Pregnancy is a very important and special time in woman’s life. But it is also a stressful period of 36 weeks till the delivery and also 24 weeks post-delivery. During delivery a woman must care for two, her own health and the baby’s health.
Complications in pregnancy are the health problems that occur during pregnancy. These can involve the baby’s health or mother’s health. Many problems are mild and do not progress, some pass over the duration of pregnancy. But some problems may persist. The infections or sickness that the mother has may adversely affect the baby’s health.
Special care is required when it comes to the health of pregnant ladies. What the mother eats, drinks, or even thinks affects the baby. Women nutrition usually requires special attention. All our bodies and their needs are different. Nutrition for pregnant women requires even more attention.
The mother’s food choices impact the baby. Lack of proper nutrition for pregnant women may result in the child being born with deformities or under-developed. For example, for proper brain and spinal cord development of the baby the mother should be getting enough folic acid. Amount of calorie intake can lead to the baby having low birth weight or high birth weight, again leading to a difficult pregnancy.
Nutrition Requirement in Pregnant Women
Healthy eating habits and a balanced diet is very important when it comes to proper health. Our body requires nutrition to grow and function. It comprises of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. During Pregnancy nutrition is more important than ever.
During Pregnancy you will need more folic acid, iron, calcium, protein and vitamin D than you did before pregnancy.
- Folic acid: It is a B vitamin that helps prevent certain birth defects that affect spinal cord. Before pregnancy, you need 400 mcg (micrograms) per day. But During pregnancy and breastfeeding, you will need about 600 mcg per day from foods or vitamins. It is hard to get this amount from foods alone, so you need to take a supplement that contains folic acid.
- Iron: Maternal iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy. It is important for the baby’s growth and brain development. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body increases. There are new demands of extra blood volume due to the developing placenta, and growing fetus. So, you need more iron for yourself and the growing baby. During Pregnancy your body needs about 30 mg (milligrams) of iron daily.
- Calcium: During pregnancy calcium can reduce the risk of preeclampsia, a serious medical condition that causes a sudden increase in blood pressure, premature birth and having a low-birth weight infant. Calcium also builds up your baby’s bones, heart, nerves, muscles and teeth. Pregnant women require 1,000 mg (milligrams) of calcium a day. When a pregnant woman does not consume enough calcium, it is taken from her bones for the baby.
- Vitamin D: It is an essential fat-soluble vitamin and a key modulator of calcium metabolism in the body i.e., it helps the calcium to build up the baby’s bones and teeth. Because calcium demands increase during pregnancy, vitamin D status becomes crucial for maternal health, fetal skeletal growth, and optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. All women, pregnant or not, should be getting 600 IU (international units) of vitamin D per day.
- Protein: In pregnancy, proteins are the building blocks for your baby’s cells and help your baby develop skin, hair, fingernails, and muscles. During pregnancy approximately 60 to 100 grams of protein is required to consume every day, depending on your weight, physical activity level, and trimester. Protein Powder for Pregnant Women is usually recommended to meet the extra protein requirement.
- Hydration is another special nutritional concern during pregnancy. Staying Hydrated is very important during pregnancy to support the life inside you. So, it’s important to drink enough fluids every day.
There are several reasons why you might require vitamin and mineral supplements:
- Nutritional deficiencies: Some people may require a supplement if a blood test identifies a vitamin or mineral deficiency. As a lack of nutrients like folate has been related to birth abnormalities, correcting deficits is essential.
- Weakness: Extreme nausea and vomiting characterize hyperemesis gravidarum, a pregnancy condition. It may result in nutrient deficits and weight loss. To counter this supplement are a good option.
- Dietary limitations: To avoid micronutrient deficiencies, women who adhere to diets, such as vegans and those with food intolerances and allergies, may need to take supplements of vitamins and minerals.
- Smoking: Smokers have a greater demand for medical care even though it’s crucial for women to avoid cigarettes throughout pregnancy. A reliable source for certain nutrients like folate and vitamin C is ideal.
- Multiple pregnancies: Women who are expecting more than one child need more micronutrients than women who are expecting just one child. To ensure that the mother and her offspring receive the best nourishment possible, supplements are frequently required.
- MTHFR-related genetic mutation: A gene called MTHFR, or methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, transforms folate into a form that the body can utilise. To prevent difficulties, pregnant women with this gene mutation may need to take supplements of a particular type of folate.
Not only during pregnancy but nutrition for pregnant women during the lactation period is also important. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for the baby for the first six months of life. Mother is the only and most important primary source of this nutrition. The nutrition for pregnant women during the lactation period is the source of nutrition for the baby. The nutrition that a baby receives from breast milk is the building block of its body. Good nutrition also increases the immunity of the baby. Resulting in a healthy life for the baby.
Titus Health Tech Pvt Ltd. offers a 100% vegetarian source of proteins, enriched with blend of brain nutrients like DHA, Choline, Iron, Zinc, Iodine & Folic Acid which are essential for the fetal growth and fulfilling the nutrition for pregnant women. ProShake Mom, a nutritional beverage mix by Titus, is one of best pregnancy supplements. It is low in fat, sugar and has high quality protein that helps in healthy weight gain during pregnancy. It contains healthy calories for weight gain and not empty calories of sugary foods. It is enriched with essential vitamins & minerals, triple protein, fortified with essential nutrients. Just two servings ProShake Mom everyday will help to meet RDA requirement of key nutrients during pregnancy and Lactation.
Titus Health Tech is one of the leading names in infant nutrition products manufacturer, women nutrition products manufacture and as private label nutrition manufacturer. It provides the complete nutrition for people of all age, all professions and fulfilling nutrition requirement in every walk of life.
