Every woman wants their pregnancy to be healthy and run as smoothly as possible and ensuring you’re getting the correct nutrition is one way you can be really proactive to achieve that. While food aversions, nausea and cravings will likely impact your tastes and ability to eat, it’s important to do what you can to meet your nutritional goals. Here are three important reasons why.
Prevents Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Your body will nourish your baby during pregnancy, they need to be able to take what they need from you in order to properly grow. If you’re deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, this can prevent the foetus from being able to develop in the way that it needs. For example, folic acid deficiencies have been shown to lead to neural tube defects in babies, which cause conditions like spina bifida. Along with eating as healthily as you can, it’s recommended that you take prenatal vitamins to ensure that you’re meeting all of your nutritional needs. Ideally, you should start taking these a number of months before conceiving, but at the very least start as soon as you find out you’re expecting. Look into the best prenatal supplements Australia (or whatever country you’re from) to find the perfect blend for pregnancy. Along with eating food with as much nutrition in as you can, you’ll prevent becoming deficient in vitamins and minerals.
Prevents Losing or Gaining Too Much Weight
During pregnancy it’s important that you don’t lose or gain too much weight. Not gaining enough can lead to the deficiencies mentioned above and even premature birth. If you gain too much, too quickly this can lead to gestational diabetes, general health issues associated with a high weight and a more difficult birth and postpartum. Gaining the right amount of weight will depend on your starting weight and health, all of this will be explained to you by your doctor. Eating good, nutritional food will ensure that your body gains the right amount of weight without it going on too fast or being excessive. You shouldnt restrict or diet during pregnancy, but you shouldn’t ‘eat for two’ either. You do need some additional calories, especially later on in the pregnancy but it’s not as many as you’d think. So be mindful of how much you’re consuming and focus on those really nutrient dense foods. These are great for you, and your baby.
Gives You Energy
Finally, pregnancy is incredibly taxing on the body. You will likely feel lightheaded, fatigued and generally worn out during the course of growing a baby. Eating the right foods will help to keep your energy levels up as much as possible which is much needed in pregnancy. Many pregnant women still have to get up and about over these nine months, whether it’s for work, to look after other children or to deal with other commitments. So keep your energy up as much as you can by eating good food that stabilises your blood sugar, and making sure your body can run to its best capacity.
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