Congratulations you are pregnant! A bundle of joy is headed your way. The nine months it takes to bring a pregnancy full term hold a lot of changes. Women have to deal with morning sickness, mood swings, a changing body, and the chore of a meal now feeding two people. If you want a good pregnancy your daily diet is an important factor to focus on.
Proper diet both you and the baby remain healthy, while also providing the baby with the nutrients it needs to develop well. Here are the main things you should know about retrofitting your pregnancy diet.
Weight Gain is Good
Putting on some pounds is a necessary part of every pregnancy. In fact, medical professionals worry if you do not gain enough weight. Remember, you are hosting a growing baby that requires food. The more weight you gain equals the more weight your baby is gaining and that is important. Optimal weight gain is factored around 25 to 35 pounds.
Be Prepared to Eat
The act of gaining weight is going to require you to eat. So be prepared to eat more than you usually do. Not only will you eat with more frequency you will also experience hunger with more frequency.
This is perfectly fine as it is necessary to help grow your child. So do not refrain from eating even when the queasy hits you. Adhering to a proper diet is not just about eating the right things but eating the right amount.
Daily Requirements
The following requirements of a daily pregnancy diet are as follows:
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You need five servings of vegetables and fruits a day. Some experts go further and recommend the inclusion of a dark orange veggie, a serving of citrus, and two servings of green leafy veggies.
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Six servings of pieces of bread and cereals that are both enriched and whole-grain.
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Three servings of nonfat or low-fat milk. You can also alternate with milk-based products.
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Two to three servings of meat. It needs to be lean but can be red, white, chicken, or fish. If you are not a fan of meat you can substitute with cooked beans or peas.
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Finally, eight glasses of regular old water.
Daily diets do change a bit depending on the source you use but are mostly relegated to the above. Keep in mind that professionals often customize the diet to meet the specific person. If you have any allergies this can also affect your daily requirements.
Seek Professional Help
As aforementioned professional dietitian may create an alternative daily plan to fit your specific needs. Luckily, trained professionals like Dr Rahul Sen pregnancy nutritionist can provide you with the exact kind of plan you need.
If you get a customized pregnancy diet it takes into account every detail of your physiology. They clear any misinformation you may have ingested and ensured you on the right track.
Take Vitamins
Your daily prenatal needs to be as much a part of your diet as the water you drink. They contain the exact vitamins and minerals that you and your child require. They also ensure that common problem developed in pregnancy does not occur. You and your child will develop fine and be less likely to develop defects.
Prepare for Post-Pregnancy
Your diet will not end once you conceive. A post pregnancy diet is just as important because you will be nursing your child. You will need to ingest the same nutrition in order to continue feeding your baby. So the diet you start on now is one that will carry you through your babies entire development both in and out of the womb.