Nutrition and Supplements

Now that you’re eating for two, this is not the time to cut your calories need. It is vice versa, your body needs about extra 300 calories each day, especially in later pregnancy stages, when the growth of baby becomes quicker. If you are thin, active, or carrying twins or multiples, you’ll need even more. But if you are already overweight, your doctor may suggest you to consume optimum calories.

Healthy eating is always important, especially during the days of pregnancy. So, make sure your must obtain calories come such nutritious foods which also contribute to your baby’s growth and development.

Try to maintain a well-balanced diet that incorporates the dietary guidelines including:

• Lean meats
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole-grain breads
• Low-fat dairy product

Calcium

Most women 19 and older, including expecting mothers, don’t often meet with their calcium requirement need that is, 1,000 mg of calcium a day. Because your growing baby’s calcium requirements are high, you should increase your calcium intake to prevent a loss of calcium from your own bones. Your doctor will also likely prescribe prenatal vitamins for you, which may contain some extra calcium.

Iron

Most of the women suffer anemia during pregnancy as the need of iron get increase to 30 mg during pregnancy. Since iron is the key element in the making of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs circulate throughout the body to deliver oxygen and food material to all body cells.

Iron deficiency cause the lesser amount of RBCs than required and the body’s tissues and organs won’t get the enough oxygen. So it’s especially essential for pregnant women to get enough iron in their daily diets for themselves and their growing babies.

Folic Acid or Folate

Studies have found that consumption of folic acid 1 month prior to first trimester of pregnancy minimize the risk of neural tube defects, up to 70%.

The neural tube formed after few weeks of the pregnancy, possibly before a woman even knows she’s pregnant, and made the brain and spinal cord of the developing baby. When the neural tube have any abnormality, it could the result is a neural tube defect such as spina bifida.