Special Dietary Needs Of A Pregnant Woman

A varied diet that includes the right amount of healthy foods from the five food groups generally provides our bodies with the vitamins and minerals it needs each day.

Special dietary needs of a pregnant woman. Healthy sources of protein include beans peas eggs lean meats seafood and unsalted nuts and seeds. Pregnant women need at least 70 mg of vitamin c daily which is contained in fruits such as oranges grapefruits and honeydew and vegetables such as broccoli tomatoes and brussel sprouts. To accomplish all of these productive changes your body needs approximately 300 extra calories per day during your 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. There s no magic formula for a healthy pregnancy diet.

Pica is a disorder that causes cravings for items that contain no nutritional value. However pregnant women may need to take vitamin or mineral supplements during pregnancy such as folate and vitamin d. Ways to meet the nutritional demands during pregnancy and lactation. It s best to get vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat but when you re pregnant you need to take a folic acid supplement as well to make sure you get everything you.

Consult your doctor before taking any supplements. Pregnant women with pica may want to eat clay cigarette ashes or. In fact during pregnancy the basic principles of healthy eating remain the same get plenty of fruits vegetables whole grains lean protein and healthy fats. However a few nutrients in a pregnancy diet deserve special attention.

A pregnant woman needs more calcium folic acid iron and protein than a woman who is not expecting according to the american college of obstetricians and gynecologists. In order to prevent neural tube defects 0 4 mg of folic acid per day is recommended. Here s what tops the list. At no other time in life is nutrition as important as before during and following pregnancy on the other hand women can still eat foods that come in a box or a bag eat out several times a week.

You do not need to go on a special diet but it s important to eat a variety of different foods every day to get the right balance of nutrients that you and your baby need. There is no particular need to modify the usual dietary pattern. Pregnant women need 1 000 mg of calcium. The pregnant lactating woman should eat a wide variety of foods to make sure that her own nutritional needs as well as those of her growing foetus are met.

Hydration is another special nutritional concern during pregnancy. Your baby has grown to weigh 6 to 10 pounds on average. Every woman should discuss her individual nutritional needs with her health care provider.