Pregnancy is a wonderful time for most women. It's a lot of fun to plan for a baby. Sure there are some discomforts, but most women find those manageable. Complications of pregnancy, however, can cause a lot of worry for women -- and even put mother and baby in danger. What causes complications? Is there a way to prevent many of them? There is a way to stop many complications in their tracks: eat a good pregnancy diet.
Pregnancy Creates Increased Nutritional Need
Your pregnancy is a time of increased nutritional needs. You may read magazine articles that say you shouldn't "eat for two" -- and it's true you're not supposed to be eating heaping double helpings at every meal. But these articles that state that the pregnant mother really doesn't need all that much more than a non-pregnant woman are wrong. You do. You're not only taking care of your body, but you're building a new person!
During pregnancy you must create a new baby from start to finish. This task takes an amazing amount of nutrients, from the "big" nutrients like protein and fat, down to the "smallest" nutrients like trace minerals and vitamins. Your baby needs it all. Your baby doesn't get big until later in pregnancy, but all of his or her major systems are built in the first trimester. You may not need as many calories for your baby as you will need later in pregnancy, but you still need high levels of nutrients.
As you move through pregnancy your body must change a lot to accommodate your baby. Your blood volume greatly increases and many of your organs move and shift. Of course, they're not just moving and shifting... many, like your kidneys and liver, are working hard to take care of not just your needs but those of your baby. All of these changes require nutritional support.
Poor Nutrition Means Things Fall Apart
As your body builds your baby and as it changes to help your baby's body function, you need increased nutrition. What happens if you don't get it? This is the point where pregnancy complications come in. Many doctors will tell you that if you're eating a "healthy" diet that complications will still sometimes "just happen." There are mothers who may have prior medical conditions that cause complications to occur. But most women will find that a great pregnancy diet helps them stay healthy.
Lack of protein and salt during pregnancy has been shown to dramatically increase a mother's risk of serious complications such as pre-eclampsia. A low-fat diet during pregnancy can cause other nutrients to be poorly absorbed or used wrongly (for instance, protein will be broken down for energy if there's not enough fat -- therefore depriving the baby of vital protein).
Eating the wrong foods during pregnancy will also cause complications. Mothers naturally become slightly insulin-resistant during pregnancy. Insulin helps your body deal with blood sugar. This natural resistance helps ensure the baby gets all nutrients he or she may need. But it means that if a mother overdoes it on lots of sweet foods or lots of carbohydrates of any kind she is far more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
Low birth weight babies, preterm labor, and intra-uterine growth retardation are other problems that can often be linked to nutritional causes.
Eat the Right Foods
The key during pregnancy is not to "eat for two" by eating massive quantities of whatever you like. The key is to eat enough of the right foods to satisfy your own and your baby's nutritional requirements. If you're carrying multiples you'll need even more high-quality food.
Remove junk food and processed foods from your diet and switch to wholesome, nourishing foods. They don't have to be complicated to prepare. Your baby doesn't want gourmet fare. He or she just wants solid nutrients. Eat foods that have ample protein and fat; these are your baby's building blocks. Supplement those foods with vegetables and fruits to get the vitamins and minerals your baby needs.
Red meat and full-fat dairy are nutrient-packed foods. Eggs are also wonderful; in fact they are almost like nature's prenatal vitamin! Fatty fish like salmon will give your baby plenty of brain-building Omega 3 fatty acids (pastured beef is also very high in Omega 3's). Vegetables like avocados and olives are tasty and nourishing. Leafy green vegetables provide plenty of nutrition for your baby. Moderate carbohydrate intake is also fine for you and baby -- choose easy-to-digest foods you can add plenty of other nourishing ingredients to. Baked potatoes and stir-frys with rice are good examples.
These foods are nutritional powerhouses for you and your baby and will go a long way towards preventing major complications (and minor discomforts) of pregnancy.
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