I think everyone would agree that most pregnant women are notorious for asking all kinds of advice in order to produce the brightest, healthiest, and most beautiful baby they can. Here are some tips to help you differentiate fact from fiction.
DOES BEING PREGNANT MEAN ONE HAS TO EAT FOR TWO?
Bottom line is, pregnant women just need an additional 300 extra calories/day, and these should meet the mother-to-be’s nutritional needs.
Weight gain varies depending on one’s pre-pregnancy weight, and on any pre-existing medical condition one has. In general,
Normal weight: 25 to 35 pounds weight gain
Underweight: 28 to 40 pounds weight gain
Overweight: 15 to 25 pounds weight gain
Obese: 11 to 20 pounds weight gain
TIPS ON HOW YOU CAN AVOID TOO MUCH WEIGHT GAIN:
1.Count your calories: No fad diets please, especially those which restrict carbohydrate intake, since these limit your source of folic acid and iron, resulting in anemia, and neural tube defects for your baby.
2.Start your day right: Creatively combining commonly eaten ingredients (yogurt and cereals, banana and peanut butter) can help a lot in giving you that needed energy boost.
3.Eat healthy foods: Feed your cravings but in a healthy fashion. Eating healthy snacks help quench cravings, and keeps weight gain under control.
4.Hydrate: Water helps keep your stomach full, and prevents dehydration which can lead to false cravings or hunger.
ARE THERE TYPES OF FOOD PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD AVOID?
Most foods are perfectly safe for most pregnant moms, however, here are some types of food that a pregnant women should be cautious about.
1.Caffeine: There are some claims that this may cause premature and low-birth-weight babies. Caffeine intake (coffee, soda or tea) should be limited to 300 mg/day, or approximately 2 cups/day.
2.Non-pasteurized/soft cheeses (brie, camembert, Roquefort, feta, etc): These may contain the bacteria Listeria which may cross the placenta, and infect the baby, leading to blood infection and poisoning.
3.Raw meat or seafood (sushi): If you are not sure about the sanitation of the restaurant where you are going to eat, take note that raw food are easily contaminated with bacteria which may cause infection leading to the possibility of miscarriage.
4.Deli meat: These may be eaten after reheating the meat until it is steaming.
5.Fish: There are certain types of fish that should be avoided by pregnant women because of the increased mercury level (raw or cooked), and these are; swordfish, mackerel, shark, and tile fish.
Eating a well-balanced diet is important at all times. Naturally, you want your baby to benefit from all the nutrients that you get from a healthy meal. If you have special needs, and further questions, consult your doctor.
Why do husbands gain weight during pregnancy?
Some fathers are actually very empathetic with their partners, and are much attuned to their needs. As a result, they sometimes also experience many of the symptoms their pregnant wives have, also known as Couvade syndrome. Some men give their reasons: eating out more frequently before the baby comes, the increased availability of snacks around the house, the desire to make their partner feel better about her own weight gain, and being served larger portions — apparently by a hungry mom-to-be.