Healthy Eating
Importance of Healthy Eating Before and During Pregnancy •Introduction
•Why maintain a healthy diet before and during pregnancy
◦Importance of a healthy diet before becoming pregnant
◦Importance of a healthy diet during pregnancy
•Women at risk of poor nutrition
Introduction
Maintaining a healthy balanced diet is important for maintaining optimal health throughout life. For women of childbearing age, good nutrition is important for preparing the body for the demands of pregnancy.
During pregnancy, a woman’s macronutrient (energy) and micronutrient (e.g. vitamins, mineral) requirements increase, and it is even more important that she consumes food which will give her both the energy and the specific micronutrients which are essential for maintaining her and her growing baby’s health. For example, women require an additional 240 calories of energy per day in the second trimester and 452 calories per day in the third trimester of pregnancy to account for foetal growth. An additional 975 milligrams of iron is required in the course of the pregnancy to form foetal and additional maternal blood.
While nutritional supplements can provide large quantities of particular micronutrients, a healthy balanced diet should form the basis of a woman’s nutritional intake. Good nutrition is most important immediately prior to conception and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (including the very early stages, when the woman is unaware she is pregnant). It is therefore important for women to maintain a healthy diet throughout their childbearing years, and particularly if they are planning to become pregnant.
Virtual Medical Centre Video
Watch a video on Pregnancy: Food for Two
Why maintain a healthy diet before and during pregnancy
Maintaining a healthy diet before and during pregnancy helps to protect both the pregnant mother and her developing baby from immediate and long-term health risks.
Importance of a healthy diet before becoming pregnant
A woman’s
•Why maintain a healthy diet before and during pregnancy
◦Importance of a healthy diet before becoming pregnant
◦Importance of a healthy diet during pregnancy
•Women at risk of poor nutrition
Introduction
Maintaining a healthy balanced diet is important for maintaining optimal health throughout life. For women of childbearing age, good nutrition is important for preparing the body for the demands of pregnancy.
During pregnancy, a woman’s macronutrient (energy) and micronutrient (e.g. vitamins, mineral) requirements increase, and it is even more important that she consumes food which will give her both the energy and the specific micronutrients which are essential for maintaining her and her growing baby’s health. For example, women require an additional 240 calories of energy per day in the second trimester and 452 calories per day in the third trimester of pregnancy to account for foetal growth. An additional 975 milligrams of iron is required in the course of the pregnancy to form foetal and additional maternal blood.
While nutritional supplements can provide large quantities of particular micronutrients, a healthy balanced diet should form the basis of a woman’s nutritional intake. Good nutrition is most important immediately prior to conception and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (including the very early stages, when the woman is unaware she is pregnant). It is therefore important for women to maintain a healthy diet throughout their childbearing years, and particularly if they are planning to become pregnant.
Virtual Medical Centre Video
Watch a video on Pregnancy: Food for Two
Why maintain a healthy diet before and during pregnancy
Maintaining a healthy diet before and during pregnancy helps to protect both the pregnant mother and her developing baby from immediate and long-term health risks.
Importance of a healthy diet before becoming pregnant
A woman’s