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Your Changing Body
So you are eating for
"two", that is no reason to over indulge in the wrong kinds of foods.
It is a well known fact
that a pregnant woman must eat to maintain herself and provide
a storehouse of elements
which will support the growth of the uterus, placenta, internal
membranes, and the fetus.
It has been proven that a Nutritious diet during a
pregnancy reduces the
risks of miscarriages, stillbirths, premature births, and even a
decrease in illness in
the first 6 months of the infants life.
Actually, a woman's
diet even before conception can influence the course of her pregnancy.
Fertility itself can
be inhibited by dietary deficiencies.
Nothing can guarantee
a successful birth, but a nutrient-rich diet minimizes the risks involved.
While pregnancy is a
natural process, it does create added physical and mental stress,
so that a diet that was
once adequate may not be during pregnancy.
Many changes take place
in a woman's body when she conceives. Hormones,
primarily a product of
protein and B-vitamin interaction, are called into play;
consequently those nutrients
needed for hormone production must be provided.
The thyroid gland is
particularly active so that iodine must be available.
Changes occur in blood
volume and circulation, and the mother's diet must contain large amounts
of iron for hemoglobin production in order to forestall anemia.
By the third month, when
most expectant mothers begin to show, all the essential
amino acids are called
upon for enlargement of the mothers breasts and uterus.
One common malady of
these body changes is mild toxemia, nausea- known as morning sickness.
Some
say high levels of thiamin may prevent this discomfort.
A mother's diet must
provide all the growth-producing substances for the newly
conceived child.
Calcium
needed for the infants teeth and bones. At birth the first 20 teeth are
already inside the baby's
jaw and this also depends on phosphorus, and Vitamin D.
By the fourth month,
rapid fetal growth is in progress and additional Protein
is needed for formation
of the baby's tissues, if this protein is not available directly from the
mother's diet it will be drawn from the mothers tissues, resulting in possible
anemia
in both mother and child.
Protein
is also responsible for the growth of brain
cells in the fetus. It
is not only the expectant mother who requires an increase in iron,
but the child as well.
Prenatal feeding must provide a reserve
for the first 3-5 months
of life, when the diet is low in this vital mineral.
Vitamin A
is important for the formation of epithelial cells and bone-building
protein tissue.
Vitamin
C deficiency may limit the growth potential of
the child in the uterus,
and levels must again be high enough to impart
the large quantifies
of Vitamin C needed by the infant at birth.
Both these vitamins
( A and C ) provide resistance to infections and reduce
the possibility of maternal
illness which can bring about malformations of the fetus.
The B Vitamins
are associated with protein for the formation of the
infant's tissues and
must be increased proportionately.
Levels of B vitamins,
as well as the other vitamins and minerals, influence the
production of mother's
milk for continued feeding of the child after birth.
It is noted that all
daily allowances are elevated, especially Vitamin D
for it's calcium utilization.
Any weight gain should
be gradual, and not to exceed 20-25 pounds during pregnancy.
Diet Recommendations:
At least 1 quart of milk per day
Protein such as : organ meats, fish, poultry,
and cottage cheese
Four or Five eggs per week
Grains,vegetables and fruits plentiful
Iron rich foods
2 tablespoons of unsaturated oil ( essential
fatty acids )
At least 2 quarts of liquid are needed
to eliminate the double-waste build up,
and roughage of vegetables, fruits and
whole grains is helpful for
the laxative action.
Yogurt and B vitamins also help to enhance
food movement in the intestines.
A well- balanced , high
quality diet during pregnancy affords the best chance for
an uncomplicated birth,
and a healthy child.
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