Monday, March 26, 2012
Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Another Diet Advice during Pregnancy
Essential foods to eat during pregnancy should include foods that contain Vitamin A, D, and Beta Carotene. Milk, eggs, vegetables and yellow fruits are examples of foods containing these vital nutrients, which help to develop bones and teeth, and provide the baby with necessary calcium and phosphorus requirements.
An optimal pregnancy diet includes a balance of healthy meals and snacks, including frequent choices from among the following:
Lean nutrient-dense protein sources, such as fish, eggs, beef, poultry, and dried legumes paired with brown rice.
Complex carbohydrates that are sources of Vitamin A, C and B-complex (including folic acid), such as fruit, vegetables and whole grains (cereals and breads).
Low-fat dairy products that are sources of protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and Vitamins B-12 and D, such as milk, yogurt and cheese.
Long-chain omega-3 essential fatty acids, such as fish.
Conversely, pregnant women should limit high glycemic foods that can cause wide fluctuations in blood sugar and insulin levels. These include white bleached flour, quick-cooking rice, oatmeal or other instant grains, and refined carbohydrates such as sugar, soda, white bread, cookies, cakes and pies.
Foods to eat during pregnancy that are rich in the nutrients described above are key components to ensuring that you and your baby will get off to a great start together in life, and will also serve both mother and child well throughout the course of their lives.
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Stay Being Healthy During Pregnancy
For all Women, when you're pregnant, taking care of yourself has never been more important. I know you'll probably get advice from everyone — your doctor, family members, friends, co-workers, and even complete strangers — about what you should you do and shouldn't be doing.
But to stay healthy during pregnancy depends on you, and it's crucial to arm yourself with information about the many ways to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible. Key to protected the health of your child in your womb is to get regular prenatal check up. If you think you're pregnant, call your health care or OB gynecologist provider to schedule an appointment. You should schedule your first examination as soon as you think you maybe pregnant.
At this first visit, your health care provider will probably do a pregnancy test, and will figure out how many weeks pregnant you are based on a physical examination and the date of your last period. The doctor will also use this information to predict your delivery date-an ultrasound done sometime later in your pregnancy will help to verify that date.
And probably most health care providers will advise you to be back:
every 4 weeks until the 28th week of pregnancy
then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks
then once a week until delivery
Throughout your pregnancy, your health care provider will check your weight and blood pressure while also checking the growth and development of your baby (by doing things like feeling your abdomen, listening for the fetal heartbeat starting during the second trimester, and measuring your belly). During the span of your pregnancy, you'll also have prenatal tests, including blood, urine, and cervical tests, and probably at least one ultrasound.
When choosing a health care provider to counsel and treat you during your pregnancy, your options include:
obstetricians/gynecologists (also known as OB/GYNs): doctors who specialize in pregnancy and childbirth, as well as women's health care).
These is a good choice if you're healthy and there's no reason to anticipate complications with your pregnancy and delivery. However, nurse-midwives do need to have a doctor available for the delivery in case an unexpected problem arises or a cesarean section (C-section) is required.
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Best Diet for Pregnant Women
What Should I eat now I'm pregnant?
It's important to have a good diet, wow that you're a mom-to-be. This will make you get all the nutrients you and your developing baby need. If you know you should not eat what you wanted to eat, it is even more important to start having nutritious, well-balanced meals. Your daily meals should include a variety of foods from the four main groups.
- Fruits and vegetables. You can buy these fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced. Aim for at least five
portions daily.
- Starchy food. These include bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Try to choose wholegrain options.
- Foods rich in protein. These include lean meat and chicken, fish, eggs and pulses like beans and lentil. Try to aim for at least two portions of fish a week,
- Dairy foods. These include milk, cheese and yogurt which contain calcium.
Dairy products, along with sea fish and sea salt are all good sources of iodine. You need plenty of iodine in your diet to help your baby's development
Do I have to eat more now that I'm pregnant?
When you're pregnant your body becomes more efficient, and makes even better use of the energy you get from your food. This means you don't actually need extra calories for the first six months of pregnancy. You only need about 200 extra calories per day for the last three months. Two hundred calories is equivalent to:
two slices of wholemeal toast and margarine/butter
1 baked potato with an ounce of cheese
one slice of cheese on toast
2 ounces of canned tuna or chicken on three whole grain crackers
