Nutrition
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The old saying “you are what you eat” is true for you and your growing baby. Your baby depends on you for the building blocks of eyes, ears, heart, brain – his whole body. And eating well is important for mom’s own health, too.
Try to eat foods from each of the five food groups every day. The five food groups are grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and proteins. Also, be sure you’re getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals to keep you and baby healthy, such as folic acid and calcium. There are certain things you should limit or avoid, like caffeine or foods that can cause an allergic reaction. You’ll also want to take extra steps to handle food safely. You should keep food fresh and safe to avoid food-borne illnesses. Pregnancy often leads to more weight gain than is healthy for mom or baby. Most women only need 300 extra calories per day during pregnancy. For example, one healthy snack like four fig bars and a glass of skim milk will provide these extra calories. However, the exact amount of extra calories you need depends on your weight before pregnancy. Talk to your doctor or midwife to learn more about a healthy eating plan that’s right for you. The Healthy Start Centers offer Staying in the Range, a program to help women stay within a healthy weight gain during their pregnancy. Staying in the Range includes a series of stories about a woman named Alesha. The stories tell about how she deals with eating and weight gain during her pregnancy. If you would like to receive the five stories, just contact PNMC to have them mailed. There is also a personal diary that has tip sheets about many of the issues pregnant women face. You can read or download your own personal diary. There is also a personal weight gain chart. There is even a resource to help make grocery lists. Online Resource DirectoriesDirectory of obstetricians and midwives Links to Other Sites:USDA Choose My Plate (replacement for food pyramid) |
