Pregnancy
Nutrition
Here's your guide to prenatal vitamins and nutrition, folic acid,
eating right for two, and foods to avoid.
A
Healthy Pregnancy Diet
How to choose
a well-balanced diet when it matters most.
A balanced diet
is key to having a healthy pregnancy. The March of Dimes recommends
that women who are pregnant or
trying to conceive follow these guidelines.
Vital Vitamins
You'll need higher levels of vitamin supplementation during pregnancy,
so talk to your health-care provider about prenatal vitamins containing
iron (for healthy blood) and calcium (for healthy bones). Also, pick
fortified foods (such as fortified breakfast cereals or orange juice
with calcium) -- these are easy ways to get extra vitamins into your
diet.
It's also important
to take folic acid right before conception and in the early weeks
of pregnancy, to help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine.
All women of childbearing age should take a daily multivitamin containing
0.4 milligrams of folic acid, and include in their diet natural food
sources of folic acid. Natural sources include orange juice, green
leafy vegetables, beans, peanuts, broccoli, asparagus, peas, lentils,
and enriched grain products.
The Well-Balanced
Diet
To get the nutrients you and your unborn baby need, plan your meals
to include these daily basics:
6 to 11 servings of grain products
3 to 5 servings
of vegetables
2 to 4 servings
of fruits
4 to 6 servings
of milk and milk products
3 to 4 servings
of meat and protein foods
6 to 8 glasses
of water, fruit juice, or milk
Limited servings
of fatty foods and sweets
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
