From the months before conception to the months spent breast feeding, everything that goes into a woman's body affects her baby. While most pregnant women busily fasten cabinets, cover sockets and plugs, and read about caring for a new infant, one of the best things that they can do to protect their child is to learn about the correct foods to eat when pregnant and implement a healthy and suitable diet. While most of us acknowledge that certain foods that we consume are considered less than healthy, many pregnant women do not realise that not only is the food unhealthy for them, but also for their growing fetus. Just as coffee and caffeine increase an adult's heart rate, they also increase the heart rate of an unborn baby. Likewise just as eating properly and in sensible portions is good for the mother, they are also good for a fetus and breast feeding baby. For this reason, most obstetricians recommend a healthy diet for pregnant women. The amount of water, vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins and carbohydrates that an expectant mother receives is very important to both her and to her baby. While eating healthily is important at this time in a woman's life, lowering calories is not. Pregnancy nutrition consists of the typical pregnant woman consuming 2500 to 2700 calories each day. This is approximately 300 calories more than a woman that is not pregnant. To supplement the diet for pregnant women, an expecting mother should take prenatal vitamins, as prescribed by her physician. Foods to eat when pregnant must include the essential element known as folic acid. Folic acid is important during pregnancy to aid in the healthy development of the baby's brain and spinal cord. While many take folic acid as a vitamin supplement, it can also be aquired through diet. Folic acid is found in some breakfast cereals, green leafy vegetables, black beans, broccoli, orange juice and peanuts. These foods are good additions to add to the diet for pregnant women. In addition to needing folic acid, choosing foods enriched with calcium is also important in pregnancy nutrition. A developing fetus has a high demand for calcium. It is a good idea to add extra calcium to a diet for pregnant women through eating diary products, leafy green vegetables and calcium enriched cereals. Most doctors and disease control organizations will suggest that foods to eat when pregnant should include some form of iron supplement early into pregnancy. Iron can also be gained through whole grain breads, dried fruits, poultry, lean red meats and fish. In addition to all of the vitamins and minerals that a pregnant women needs, it is also important to include lots of water on the list of foods to eat when pregnant. Water is a travel system for carrying the nutrients from the mother to the baby. Water also works to help keep the mother healthy and prevent constipation, urinary track infections, haemorrhoids and more. When thinking about all of the preparation that is needed to get ready for a new baby, it is even more important to consider the care that is given to the infant before it arrives. This care begins with a healthy diet and a good knowledge of the foods to eat when pregnant.
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