Pregnancy sure is the hardest time to ensure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs. Between having to worry about morning sickness and going after your cravings, keeping tabs on you and your baby’s nutritional needs seems to be a daunting task. It’s really not about how much you eat, but what you eat that makes the difference.
Now that you are going to be a mom, the first thing that you might have to increase is folic acid. Folic acid helps prevent Spina Bifida and should be taken before and during the first trimester. You might also need to increase your intake of calorie during your first trimester. However, during the second and third trimester, you just need to maintain a 300-calorie diet. If are a patron of junk foods, you have to minimize on it as soon as possible. Also cut down on sweet snacks. Instead of going for processed food, why not try the natural goodness of fruits?
Try to stay away also from shark, swordfish as well as marlin since they could contain hazardous levels of mercury. Refrain also from having ready-to-eat food as well as non pasteurized milk and its products as these have been shown to be the leading cause of Listeria – infection. Raw and uncooked meat could also lead to toxoplasma so make sure that you cook meat well before eating it.
During the final stages of your pregnancy, you might notice that you tend to eat more. However, if you suffer from heartburn or a constant feeling of fullness, you can take smaller but more frequent meals. You would also need to increase your intake of iron as iron-deficiency can lead to premature births.
With the right pregnancy diet there is really no need to give up your favorite foods during your pregnancy. The key word here is moderation. Happy Eating!
