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Pregnancy Nutrition from A to Z
A Comprehensive List of Nutrition Issues for Moms-to-be
By Donna Smith
One explanation of cravings during pregnancy is nutritional deficiencies. For example, if you crave potatoes chips or pickles, you may need more sodium. Some believe cravings are caused by a hormonal shift in the woman's body. Whatever the reason, don't be concerned about your cravings – accept them as a normal part of pregnancy. But if you crave non-food items such as laundry detergent, dirt, etc., you need to tell your health care provider. This disorder is called pica.
Prenatal vitamins will be prescribed when your pregnancy is confirmed. While it's important to take prenatal vitamins, remember they are to supplement your diet, not to replace good eating habits.
Quit smoking. Smoking leads to reduced birth weight and a host of other problems in babies. Remember: Everything you ingest is also ingested by your baby, who cannot tolerate it as well as you can. (And it's not good for you, either!)
Raw meat, poultry and seafood can put you at risk for foodborne illnesses. Some tips to keep your food safe include: Buying only pasteurized dairy products; washing your hands, cutting board and utensils after handling raw meat; thoroughly cooking meat, poultry and seafood; refrigerating leftovers as soon as possible (throw out after two hours); thoroughly rinsing fruits and vegetables before eating; watching for "use-by" dates on meats; and cleaning countertops thoroughly after cooking.
Soft cheeses are associated wit a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Pregnant women should avoid soft cheese because the bacteria can cross the placenta and infect the fetus, causing possible miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. Cheeses to avoid include Camembert, brie, blue cheese, feta and soft Mexican cheese like queso fresco and queso blanco. Cream cheese, however, is not considered to be a potential danger for pregnant women.
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Re: Intresting by Susan on 02/03/2009 01:36AM
This article is very interesting as it has helped a lot in my first time pregnancy. Being alone and not knowing what to do as a first time mum, I do really appreciate these.
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Pregnancy Nutrition from A to Z by Tonya on 06/11/2009 05:25PM
Great tips here in an easy to read format. Appreciate that. Doesn't read like a medical journal. Just easy ideas I can actually follow. Thank you.