Nutrition in Pregnancy
Nutrition in pregnancy is highly important although the common saying that a pregnant woman has to eat for two has been proven incorrect. Increased caloric intake is essential for healthy development of the fetus who exclusively depends from nutrients that he obtains through diet of a pregnant woman but that does not mean that a pregnant women should gain 45 pounds (20 kilograms) or more. Even more, the recommended weight gain during pregnancy is about 22-26 pounds (10-12 kilograms). However, it is very important to be aware that insufficient weight gain can seriously jeopardize development and health of the fetus.
More than quantity is important the quality and balance of diet during pregnancy. It
is highly important that a pregnant woman pays attention to the balanced diet in
order to provide the fetus all the necessary nutrients which are necessary for
healthy growth and development. It is well known that both lack and surplus of
certain nutrients can have harmful effect on the fetus and can result very serious
disorders and abnormalities. However, there is no need to panic if eating
diversified, fresh and healthy food that contains vitamins, mineral, proteins, fat
and other nutrients which are the basis for overall health and well-being because in
that case there is generally little risk for eventual disorders that can be caused
by improper diet. Despite that taking extra care for proper nutrition during
pregnancy cannot hurt but balanced diet also should not be neglected after
childbirth. Besides proper diet pregnant women should also be very careful in using
any kind of medications including dietary supplements and before their use always
consult with their health provider.