Importance of Proper Nutrition During Pregnancy – Guidelines

Importance of Proper Nutrition During Pregnancy – Guidelines

Expecting a baby? Congratulations! Now, let's talk about the crucial role of nutrition during this special time. Discover how the right foods can shape your pregnancy journey, ensuring optimal health for both you and your little one. Ready to learn about pregnancy nutrition guidelines?

Energy

During pregnancy, energy requirements during pregnancy increase as a result of increases in basal and activity energy expenditure and energy deposition in the newly acquired fetal and maternal tissues.

Bottom Line

It is very important to plan a balanced nutrition during pregnancy

Guidelines for Gestational Weight Gain

Obese women are more likely to have pregnancy complications of diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, arrest of labor, fetal distress and cesarean delivery

Vitamin E

Vitamin E functions as an antioxidant that prevents propagation of lipid peroxidation

Vitamin C

Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant and cofactor for enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of collagen, carnitine, and neurotransmitters

Protein

Protein requirements increase during pregnancy as a result of the increase in protein turnover and protein deposition in the Fetus, uterus, expanded maternal blood volume, mammary glands, and skeletal muscle

Metabolic Disorders

Discussing existing metabolic disorders may be critical to the health of both mother and infant

Dietary fats

Arachidonic acid (ARA) concentrations in red blood cell phospholipids decrease during pregnancy, but whether this is a normal physiologic response to pregnancy or a reflection of dietary inadequacy of omega-6 fatty acids is uncertain.

Assessment of Nutritional Status

Due to poor nutrition during pregnancy, underweight women are at increased risk of reproductive problems. Not only fertility is compromised, but also, the likelihood of preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is increased.

Herbal Teas

Most manufacturers of herbal tea products stop marketing the mixtures as medicine and simply list the ingredients on the label.

Nutrition during pregnancy

Adolescent pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of medical complications, such as low birth weight, neonatal death, maternal mortality pregnancy-induced hypertension, and sexually transmitted infections

Vitamin Supplementation

A varied diet in accordance with the US dietary guidelines can meet all vitamin and nutrition needs associated with pregnancy; however, women whose dietary practices seem to be less than satisfactory may benefit from a prenatal vitamin supplement.

Caffeine

Research using animals indicates that excessive amounts caffeine intake increase the incidence of congenital malformations; the effects of consuming smaller quantities (eg, 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day) have not been satisfactorily studied.

Zinc

The additional zinc requirement during pregnancy reflects zinc accretion in newly synthesized maternal and fetal tissues

Calcium

During pregnancy, the fetus accretes approximately 25 to 30mg of calcium, with maximum accretion rates in the third trimester.

Iodine

It is an essential constituent of the thyroid hormones- thyroxine and triiodothyronine which regulate essential enzymatic and metabolic processes.

Exercise During Pregnancy

In the absence of medical or obstetric complications, pregnant women who engage in a moderate level of physical activity can maintain cardiovascular and muscular fitness throughout the pregnancy.

Food Cravings and Aversions

Most women change diets during the course of pregnancy. Some changes are based on medical advice, others on folk medical beliefs, and others on changes in preference and appetite that may be idiosyncratic or culturally patterned.

Vitamins

Vitamin A is essential for normal vision, gene expression, reproduction, embryonic development, growth and immune function. Vitamin A deficiency in pregnancy is associated with preterm birth, IUGR, and low birth weight.

Folate

Folate functions as a coenzyme in single-carbon transfer reactions involved in nucleic and amino acid metabolism

Alcohol

Moderate drinkers may produce offspring fetal alcohol effects, such as spontaneous abortion, abruptio placentae, and low birth weight

Dietary Carbohydrate

To ensure the supply of glucose for the fetal brain and maternal brain, the estimated average requirement for available carbohydrate was the same as non-pregnant women (100 g/day), plus the additional amount required during the third trimester (35g/day).

Iron

Iron needs increase during pregnancy, even though menstruation does not occur and intestinal absorption of this mineral is enhanced

Source

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