Healthy diet plan for pregnant women

Pregnancy Edition

In the US, women are often the first in line for healthcare and in many cases also the last in line. This is true for both expectant mothers who have their pregnancies diagnosed early and those who endure unplanned pregnancies that can have long term emotional and physical impacts on them. The good news is that there are proven interventions that can greatly improve one’s chance of birth or reduce the risks and complications associated with pregnancy. In fact, approximately 1–2% of pregnant women are diagnosed with preterm birth (3). Many studies suggest that healthy lifestyle habits are more effective than unhealthy behaviors, including a healthy diet. One study found that weight-loss was strongly correlated with improved pregnancy outcomes (4), another showed that overweight and obesity were associated with higher risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia in both unselected prenatals (5) and selected postnatal women (6) (7). However, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend a low-to-moderate reduction in calorie intake (2). These findings suggest that a healthy diet will not only increase birthweight, but it can also affect other important components, such as blood composition, metabolism and immune system. We know that some nutrients are needed during pregnancy, but the body uses all of its available dietary resources, even in times of scarcity. Therefore, a low amount of calories intake may be detrimental and should be avoided. Additionally, research suggests an optimal daily intake of protein during gestation. Protein is required by the growing child from the time he/she enters this world, and this can help prevent the growth of bad bacteria and spread of infection. Research has shown that a deficiency in calories or an excess of calories can inhibit the body’s ability to grow tissues, such as bones or cartilage, which may lead to increased risk for developing skeletal deformities, fractures or joint problems in later life. Another reason to avoid high-calorie diets or maintain a moderate amount is because they can actually cause weight gain instead of weight loss which may negatively impact prenatal health. Additionally, overuse of alcohol, tobacco or drugs during pregnancy appears to contribute to a larger number of babies born prematurely and those whose mothers smoked, consumed less healthy fats and consumed lower than recommended amounts of vitamins, minerals and omega 3 fatty acids. The World Health Organization recommends limiting consumption of alcohol and smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In addition to a healthy diet, you should try to minimize your exposure to environmental factors that might impact your unborn baby, such as pesticides because these exposures increase the risk for miscarriage, congenital defects or ectopic pregnancies. It is critical that pregnant women consume enough prenatal vitamin D supplements to achieve adequate levels of 25 μg to 50 μg per day, as well as 75 μg to 100 μg a couple days after giving birth (8). Other studies have also revealed significant positive effects of vitamin D supplementation on maternal skin elasticity (9) and mental health (10). Studies have also shown that supplementation with antioxidants during pregnancy may protect against infant mortality related to pneumonia in both small-for-gestation infants and large- for-gestation infants, including children born prematurely (11) and children whose mothers had high levels of cesarean section delivery and low-birth weight babies (12). Antioxidants also have a protective effect on reproductive and breast milk production.

On a practical level, pregnant women can use tools offered by the Food for Life program. They include food labels that explain how much food is permitted and what percentage of the plate is allowed for each food group. Also, the list includes instructions for cooking and preparing healthy meals. These findings are supported by the Department of Agriculture and the Institute of Medicine which has developed “Food for Life” standards and guidelines for various food groups. The current standard of nutrition is based on the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) recommendation for energy intake for different life stages (3). The minimum intake recommended is between 807 kcal/day for babies (6 months-1 year) and 957 kcal/day for teenagers (1-18 years old). If a woman consumes too little nutrients, her body cannot produce the necessary amount of proteins and minerals that the fetus needs. Conversely, if she eats too little protein, her body becomes weak, prone to infections and malnutrition. To promote a healthy diet during pregnancy, the National Academy of Nutrition recommends that a healthy diet should meet at least 6-8 servings of fruits, vegetables and legumes weekly, at least 2-4 servings of oily fish weekly, two serves of seafood weekly and at least 4-6 serves per week (4). The Institute of Medicine has also recommended that pregnant women should take part in a culturally sensitive approach to food consumption. Acknowledging what people eat is central to promoting a healthier eating pattern in pregnancy as well as the overall development and maintenance of healthy babies in later life.

