydrated, you are more likely to suffer from urinary tract infections. Pregnant women should include eight glasses of water in their daily diet.
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by Patricia Hughes
Your diet and lifestyle habits are more important during pregnancy than at any other time. When you are pregnant, the baby is dependent on you to nourish him and avoid anything that could cause harm. It’s common for pregnant mothers to worry and wonder about any number of factors and the impact they could have on the growing baby. Fortunately there are some healthy habits you can adopt now to give your baby the best possible start in life.Quit Smoking: This one is pretty obvious. Smoking is terrible for you and your baby. Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are at risk from a variety of complications, such as miscarriage, preterm labor and low birth weight. After birth, they are more likely to have allergies or develop asthma. Even when the parents smoke outside, the smoke remains on the clothes and in the hair. This can have a negative impact on the baby.
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A healthy diet is important for you and your growing baby. You only need about 300 additional calories each day during pregnancy. When you are planning meals, include a variety of different nutrients for a balanced diet. Fill in the gaps with healthy snacks. Avoid empty calories or unhealthy foods to give your baby a good start and avoid excessive weight gain.More on Healthy Eating for Pregnant Women
