Here is something that all would-be mothers need to know. The embryos during conception and in the subsequent weeks thereafter develop the baby’s organs and the systems within. The energy that is needed to create these systems has to come from the mother’s body circulation – a key reason why nutrition during pregnancy is of vital importance.

There are three aspects that all pregnant mothers should know about:

1. Proper food choices for you and your baby
2. Healthy weight gain
3. Nutrients

When should you start eating healthy?

Ask your doctor this question. In all probability, he will say that the best time to focus on nutrition is before you get pregnant. Why not let your baby start out with the right nutrients? Consult your doc and tell him about your work, lifestyle, and food habits. He will advise you on how to eat the right foods and take the right supplements.
Meal Planning

The United States Department of Agriculture has developed a food pyramid that will help you choose a balanced diet. A proper diet takes into account your age, sex, daily physical activity and the extra nutritional needs if you are pregnant

Your daily needs are sourced from each of the following food groups:

• Grains
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Oils
• Milk
• Beans

So how do you go about eating a balanced diet?

Here are daily requirements for pregnant women according to the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth.

• One quart of milk in any form
• Soyabean
• Two servings of Protein in the form of beans/cheese/ tofu
• Two servings of green vegetables including leafy vegetables ( ¼ - ½  cup)
• Four servings of cereals – whole grains recommended
• One vitamin C source – citrus fruit/ tomato / Cantaloupe
• Three fat servings – 1 tsp oil/ butter/sour cream

You are also advised to include the following every week:

• Five servings of yellow or orange colored fruits or vegetables
• Three whole baked potatoes
• Plenty of water or other fluids
• Adequate salt to maintain safe blood volume

Apart from a normal balanced diet, pregnant women should focus on the following special needs.

• Folic acid supplementation for the regular growth of the follicle. A follicle is the basic unit of female reproductive biology.
• Magnesium and zinc supplementation for the binding of hormones.
• Vitamin B12 to reduce the chances of ill health.
• Vitamin D supplementation to reduce the likelihood of rickets with pelvic malformations that can make delivery difficult or impossible. Rickets is softening of bones in children that can potentially lead to fractures and deformity.

Weight Gain

When you are pregnant, you need to eat more to help your baby grow. It is but natural for you to gain weight. A healthy gain in weight can be considered between 25 and 35 pounds.

A word of caution

During pregnancy some women feel a strong urge to eat certain non-food items such as ice, laundry starch, clay or corn starch. This is termed as Pica. Pica is a medical disorder characterized by an appetite for non-nutritive substances. This is harmful for your pregnancy. Consult your doctor if you have Pica. He will put you on a proper course of treatment.

A proper diet before and during pregnancy will go a long way in ensuring good health to you and the newborn.

‘Instantaneous’ is the word that best describes our times. We have succeeded in providing instant solutions to many of our problems and answering the above question is well within the purview. What I mean is that it is possible to tell you instantaneously when is your D-day. Information on any subject is just a click away. Pregnancy due date calculator would ask you a few questions about your last monthly period and on your menstrual cycle. Just in seconds you would know when to plan your hospital visit.

Are you thinking that the Internet is a good substitute for your doctor? Without meeting your doctor, you know about the delivery date, thanks to the World Wide Web. Explore a little more, and you can make yourself well informed on pregnancy diet, i.e., what to eat and what to avoid during pregnancy. What is good for you and your baby and what is bad is out there. Click in the comfort of your home, and exchange your ignorance and myths for loads of well-researched knowledge.

The Internet can aptly guide you in your pregnancy exercises as well. You name the topic and the relevant information is at your finger tips. But knowledge is after all only knowledge that is impersonal and a mere collection of facts. The doctor, in flesh and blood is keenly observant and has a thinking mind as well. He can understand and analyze your situation and guide you accordingly on the basis of experience and sensitivity.
Without letting any value judgment influence you, it is better to be open minded in your decisions so that you have a trouble free pregnancy.