Pregnant women need good food for their better health. During pregnant she needs special dietary foods. Pregnant women can take balanced diet to maintain their health in a good condition. Not only during pregnancy, after pregnancy also women can eat balanced diets to maintain their health. We can avoid certain food items during pregnancy.
Calories for Pregnant Women
Women needs 15% more calories when she is pregnant. Pregnant women can eat an additional 300 calories per day. An ordinary woman requires a minimum of 1000 calories and the maximum of 1200 calories for a day. Pregnant women should choose foods which are rich in nutrients. They can choose from all the food groups. The groups are grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and meat and beans. She and her growing baby needs food. Some may say "Pregnant women should take 2 members food". The saying says pregnant women should take more food than usual.
Good Food for Pregnant Women
- Pregnant women should take more vegetables and fruits.
- Sterilized milk
- Fish or meat
- Properly cooked egg
- Properly cooked prawn
- Properly cooked Shellfish
- Ice cream
- Yogurt
- Well cooked meat
Food should avoid during pregnancy
- Pregnant women should avoid unpasteurised milk
- They should avoid under cooked eggs
- Raw Shellfish should be avoid during pregnancy
- Papaya should be avoided. It may cause the risk of abortion
- Sesame seeds should be avoided
- Alchochol and soda
- Avoid eating foods prepared using maida.
- Very high sugar content foods should be avoided.
- Coffee should be avoided
Eating seafood which contains high mercury should be avoided. Peanuts should be avoided during pregnancy. The high risk of allergies may happen for babies because of their mother ate peanuts during their pregnancy time.
Requirement of energy during pregnancy
Pregnant women require 2000 calories per day. Foods which contains more protein are meat, fish, egg, dairy products and beans.
Essential Minerals and Vitamins
Folic Acid
First three months, the pregnant women can take folic acid tablets. Folic acid is available in beans, fruit, green vegetables, orange juice and rice. 400 micrograms of folic acid supplement is very essential for pregnant woman
Iron
Pregnant women need more iron than usual for producing blood for their placenta, and also for supplying nutriants to placenta. Iron containing sources are green vegetables, strawberries. More iron supplements may cause the problem of constipation. So correct amount of iron content should be taken. Walking is the better medicine for avoiding constipation. Avoid potatoes when you are suffering from constipation.
Calcium and Zinc
Calcium and Zinc plays an important role in embryo development.
Reasons for Increasing Weight during Pregnancy
- Uterus grows a maximum of 400 grams during pregnancy
- Placenta weights maximum of 650 grams
- Baby may weight maximum of 3.5 kg
Because of the above reason weight is increasing for pregnant women. Avoid medicines of your own during pregnancy. You can take only the prescribed medicines. Other unprescribed medicines should be avoid. Avoid vegetables and fruit like brinjal, potato and papaya. Fasting should be avoided during pregnancy. Always remember in mind the child inside you always depends on you for proper nutrition, so better take healthy balanced diet. You can conduct immediately your doctor if you are suffering from health problems during pregnancy. Listen good music when you are pregnant. Try to learn new skills when you are pregnant. Do simple exercises during pregnancy, it will be good for normal delivery. Walk thrice in a week. Yoga during pregnancy is very good for you and for your child. Very complicated exercises should be avoided. You may do some simple exercises after the consultation of your doctor.