Pregnant Women & Nutrition

Making sure her growing baby is getting the best possible
healthy growing conditions, is of supreme importance for any
pregnant woman. At the top of the list is your diet. Nutrition
is the most important controllable aspect in developing a
successful pregnancy. Because of this it is very important that
expectant mothers are completely in tune proper nutritional
levels in their body. Remember you have another body that you
are feeding!

For mommies to be, the quantity of supplementary calories
needed to be taken in might just surprise you. Believe it or
not, the daily recommended additional calorie intake for
pregnant women is only around 300. Clearly, that's some added
calories, but it certainly isn't the several hundred that many
pregnant women think that they should be taking in each day.
300 hundred doesn't sound like much but it is actually about an
extra meal a day for a full grown adult?

The fact of the matter is that there's a lot more than just
those 300 calories that can accommodate you with weight gain,
which is not recommended for the mother to be or baby. An extra
tuna fish sandwich or bagel with low-fat cream cheese can do the
trick. Steer clear of the impulse to indulge cravings, as hard
as it may be. Don't give in to the myth that a pregnant woman
needs a boatload of extra calories every day…just 300 will do
the trick.

Just because you're expecting does mean does mean you'll need
to take in some extra calories. Protein is one of the nutrients
that you should up your intake of while you are pregnant.
Generally speaking you'll want to take in about 10 grams per
day more than that of a non-pregnant woman or about 60 grams.
Lean meats, chicken and fish are good choices or protein. The
important factor to consider is to understand what type of
serving size produces the amount of protein (or any other
nutrient) that you actually need. For example with protein it
only takes about an ounce and a half to get 10 grams of
protein.

Calcium is another essential element during a pregnancy.
Today's, women who are not even pregnant generally fall short
of the recommended daily amount of calcium intake… so
increasing your calcium is generally a good idea to begin with.
Dairy products are a primary source of calcium you get in your
diet. The use of non fat sources of calcium in your diet, this
will help keep your calorie intake under control as well. For
example green leafy vegetables are for you to get some extra
calcium for both you and your unborn child.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, so a daily supplement
can be a good idea. As the blood volume rises with the advance
of pregnancy, additional iron is required. The daily
recommended amount of iron doubles for expectant mothers from
15 mg/day to 30 mg/day. Make sure you get your iron supplement
because iron is very important! Your healthcare provider will
monitor lab work to see if you need to take an iron supplement.

A good source of iron is red meat, but forget about fish and
poultry as well. On the market today, there are also quite a
few iron enriched cereals that also help to supplement your
iron intake.

Completely vegetarian lifestyles are able to provide all your
required nutrients; the key is finding them in the correct
form. Vegetarians generally must keep a closer watch on their
nutrient levels. However, for the most part this is a regular
task for those who adhere to a vegetarian lifestyle. If you are
pregnant and a vegetarian just be certain to work closely with
your doctor during the course of the pregnancy to ensure you
are getting all the required nutrient supplements you and your
baby need.

Naturally, any expectant woman should consult her physician
early on about dietary changes because each pregnancy is
somewhat to completely different. It is also just as essential
to work with your physician before you become pregnant to make
certain that you are healthy and getting the proper nutrients
in order to have the healthiest beginning you can for a
pregnancy.

Work with your physician in order to provide the best care you
possible can for not only yourself but for your growing child
as well.

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