Antenatal and Postnatal Nutrition

When you are pregnant, your baby’s health is directly related to what you eat, since the baby gets its nutrients from the diet you consume. Only when you have a well balanced diet, that contains vegetables, fruits, whole grains and dairy products, can you expect to give birth to a baby with normal birth weight and properly developed brain and other organs. Also good nutrition during pregnancy will ensure a speedy recovery for you post delivery.

When we talk about nutrition its not just about increased calorie intake; rather it’s more to do with eating a wholesome diet that is rich in all types of nutrients. Cut out the junk food from your diet as it normally contains lots of calories which will just give you that unneeded fat, while keeping you deprived of essential nutrients that are vital for you and you baby.

Get onto a diet which provides you with adequate proteins, minerals and vitamins, as these three play a significant role in the development of the baby. A healthy diet during pregnancy will ensure long term good health for both, you and your baby. Get onto some vitamin and mineral rich foods, which are also a good source of antioxidants like berries, tomatoes, dried nuts, yoghurt, fish, oats, and green leafy vegetables and so on. Your doctor should be able o advice you better with regards to your specific dietary needs. He might also prescribe you some vitamin pills and health supplements.

It’s important that you don’t overlook the dietary aspect after your delivery, as a good diet is needed even post delivery, to ensure optimum health for both of you. A nutritionally balanced diet will help you with fast recovery and at the same time help in production of milk which will decide how healthy your baby grows up to be.

Change your eating habits a bit and instead of going in for three big meals a day, try out five to six small meals. As this will provide your body with a constant source of energy, and will also help in better absorption of nutrients from the food you eat.

And don’t go calorie conscious during or post pregnancy since added calories are needed during both stages. However that doesn’t mean you can go unlimited on sugary or fried snacks, because such things provide only calories and no proper nutrition. And lastly limit your intake of processed food and get onto natural foods.