Thursday, February 11, 2010

Get ready for the big time

Pre-pregnancy nutritional status has a very close relationship with the health of the newborn. Good pre-pregnancy health condition brings healthy and lively newborns, with very few perinatal illness, and even has positive impact on babies’ intelligence development.

During pregnancy, baby lives in the mother's womb for about 40 weeks. The fertilized egg grows and develops finally into a handsome lovely baby who has independent organs and weights about 3200 grams.

Fetus stage is the fastest growing and developing period in a people’s whole life. Of course, this stage needs a lot of nutrients which directly come from the mother. In order to ensure fetus's healthy growth, new mommies must ensure that the uterus, placenta, amniotic fluid and breast areas are all healthy and ready for the new arrivals. Therefore, pregnant women, from preparation of pregnancy, you need to add extra nutrition. If the nutritional intake of pregnant women is inadequate, fetus won’t have adequate nutrition as well.

If you want to get pregnant, according to your personal physical situation, you need to have pre-pregnancy diet as soon as possible. Don’t wait until it is too late to all. Everyone is different. Therefore, before you take any supplements, do consult your GP or nutrition consultants. Choose the best method and have the appropriate dose based on your own condition.

In general, ordinary women need to start special diet and have supplements 3 months to half a year before pregnancy. Their daily meal need to content quality protein, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and certain amount of fat. These nutrients are the material basis of fetal growth and development.

High quality protein is easily digested and absorbed, such as chickens, ducks, fish, lean meat, shrimp, eggs, tofu, soy products, etc. Vitamin with A, D, C, B are essential. Fresh vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements, including calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, iodine. Calcium and phosphorus are the keys of fetal bone and teeth developing. Iron is important on hematopoietic function. Zinc and iodine are good for mental development and prevention of fetal malformations. Milk, eggs, bones, animal liver, dried small shrimps, aquatic product and nuts contain such substances. Moderate intake of fat can help the absorption and utilization of soluble vitamins.

For those who are in frail physique and poor nutritional status. The pre-pregnancy diet is extremely important. The diet preferably is started a year before pregnancy. In addition to intake adequate nutrition, they should also know that nutrition must be comprehensive, not partial eclipse. Do not be picky eaters, balance your food. But remember all these should be gradual and don’t be too ambitious.

For those who are in good nutritional status and have appropriate amount of body fat, in general, no need to increase in nutrition. However, have high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, trace elements intake is still essential. Remember, consume less foods that are high in fat and sugar.

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