Vol. 1    No. 4 	        	 			  MAY 1999

Nutrition for You and Your New Baby

 Morning Sickness    Baby's Nutrition    Back to Vitamin Views Index    Medela Products  

Lifestyle
Good nutrition during pregnancy is not a simple matter (I’m not hungry this is normal). Our bodies have different needs and desires at various stages of our lives. During pregnancy a woman must increase the amount of essential nutrients that they consume. The old adage "eating for two" is quite correct. Most organ systems increase their capacity during pregnancy. The hormonal changes a woman undergoes will almost double the size of her heart and kidneys. The baby is preferentially given calcium and other minerals from their mother’s bone. These minerals must be replaced in the mother’s diet. This explains the craving for ice cream (the pickles I can’t explain).

Pre-Natal Vitamins
The best place to begin is a complete pre-natal check up with your physician. Your doctor will supply you with a prescription for pre-natal vitamins that contain Folic Acid. This folic acid will completely prevent the birth defect spina bifida. The best course of action is to purchase a bottle of folic acid 400mcg at your local pharmacy before you get pregnant. This will be the best protection against spina bifida. While you are pregnant, pre-natal vitamins provide the correct balance of all the vitamins that you will need during pregnancy. You only need to take these tablets once a day. Morning or evening is fine but most women prefer evening due to morning sickness.

Morning Sickness helps protect the baby
Speaking of morning sickness, this is nature's way of preventing you from ingesting anything that is teratogenic. Tera what? Teratogenic, this is the scientific term for any substance which may cause birth defects or fetal abnormalities. Certain foods have small amounts of toxins as their natural defense against certain enemies such as insects. While these minute quantities are toxic to a bug they are harmless in a child or adult. A developing fetus is another story. During the first trimester of pregnancy a baby is completely defenseless against outside chemical agents. This is why it is so important to access your nutritional status before you become pregnant as well as during the time that you are pregnant. Since the first trimester is usually 30 to 40% over before you realize that you are pregnant this is an important time to eat well.
Morning sickness or pregnancy sickness, what a wonderful term. There are currently no approved drugs that can be used to combat this condition. Generally it is recommended that you take any vitamins or supplements in the evening to reduce the morning stress on your digestive system. Ginger in raw or capsule form is sometimes helpful in stopping this and other types of nausea. Chewing unsalted saltine crackers and sipping alternatively on hot and cold liquids is also quite helpful.

Increase Calcium
Besides your pre-natal vitamins you should increase your calcium intake. The best way to do this is to eat more dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, milk and even ice cream. If you are still calcium deficient you can take calcium citrate tablets but you should only do this after checking with your doctor.
By eating a healthy diet you do all that you can to insure the best possible growth and development of your baby during pregnancy.
How do you continue to assure proper growth and development of your baby after birth? By maintaining the best possible dietary intake for you and your child.

The best nutrition for baby
The best nutrition for your baby is your breastmilk. Scientific studies have proven that breastfeeding is the best developmental alternative for mother and baby. When your baby is born, your breast milk contains colostrum which helps the baby's development by aiding digestion and providing immune substances which protect against infection. Breast milk changes as your baby grows: from the colostrum that you lactate during the first week of life to the changing fat, protein and carbohydrate diet that you lactate during the entire breastfeeding cycle. Click here to see an excellent article on the US government's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) site.
In general, the foods that you eat are passed along to your baby during lactation. Sometimes, breastfeeding does not work out for mother or child. Do not be discouraged. Medela makes a large number of pumping products for the working mother who can not be home with her child. These pumps can also be used for the mother who must take postpartum medication for a short period that is not safe to pass along to her baby.

Your nutrition is very important
Sometimes breastfeeding does not work out or a mother simply prefers to use formula. This is an acceptable choice as well. The mother’s nutrition is equally important in both cases. To replace any nutrients lost to the baby during pregnancy and lactation. Giving birth is also a tremendous undertaking. You need strong nutritional support during the 3 month post partum period and as long as you continue to breastfeed. The best vitamin to take during this time is the special pre-natal formula prescribed by your doctor.

Eat well, stay well
Eating a healthy and balanced diet will help you have a great pregnancy, a terrific baby and the good nutritional status pre and post partum to block the long term affects of other problems such as osteoporosis.
So go ahead, have that vegetarian burrito and enjoy!

If you have comments, suggestions or questions, please email us.

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