When a woman is pregnant, a healthy diet is essential
. It is the most important time of all for proper nutrition. This is not only important for the well being of the mother but also the health of the baby. Exercise and good nutrition are very important to ensure that the mother is giving the nourishment to her baby for his or her further growth and development.
It is very important to mention that each and every pregnancy has different needs that may vary from one individual to another. Nutritional needs are not one fit for all, they can and do vary significantly based on ma ny factors. As far as the nutritional needs of a pregnant woman are concerned, it is very important to note that these needs increase 100 calories in first trimester to 300 calories in second and third trimester. So, these requirements can be handled with a serving of milk or yogurt and some extra snacks that shouldn't be junk. These snacks might be a cup of fruits or few cookies before going to bed.Multivitamin supplements are also often recommended to pregnant women.
In pregnancy, several nutritional changes are required. This includes the need of folic acid which is very important to decrease the risk of NTD. NTD stands for Neural Tube Defects. Also folic acid increases the blood volume which is very essential for mother and the baby. Here I also want to mention that normal diets never fulfills this entire requirement. Women should increase the daily intake of folic acid in their diet up to 0.4mg.
Iron is also very important to maintain the adequate level of blood for growing baby. It usually happens that iron stores are not enough in second and third trimesters. So, extra intake is required. Iron supplements up to 30mg should be taken daily to meet the extra needs. However, 30mg requirement is what many doctors usually recommend. It is better to consult a doctor and act upon according to his prescription.
Calcium and vitamin D is very important for the healthy growth of bones and teeth of the baby. It is often recommended to take in 1000 to 1300mg of calcium daily. It means 4 to 6 serving of those products that are comprised of calcium and vitamin D should be added in the diet.
Above all, take your medical professionals advice! It is critical!