Nutrition and pregnancy
Nutrition and Pregnancy[edit | edit source]
Nutrition and pregnancy refers to the nutrient intake, and dietary planning that is undertaken before, during and after pregnancy. Nutrition of the fetus begins at conception. For this reason, the nutrition of the mother is important from before conception (probably several months before) as well as throughout pregnancy and breast feeding.
Importance of Nutrition During Pregnancy[edit | edit source]
An adequate intake of macronutrients and micronutrients during pregnancy promotes these processes and may prevent disease states such as preeclampsia and preterm birth.
Nutritional Needs During Pregnancy[edit | edit source]
During pregnancy, the diet must provide enough nutrients for the mother and the growing fetus. This includes higher amounts of folic acid, calcium, iron, protein, and other nutrients.
Folic Acid[edit | edit source]
Folic acid, also known as folate, is very important because it can help to prevent birth defects in the baby's brain and spine. Foods rich in folic acid include leafy green vegetables, fortified cereals, and citrus fruits.
Calcium[edit | edit source]
Calcium is important for the healthy development of the baby's teeth, bones, heart, nerves, and muscles. When a pregnant woman does not consume enough calcium, the mineral will be drawn from the mother's stores in her bones and given to the baby. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products, broccoli, and kale.
Iron[edit | edit source]
Iron is important for the production of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in the mother's body increases, so she needs more iron to make more hemoglobin. Iron-rich foods include red meat, poultry, fish, legumes, and iron-fortified cereals.
Eating a Balanced Diet[edit | edit source]
Eating a balanced diet during pregnancy can help to protect the health of the mother and the baby. It is important to eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients you need. The food pyramid can be a good guide for understanding the types of food you should be eating and in what quantities.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
