Nutrition and Pregnancy: Understand The Connection

During pregnancy, sustaining a healthy diet is vital for both the well-being of the mother and the baby’s development.  It’s mandatory to be watchful of your nutrition during pregnancy. Are you pregnant? If yes, then your nutrition need is more essential than ever. Nutrition and pregnancy are very closely connected. When you take healthy food every day you give your baby what they need to develop.

In this blog, Rajashree Gadgil the best nutritionist in Thane explains the power and importance of nutrition in pregnancy. As per the expert, you need to eat a wide variety of foods to give everything you and your baby need. It’s not much different from a day-to-day healthy eating plan — just a bit improved.

To know more about nutritional needs during pregnancy, read on.

Nutrition and Pregnancy

Complete improvements in nutrition and health status of women before and during pregnancy will pay for the best growth of the baby. Taking care of nutrition is very important for the potential long-term health of both the mother and offspring. A diet with well-adjusted macronutrient consumption provides the best chance for a healthy pregnancy and ideal perinatal outcomes. During pregnancy, you need more nutrients than before because proper nutrition can prevent birth defects and improve overall health.

Rajashree Gadgil the founder of TRUWELLTH the most well-regarded Nutrition Center in Mumbai mentions that nutritious diets are those that include sufficient quantities of legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, fish, oils enhanced in monounsaturated fat, and fiber and are lower in fatty red meat and refined grains. Additionally, healthy diets sidestep simple sugars, processed foods, and trans and saturated fats.

Calorie needs adjustment throughout pregnancy. Wondering how to plan? Visit the best nutrition Center in Thane.

Nutrition and Pregnancy First Trimester

• Try to eat about 2,000 calories a day,
• Vital nutrients include calcium, folate, and iron,
• Eat a diet with fiber-rich carbohydrates, healthy fats, and high-quality proteins,
• Folic acid is crucial to prevent birth defects,
• Protein, calcium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids are essential,
• Calorie needs modification throughout pregnancy: first trimester – no additional calories, second trimester – about 340 extra calories a day, last trimester – about 450 extra calories a day

The best nutrition Center in Thane recommends you to have a balanced diet but being more specific about what to eat in which month is important.

1 to 3 Month Pregnancy Diet Chart

Month 1 Pregnancy Diet chart

• Go for easy-to-digest food
• Consume as much liquid as possible
• A big NO to high-fat, peppery and fried food
• Opt for folate-rich and Vitamin B6 rich food

Month 2 Pregnancy Diet chart

• Include raw almonds, sunflower seeds, avocado, egg yolk, olive oil, and hazelnuts in your diet.

Nutrition and pregnancy third trimester

Fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains, healthy fats, milk, fish and oils

Add at least 10 glasses of water a day to your diet chart

Include fluid-filled fruits and vegetables to keep the baby hydrated

Your body goes through multiple physical and hormonal changes during pregnancy. You’ll need to make great food choices from a variety of sources to fuel yourself and your growing baby.

Nutritional Requirements During Pregnancy

You’re nourishing a whole new body so certainly your body has increased nutritional needs during pregnancy. Your body needs a balanced and nutritious diet during your pregnancy.  Include whole, nourishing foods, and limit your intake of foods without good nutritional value to ensure that you have a healthy baby.

A healthy pregnancy nutrition diet chart will promote your baby’s growth and development.

Pregnancy Nutrition Chart

The pregnancy nutrition diet chart includes calcium, iron, protein, Vitamin D, choline, copper, DHA, fiber, folic acid etc.

There’s a lot of confusing information available about what you can’t eat when it comes to planning a pregnancy diet. Rajashree Gadgil an experienced nutritionist in Mumbai with in-depth scientific knowledge mentions some foods to avoid during pregnancy.

Pregnancy Food to Avoid

A few vital takeaways to keep you and your baby safe during pregnancy:

• Unpasteurized milk products, soft cheeses, soft-serve ice cream
• Avoid undercooked or raw meat, fish and eggs
• Certain types of fish, such as tuna, shark, swordfish, and marlin
• Food past its expiration date
• Caffeine and processed foods

FAQs

What to Eat During Pregnancy to Have a Beautiful Baby?

You should eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein foods, and dairy items that provide vital nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, iron, antioxidants, and vitamins, to support your baby’s brain and skin development. Drink lots of water and restrict foods and beverages with added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium.

How Can You Prepare the Food in Your Pregnancy Diet Safely?

Foods, like meat, fish, and eggs, need to be properly cooked to certain temperatures to make them safe to include in your pregnancy diet. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before eating.

Can a Vegan Diet During Pregnancy be Safe?

Yes, a vegan diet that provides suitable amounts of the needed nutrients appears to be just as healthy as a conventional diet.

Nutrition and Pregnancy: The Takeaway

Being pregnant can bring a lot of big lifestyle changes. At times, it gets difficult to cut certain foods out of your pregnancy diet, particularly if you follow a special diet. Well, just remember that the changes are only temporary, It is just to support a healthy pregnancy.

As Rajashree Gadgil says, nutrition and pregnancy are related as when it comes to pregnancy, the focus should be on eating a healthy, balanced diet with the right quantity of calories and a tasty mix of protein, fat, grains, fruits, and vegetables to maintain proper nutrition. Enjoy motherhood!