Pregnancy is the most beautiful period a woman can experience in her lifetime. At this sensitive stage of life, the expectant mother should prioritize the good health of the foetus as well as her own.
Following a healthy and rich in nutrients diet will help cover the mother’s needs in essential nutrients, proper foetal growth, and prepare the foetus well for its later life. Conversely a careless diet may have unwanted or even adverse effects on both the mother and the foetus, such as premature birth, delayed foetal growth, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia.
Once a woman finds out that she is pregnant or when she decides that she wants to have a baby, she should endeavour to improve her dietary choices and habits. This should be done by following a healthy and balanced diet and increasing the daily intake of key nutrients. This will make the duration of the pregnancy period and the first few months of the newborn smoother.
Breastfeeding is equally important as the gestation period both for mother and baby. Following a healthy and nutritional diet the mother produces high quality milk, which in turn will ensure better health of the baby, providing with all the necessary nutrients for its proper growth.
In both cases, receiving advice from a specialist Dietitian can be crucial to the good health of the mother and foetus.
