Foods to be avoided during Pregnancy

Some of the food items are better avoided during pregnancy, such as raw eggs, raw sea food, undercooked meats, unpasturized milk and street food  etc for the fear of infections and diseases it might get you. 

Processed foods have varieties of  preservatives  and artificial colours which are detrimental to the baby

Alcohol is a taboo,  not even a glass should be allowed or given to the pregnant mother or for that matter Lactating mother.

Tobacco and other  recreational drugs should be avoided  as they can cause physical, mental and emotional defects in the baby, can cause still births as well. 

As  an would be mother you would have to restrict your coffee  / tea intake, only 2- 3 cups  a day at the most. If you can make it light by adding milk it would be better.

Chocolates, need not be completely avoided but can be had in moderation.

Fish is  actually very good for a pregnant lady since they are full of Omega fatty acids but avoid shark, sword fish, king mackerel and tuna because of the large mercury content in them. 

The foods mentioned here can harm the baby's nervous system. You need not be alarmed if you had taken any of these and start thinking of an abortion, just stop taking them hereafter.

Related topics 
Diet during Pregnancy what to eat and what not to eat
Diet During Pregnancy
Diet and Nutrition for Pregnant Mothers

Diet During Pregnancy

Your menu for the day during pregnancy
The more the variety of vegetables and fruits, you can tale  the greater the chances of taking a balanced diet.
The diet has to be
4 glasses of milk per day in any form
2 catories of dal in which 1 katori can be sprouts
2 eggs / 2-3 pieces of meat and fish / 100 grams of paneer
2 katoris of vegetables, 1 seasonal vegetable  1 green leavy  vegetable etc
Plenty of salads, seasonal fruits which include one citrus variety
2 tablespoonfuls of fat in any variety of which 2 tsps can be of ghee
Wheat, rice and potatoes

You can divide the amount of food you have to take into 4 to 6 portions and take them accordingly. You will not be able to take large meals at  a time. make 4-6 small  but frequent meals a day. Fasting or feasting is not advisable during pregnancy, you are not supposed to miss even a single meal and also that over eating will lead to excess weight gain.

Diet and Nutrition for Pregnant Mothers

Dietary intake During Pregnancy
Many would not gain weight during the first trimester that is the first three months. They will have complaints like morning sickness,  lck of appetite, food aversions, sleepiness  and fatigue. They will not be able to eat much except some bland foods like toasts, juices etc. Those who do not have any symtoms gain about 1- 1.5 kgs  and after that a steady increase of 1 -2 kgs till the end of the pregnancy period.  This steady increase through out pregnancy mostly ensures healthy babies.
A pregnant woman needs proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins and plenty of water for foetal and maternal well being. Foliates are important and that too in the first trimester to prevent development disorders

Need for Calcium for an would be Mother
Calcium is needed for the baby's bone formation, iron for blood and other vitamins and minerals are needed in smaller amounts for the over all development.  It can be said the the proteins are the bricks  which build a strong body, carbohydrates and fat for the energy they provide, essential fatty acids for the developmnt of the brain and absorption of the fat soluble vitaminslike Vitamins A, D and K.  Just that the fat intake can be limited to 30% or less of the total dietary intake of calories.

How to get enough Calcium absorbed into our body
Milk is the chief source of calcium. You will have to drink milk, at least twice a day or about 3-4 glasses, without coffee or tea, other varieties of shakes and proetin powders are acceptable. You can drink it in any way you like but the milk is a must.
Also refuse coffee or tea with the food as this will prevent the absorption of iron, while taking  fruits / fresh juices rich in Vitamin C, like guava, lime juice / lemon juice , oranges, will increase the absorption.
Calcium helps regulate muscular contractions and plays a role in normal nerve functioning, blood-vessel expansion and contraction. If there is a deficiency found in calcium, calcium supplements  or fortified cereals can be taken, so that there is enough calcium for the mother and the child.

Diet During Pregnancy - what to eat and what not to eat during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very important period in a woman's life. She has to accommodate a new individual, who willgrow from a single cell to a miniature human being in just nine months with in her body. Her uterus will have to expand a thousand fold just to accommodate the foetus, with her breasts getting ready at the sametime for lactating the baby.
To accomplish all these there will be a lot of metabolic adjustments made in her body  and for that she will need nutrients.
The would be mother's body will need all the nutrients in the right time, in the right amounts and that too regularly over the period of the 9 months she is carrying the baby, only then she can be expected to bringforth a healthy off spring. There is a direct link between the mother's dietary intake with the health of the new born baby. This one fact makes the mother's diet and nutrition more important in all the aspects of the ante natal care.
Premature babies, low birthweight babies  and still births can be the result if there are defeciencies in the diet of the would be mother. the effects may continue even after the birth causing many more problems like stunted growthpoor IQ and immunity. Even if we try to correct it later it might become very difficult to correct the lag that had occured already, when the baby was in the mother's womb.  
So, please do look after yourself / your daughter / your wife,  and take proper diet , prevent malnutrition in the babies even before they are born. Let it not be the parents mistake that the child suffers after it is born.  See that you take good care of yourself before, during and after childbirth.

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