Diets before pregnancy can affect your child!

  Your Pre-Conception Diet Can Affect the Health of Your Baby

Trying to conceive (or TTC, as it is commonly known) is an exciting, fun and yet stressful time for a couple. How can you make sure that your diet provides the nutritional content needed to prepare your body for pregnancy? Each woman hopes that she is doing everything in her power during her pregnancy to nurture a healthy baby into the world. Did you know that you can get them off to a good head start, well before you even become pregnant?

The most important factor to consider is your pre-pregnancy weight. Over- or underweight women must work with their doctor or midwife to become as healthy as possible before conceiving. This will not only make pregnancy more comfortable and enjoyable; it also offers several important health benefits. The babies of overweight women are more at risk of developing gestational diabetes, a condition which causes the baby in utero to produce excess body fat and grow to a very large size inside the womb. Underweight women may have a difficult time gaining enough weight during pregnancy to support the baby’s nutritional needs as well as their own.

This is the time to develop a healthier lifestyle through nutritional diet changes and exercise. Eating healthy need not be boring – add a new fruit or vegetable to your diet each week to add flavor and ensure that you aren’t missing out on any important vitamins. A well balanced pre-pregnancy diet includes daily servings as follows:

• Breads, cereals and grains: 6 to 11 servings
• Vegetables: 3 to 5 servings
• Fruits: 2 to 4 servings
• Meat and nuts: 2 to 3 servings
• Dairy: 2 to 3 servings
• Fats, oils and sweets: eat sparingly

Concentrate on getting the right nutrients for pregnancy health. Folate, or folic acid, reduces the risk of spinal cord and neural tube birth defects by 50 to 70%. Most of the benefit of this nutrient takes place in the first few weeks of pregnancy, before you may even know you’re pregnant, so working 0.4 mg daily of folic acid into your diet beforehand is crucial. Calcium helps your baby develop strong bones and teeth. Because prenatal vitamins often contain small amounts of calcium, it is important to get enough in your daily diet. Iron is just as important in your baby’s development as it is to your health during pregnancy. Baby will take what she needs, leaving you with what is left over… so make sure what is left for you is sufficient to prevent anemia. Water is often overlooked, but oh-so-important. It is important to stay hydrated. Dehydration can affect the amniotic fluid level protecting the baby.

Along with the foods and beverages you should eat, there are a number that you must avoid as they can have negative effects on your developing child.

• Unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, sushi, undercooked meat and deli meats contain bacteria that may prove harmful to the fetus

• Many types of fish contain mercury that will build up in your system over time. Mercury is responsible for debilitating birth defects and mental retardation. It is best to avoid fish entirely before becoming pregnant, or to investigate the fish supplier to be sure the fish were bred and raised in mercury-free environments.

• Raw fruits and vegetables must be washed thoroughly to remove any trace of pesticide or fertilizer. Better yet, choose only organic foods!

• Because the dangers of growth hormones in meat and milk are still unclear, steer clear of products containing them.

• Soft drinks should only be consumed in moderation. Avoid the artificial sweetener saccharin, as it has been proven to cross the placenta and stay in fetal tissue.

• Caffeine is a diuretic and may contribute to dehydration. In excess, it can cause miscarriage. It is important to have this out of your system before becoming pregnant.

Finally, cut alcohol out of your lifestyle completely as you try to conceive. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) can develop as soon as three weeks into the pregnancy, before you are even aware that your efforts at conceiving were successful! FAS causes mental retardation and severe defects and facial deformities.

Good luck! With common sense and preparation, taking care of yourself while TTC is really helping you to ensure the future health of your beautiful child!

About the author:
For more information on keeping excellent health for your and your baby just go to http://www.amazingpregnancysecrets.com
Sally Aubrey is a 35 year old housewife with a keen interest in women’s health. She is a Waiora distributor (mineral detox supplement product) and has a massage therapy background. She has treated many women in her massage therapy practice and has now branched out into writing on issues about women’s health, particularly pregnancy and fertility.



More home information - More pregnancy information