When first learn you are pregnant the last thing you probably think about immediately is your diet. You will want to tell everyone possible your good news, well, maybe after three months, and planning what you are going to do with the nursery in your house! Taking a step back from all the excitement and thinking about you and baby is extremely important, and one of the first steps that you can begin to think about is your diet. Providing yourself and your baby with a balanced diet is vital, and can really help you through your pregnancy.
First Steps
First steps first, and remember the reasons why you are doing this! The healthier and fitter you are during pregnancy, the easier your body will be able to cope with the changes that it is going through. It will also increase the chances of you giving birth to a healthy child, and that is the most important thing of all. Only a few changes in our diet can lead to us giving birth to a perfectly healthy baby, and for the sacrifice of a few takeaways, this must be a sacrifice worth making.
What should I do?
So what exactly should you be eating if you want a balanced diet? It is really important that your diet takes in all of the main food groups and there are guidelines that doctors and nutritionists will love to tell you about as they find out about your pregnancy. It is important to think about this once you start noticing the first pregnancy symptoms. Aiming for around five portions of fruit and veg a day can help, and ensuring that you get good amounts of carbohydrates, protein and dairy products helps. Remember that sugar and fats are not necessarily good for you, so trying to limit the intake of these groups will help you get healthier far quicker. So perhaps that big chocolate bar you have every single day could be replaced by a banana, hard I know, but you wont regret it!
Adding and Subtracting
Remember to add folic acid to your diet, this is really important for your baby. It will help your baby develop with a largely reduced chance of developing spina bifida and other such neural tube defects. Adding Vitamin B12 will also help to develop the your baby’s brain. Whilst adding things into your diet is important, so are removing things you may enjoy. Caffeine should be limited, it is not good for your baby, but small amounts are OK, try and limit it to 3 cups of tea or coffee a day! And then of course there is the question of alcohol, it’s best if you just cut it out completely, and the same goes for smoking!
The most important thing to remember is that all of these will help you and your baby. Don’t limit yourself too much, you can still enjoy the things you love, but in moderation! The chocolate you love, or that big greasy burger might seem appealing, but it you regularly have them try and cut them down. For the sake of a change for nine months you can be sure that your body, and your baby, will appreciate it. Taking little steps can make your pregnancy flow far more smoothly than it would do otherwise, and remember we’re not asking for miracles, just a little help for your baby!
About Amy @ Oh So Savvy Mom
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