Have a healthier baby with fewer pregnancy complications
Nutrition is important in promoting a healthier you. When you are pregnant, the food you eat helps your health and the health of your unborn child.
Studies indicate that women who have healthy eating habits and gain the recommended amount of weight have healthier babies and fewer complications during pregnancy.
Contrary to what some people believe, having cravings for certain foods does not mean that your body or your baby needs that food.
You may also have heard that “the baby will take what it needs”, but it cannot take what is not available. When a mother’s daily food intake does not meet pregnancy nutrition requirements, neither mother nor baby gets enough nourishment.
Eating right during pregnancy means eating the right amount of the right kind of foods. For those who already have healthy eating habits, you will need to make few changes. For those who need to learn to eat well, now is a good time to make some changes.
Why you need to eat well during pregnancy
Eating well during pregnancy provides you and your baby with the right amount of calories to gain weight, and provides the nutrients you and your baby need.
There are six general categories of nutrients, which provide your body with about sixty substances known to be important to good health. The six general categories are:
- Protein
- Carbohydrate
- Fat
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water
If you eat the recommended amounts from the different food groups, you and your baby will receive the right balance of nutrients and calories to promote a healthy pregnancy.
