Dietary Needs for Pre/Post Natal
By: Nathanael Wilson
Pregnancy and Weight Gain
It's important to have regular visits with your doctor to check on the baby's health and your health. Ask your doctor how much weight you need to gain. A woman who is average weight should gain around 25-35 pounds after pregnancy.
MyPlate Recommendations
Its important to keep a healthy diet during pregnancy. Most doctors recommend that pregnant woman take a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement every day in addition to eating a healthy diet. But taking to many vitamins can harm the baby. Also, stay away from empty calories. Do not drink, smoke, or take drugs, doing so can harm the baby.
Foods to Avoid and Why
It's important to avoid empty calorie. They are the calories from added sugars and solid fats in foods like soft drinks, desserts, and fatty meats. Look for choices that are low-fat, fat free, unsweetened, or with no added-sugars. They have fewer or no empty calories
Critical Vitamins and Minerals
It's important for the mother to take prenatal vitamins for the baby. Folic Acid is one nutrient included and helps prevents birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Iron helps build muscles for the baby and also the mother. Calcium helps keep bones and teeth strong for the baby and the mother.
Breastfeeding and Dietary Needs.
While breastfeeding, you need to follow a healthy, balanced diet. Which includes starchy foods, fruits and vegetables, some protein, and some low-fat dairy food. Some foods can get into the milk, which can harm the baby. Only drink enough water to satisfy your thirst.
Newborn Diet
It is vital for a newborn baby to be as healthy as possible. For the baby, breast milk (colostrum) is best. It includes all necessary vitamins and minerals. Infant formulas are also available for mothers who decide not to breastfeed. Infants usually start eating solid foods between 4-6 months of age.
First Year of Life Diet
For the first six months of life, most babies get what they need from their mothers milk. Breast Milk includes all the nutrients and minerals that the baby needs. Later on down the road you need to introduce solid foods to your child. Start with foods that contain iron, which they need for their development, grain, vegetables, fruit, meat, and milk is also good.
Sources
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/feeding_your_baby_in_the_first_year
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandnewbornnutrition.html
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a3565/diet-for-a-healthy-breastfeeding-mum
http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/vitamins-and-minerals-during-pregnancy.aspx#
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/pregnancy-breastfeeding/pregnancy-nutritional-needs.html
http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy-care#ReadThisNext5