Anthropometry

Pregnancy means changes to a woman’s health, both physically and mentally. During pregnancy, the weight of the mother increases rapidly. About 5 pounds of extra fat accumulate after giving birth. After childbirth, the mother remains lean and she continues to lose some weight. At age 30, about 12 percent of total body mass is gained, which reflects weight gained during pregnancy. A typical mid-pregnancy woman should weigh less at the end of pregnancy than when she was pregnant. As a result, the belly can grow before she reaches sexual maturity. Her mid-pregnancy BMI is usually less than 30 and as late as 40 years. Although at some point during pregnancy, the girl does drop lower BMI and the possibility of having a very small, stillborn baby arises.

A woman’s overall muscle mass is increased during pregnancy but the total muscle is decreased because of rapid weight gain. She has more muscle mass in the middle of the pregnancy period than at any other time during the course of her life. Most muscle mass gain occurs within the first 6 weeks of pregnancy. Muscle tissue stores glycogen and then begins breaking down. The breakdown of muscle occurs faster in the first few months of pregnancy. At first, she loses muscle mass (both visceral and skeletal muscles) as most muscle fiber cells are replaced with fat cells. Some, however, continue to maintain strength. The second largest growth of muscle mass occurs from about 2-3 weeks and the third highest between 6-8 weeks. When the woman’s fitness levels start to decrease, most of the remaining muscle mass continues to be lost. Losing muscle mass in pregnancy is normal for a woman, but losing it as late as 6 weeks can be dangerous because it contributes to a lower birth weight (8), and it leads to a lower degree of health when the baby does become fully grown. As the woman ages, her muscle mass declines, which causes her BMI to fall back below 30. Physical changes that occur to the uterus and abdominal organs, mainly as a result of their role in supporting the baby, affect her health through the production of estrogen and progesterone. Progesterone is produced in the ovaries of females during pregnancy, while gonadotrophin released during this period reduces its production. Higher body temperature and fluid retention contribute to the occurrence of the pituitary gland hormone, FSH.

Surgical operations and childbirth

Surgical procedures during pregnancy include the delivery of the fetus, removal of the placenta and insertion of the uterine tubes. Urine flow rate is generally reduced during pregnancy. Blood flow to the uterus also decreases during pregnancy. Breastfeeding is restricted because of the increasing risk of breast cancer, especially among women with previous history of breast cancer or invasive procedures. There is also a reduced supply of blood oxygen to the heart due to decreased cardiac output after delivery. Cardiac operation is performed more frequently, and the risk of stroke reduces (9). Surgical treatment during the third trimester includes amniocentesis of the baby with the cervix removed under general anesthesia or pain relief medication. Amniocentesis is similar to normal birth but it is done without general anesthesia. Before the process, the doctor inserts a thin tube into the uterus for three weeks at a time, and each week a special type of surgery must be performed for the specific patient. The procedure should be performed at a hospital facility and it is done under a generalesthetic. Following delivery, the patient is advised to stay in a bed rest for 3-6 hours. The doctor performs a diagnostic procedure to rule out other medical conditions. He performs an echopelogram to show the position of the baby’s head during the last hours of the birthing.

Nutritional counseling

Nutritional counseling refers to health education that provides information on a variety of nutritional aspects of the individual’s health and wellness. Nutritional counseling helps with planning, decision making and problem solving. It is important that all patients receive appropriate guidance. In pregnancy, nutritional counseling offers information on the best way to provide dietary nutrients, such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium. The importance of a balanced diet lies in managing stress and anxiety during pregnancy. According to ACOG, a healthy diet is essential to keeping an individual well and happy throughout the course of his entire life. For instance, according to ACOG nutrition counseling can help alleviate depression and reduce sleep disorders. While counseling is provided at no cost, patients can learn some basic knowledge of nutrition and diet and develop skills necessary to make choices, modify or incorporate new dietary habits into their own habits. By working together, patients and counselors provide support to improve personal health and reduce stress.

Nutritional counseling is integrated into primary care care practices, although currently it is considered “unproven” by the ACOG. In general, it is recommended that patients participate in nutrition counseling to increase their understanding of the concept. Patients should learn techniques used to teach about nutrition and recognize warning signs. Information about nutrition counseling may