The rapidly growing baby inside the mother derives direct nutrition from the mother. Body under goes many hormonal changes during this period; these changes have direct effect on a pregnant woman’s appetite and food preferences. During the first trimester, you may even lose interest in eating due to hormonal changes. The actual reasons for this feeling have not been ascertained. Women who vomit heavily may become dehydrated and lose minerals and essential minerals along with each throw up. The condition where the pregnant woman is unable to keep liquids down is known as hyperemesis gravidarum in medical terms and needs immediate medical help. After the first trimester the condition may improve for some or might continue for up to fifth month.
Most women experience craving for a particular kind of food during this period at one stage or another. Indulging yourself in food is one of the privileges of pregnancy. However, you should take care about eating right and healthy during this period. Every other person you come across during pregnancy may advice to eat for two whereas though you have to actually provide for two (Yourself and your baby) you do not have to double the quantity of what you eat. The trick is to maintain a balance between taste and nutrition. Even tasty food can be nutritious. You can download the recipes from internet or ask your friends and relatives to share some. Normally a woman gains 10 kg to 13 kg during pregnancy, which includes 3kg to 4 kg of the baby’s weight and rest is the weight of the tissues developed to support the baby (breast tissue, placenta, fat stores, and amniotic fluid).
Make an effort towards eating fresh fruits, whole grains, and low fat dairy products. You can even spread out the meal intake across the day, taking small meals at short intervals. You need 1,000 milligrams of calcium to meet the growing needs of your baby and body to develop healthy teeth and bones. In addition, calcium helps circulatory system, muscular system, and nervous system to run normally. Rich source of calcium are dairy products, figs, whole pulses and beans such as Rajma. Along with Calcium, Vitamin D also helps in constituting baby’s teeth and bones. 600 IU a day of Vitamin D is the recommended dosage for a pregnant woman. This vitamin can be obtained from fish, milk, fortified juices and Asparagus. Foods rich in fibre help relieve constipation, a common problem during pregnancy. Foods with high fibre include wholegrain in bread or rotis, oats and dry fruits.
Insufficient nutrition in pregnant women carries long-term implications even after the baby is born. A malnourished foetus diverts all available nutrients to fulfill the needs of the cell which are require it immediately thus leaving the cells which are of importance later in life.
