Pregnancy and nutrition

Abstract

Pregnancy is a specially important time in women's life to focus on proper health care and nutrition. Nutrition during childhood and adolescence influence a women's preconceptional nutritional status which subsequently influence the outcome of pregnancy and health of the baby. Good nutrition is the key to a successful pregnancy for both mother and child. The mother's nutrition from the moment of conception is an important factor in the development of the infant's metabolic pathway and future wellbeing. The diet during pregnancy should be adequate to provide maintenance of maternal health, the need of growing fetus, the strength and vitality required during labour and successful lactation. All women need to gain weight during pregnancy. Weight gain during pregnancy depends on pre-pregnancy weight. Ahealthy weight gain for most of the women is between 25-35Lb. During pregnancy a women has different nutritional need for different trimester to meet extra food needs and extra caloric requirement. Normal weight women need an extra 300 kcal /day during the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The total amount of needed calorie 2000-2500 kcal/day for a normal weight women. Needs for almost all nutrients are greater during pregnancy for own bodies growth, for baby and successful lactation. The dietetic advice given to the mother should be reasonable and realistic to the individual women.