Diet for Pregnancy

At no other time in a woman's life is good nutrition more essential than during pregnancy. While the need for calories increases only about 15 per cent, the requirements for some nutrients more than doubles, and a woman needs to plan her diet carefully to meet these needs. In our country the advice of health professionals are vital in providing necessary advice in planning meals for the poor and uneducated women in the rural and urban areas as also the more fortunate women in the cities. As a matter of fact, any woman planning a pregnancy should also evaluate her eating habits. Even before conceiving she should achieve her ideal weight. Women who are too thin often have low-birth-weight babies, while those who are overweight have a greater risk of gestational diabetes and giving birth to an oversized baby. Infants who are either too small or too large at birth often suffer serious problems, including respiratory disorders and even death.

Protein

A pregnant woman needs to consume approximately 60gms of protein daily Protein -rich foods are lean meats, poultry, and fish which are also good sources of B vitamins and other trace minerals. Eggs, cheese and legumes (peas, beans and lentils) are also foods high in proteins

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Some doctors say that women should take folate and iron supplements during pregnancy, but other doctors believe that a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods in the recommended amounts will meet most needs. A pregnant woman needs 1200 mg of calcium a day, about 50 per cent more than normal. A woman's iron requirement almost doubles during pregnancy, going from 13 mg daily to 23 mg. Most women need to take a 25mg supplement daily during the last six months of pregnancy, The Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) call for at least 180mcg (micrograms) of folate for pregnant women in the first three months and increasing upto 400 mcg in the last six months, and then drops to 300 mcg during breast-feeding.

The pregnant women among the poor should be helped to provide themselves with plenty of the following foods, which must also be eaten by the rich:

• Lean meat and poultry, fish, dried beans and lentils.
• Eggs, milk and dairy products, hilsha and pangash fish and other high-calcium foods
• Citrus fruits, dark green vegetables, legumes, whole grains.

Cut back on high-fat foods, sugary desserts and sweetmeats, coffee and caffeinated drinks.

Submitted By
Mahbub Husain Khan

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Topics:

• Pregnancy, Parenting & Baby Care
• Women's Health
• Personal Care
• Diet & Nutrition