Pregnancy Info

You pregnancy diet should be a balanced diet. Your babies health depends on you providing him/her with the nutrition needed to be born healthy. This article has guidelines for a good pregnancy diet and things to avoid in your pregnancy diet.

When you are pregnant, it is important to live as healthy as you can. One of the ways that you can increase your wellness during pregnancy is to pay attention to your pregnancy diet. Your pregnancy diet should include a wide variety of foods, and should include extra nutrients that are especially conducive to having a healthy baby. It can be difficult to get the nutrition you need during the first few months of pregnancy due to morning sickness, but you should still do your best, and consult with your health care provider on ways that you can reduce your nausea and vomiting.

Guidelines for a healthy pregnancy diet

When you eat healthy during pregnancy, you help your unborn baby develop properly, and you reduce the chances that he or she will have problems. While there is no way to completely guarantee a healthy baby, eating right during pregnancy is a good way to increase your chances. Here are some things to consider for your pregnancy diet:

• Look for high fiber foods. These include whole-grains, fruits and vegetables.
• Try to get four servings of dairy each day during your pregnancy. Your body needs more dairy during pregnancy.
• Make sure you are getting enough iron. This includes eating iron-rich foods, but if you are having trouble getting the required iron, you can ask your health care provider for special supplements.
• Get a good amount of vitamin C each day. Some foods that include vitamin C are tomatoes, green peppers, strawberries, oranges, papaya, broccoli, cauliflower and mustard greens.
• Get folic acid each day. This is important to the development of your baby. Folic acid aids in proper development. Dark leafy green vegetables have folic acid, as do legumes and veal.
• Make sure you get good vitamin A every other day. Be careful about Vitamin A, since too much of it can lead to problems. But if you get a good source every other day, you should be in good shape. Some foods that are high in Vitamin A include sweet potatoes, beet greens, pumpkins, carrots, turnip greens, cantaloupe and apricot.
• Eat a variety of foods so that you get a variety of nutrients. A dietician or your health care provider can help you work different menu possibilities.
• Enjoy treats on occasion. There is nothing wrong with indulgence every now and then. But your pregnancy diet should limit fat and sugar, and focus more on healthy foods. In fact, that’s good advice for anyone, pregnant or not.
• Consider taking a prenatal vitamin, under the direction of your health care provider. This can help you get what you need on a consistent basis. But remember that vitamins are no substitute for a healthy diet.

Things to avoid in your pregnancy diet

Just as there are guidelines for eating healthy foods during your pregnancy, there are also warnings against some foods. Even though your caloric intake should be higher while you are pregnant, it is important to remember that that doesn’t mean you make up the difference with junk food. Here are some things to try and avoid including in your pregnancy diet:

• Alcohol Use. The amount of damage alcohol can do to a fetus is rather large. Be careful of it.
• Drugs. This seems obvious to some, but it still seems necessary. In addition to avoiding illicit drugs, it is important to note that some over the counter and some prescription drugs can be harmful to your unborn baby. Make sure you consult your health care professional before taking anything.
• Limit your caffeine intake to 300 mg per day. Pay careful attention to the caffeine amounts in different drinks.
• Stay away from saccharin. These fake sweeteners can actually cross the placenta, lodging in fetal tissues and possibly building up to cancer causing levels.
• Watch out for high mercury fish, such as tilefish, shark, king mackerel and swordfish. Limit your tuna intake as well, and try to avoid raw fish, include shellfish like clams and oysters.
• Stay away from unpasteurized dairy products and fruit juices. Many soft cheeses have not been pasteurized, so double check before you eat Brie, feta or Camembert.
• Limit your cholesterol and fat intake, keeping your fat intake to 30% or less of your total calories, and keep your cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg each day.

For the most part, a healthy pregnancy diet is one that includes a great deal of common sense. You will find that if you are careful, and that if you plan out a healthy diet, you will be able to enjoy a better pregnancy, and you will reduce the chances of complications.