Eat Right for Hale and Hearty Newborn

“A ship under sail and a big-bellied woman, are the handsomest two things that can be seen common”, said Benjamin Franklin. Pregnancy is indeed the most treasured moment for a woman.

It is the best gift that a woman has been bestowed upon. And giving birth to a healthy baby is very important and a healthy diet is a key to achieve this.

There has to be a healthy mother first to ensure that your newborn will have a hale and hearty life. Themedguru counsels you on just how to do so. Read on...

What an expectant mother consumes, is of vital importance for the health and fitness of the infant she is carrying. It also aids baby’s growth, ongoing pregnancy, the delivery, breastfeeding and the demands of a newborn. A new study also suggests that the mother’s eating habits determines the gender of the infant.

"Good nutrition is extremely important even before a pregnancy. If nature favours the growing fetus, the mother will suffer if she hasn't had a good diet", says Dr Shirley Blakely, a dietitian from Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Double Act
The mum-to-be needs to bear in mind that now she has to consume for her baby too. The body needs 300 extra calories each day during pregnancy. So there is a need to tune your ingestion behaviour to guarantee a balanced and healthy diet. Make an effort to increase your intake of folic acid and iron too.

An expectant woman requires a balanced diet inclusive of proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fluids and dairy products. She needs to eat a little from all these factions every day to obtain appropriate amounts of energy for herself and the developing tot. Try eating every four hours even if not hungry, as the baby needs it.

The body gains efficiency during pregnancy and utilizes energy obtained from the diet consumed in a better way. There are nutrients that provide particular assistance to the mother and fetus. vitamin B, calcium, iron, omega 3 essential fatty acids are some of these.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists affirms that a healthy diet can provide all essential nutrients, but it never hurts to take extra precautions.

Avoid These…
While you need to eat healthy when expecting, there are a few foods that should be avoided completely. Especially exclude vitamin A rich foods from your diet during first few weeks of pregnancy, as it may harm the baby.

Women who drink alcohol should refrain from it during pregnancy. Drinking too much alcohol can cause physical failings in kids. Even smoking can cause birth defects sothat should be avoided too.

Research shows that consumption of 300 mg of caffeine or more a day can lead to miscarriage and low birth weight of the baby. So either avoid caffeine products like coffee and tea or consume not more than two cups a day.

Despite being rich in protein, some breeds of fish should be shunned away during pregnancy. Evade sharks and swordfish as these contain potentially hazardous levels of mercury which is not good for the baby.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, certain foods have dangerous bacteria like Listeria and Toxoplasma lurking around them that can cause serious illness or death of the fetus. Try avoiding cold refrigerated products and unwashed fruits and vegetables.

Keep in mind that pregnancy does not imply giving up your favourite foods. But sometimes these cannot be mainstay diet items too. Chocolate though not good can be chomped once a while. Just remember to get regular checkups and you will have a healthy baby.

Finally bidding adieu, wishing the newborn a Hale and Hearty welcome.