News You Can Use: Part 2
While many women may wait for a positive pregnancy test as the green light for improving their diet such as stopping alcoholic beverage consumption, and generally adopting healthy lifestyle habits, research suggests that a mom's habits before conception also influence her baby's well-being at birth and for his or her entire lifetime. Because many pregnancies are not planned and the developing foetus is highly susceptible to birth defects and other problems during the first few weeks of pregnancy (when many women may not even realise that they are pregnant), achieving healthy weight and getting the recommended amounts of essential nutrients like calcium, folic acid, essential fatty acids and choline before pregnancy, is particularly important.
Striving to eat a healthy diet rich in a variety of foods is key to getting proper nutrition to ensure optimal maternal health. Most nutrition experts agree that preconception planning for all women should include advice to start taking a prenatal multivitamin/mineral supplement.
A Healthier Weight Equals a Healthier Pregnancy.
In the United States, more than one half of pregnant women are over weight or obese, and 8% of reproductive-aged women are extremely obese, putting them at a greater risk of pregnancy complications. Reducing kilojoules through physical activity, can help achieve a healthier weight before becoming pregnant. The use of meal replacement drinks rich in high quality protein may help boost success, too. In a recent randomised, controlled study, researchers investigated the effect of an energy-restricted diet with or without meal replacements in a group of overweight women. After 12 weeks, both groups lost weight, however the rate of responders (a weight loss of >5%) was higher among the meal replacement users (77%) compared to the control group (50%).
Common Myths About Pregnancy Weight Gain.
Myth 1: I need to "eat for two".
Not True!
Eating for two is not necessary. In fact eating for two may cause you to gain too much weight, which is not good for you or your baby. During the first trimester, you don't require any extra kilojoules. During the second trimester 1400 additional kilojoules a day are recommended and during the last trimester that number increases to 1800 additional kilojoules per day.
Myth 2: The more weight I gain, the healthier my baby will be.
Wrong Again!
Gaining too much weight can increase your risk of having a C-section, early delivery, or a bigger baby, which can complicate the birthing process.
Myth 3: I'm at my ideal weight so I don't have to worry about how much weight I gain during pregnancy.
Truth!
How much weight you need to gain during pregnancy should be discussed with your doctor. If you are at an ideal body weight at the time you become pregnant, the average recommended weight gain during pregnancy is between 11-16 Kgs.
Intake Reports: www.iom.edu.
Let's Get Social!
