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Pregnance Nutrition Guide

As your pregnancy progresses, the nutritional demands that are made on yot body increase. A look at these increasing needs by trimester can provide fir ther insight.

Pregnancy First Trimester Nutrition

During the early weeks of pregnancy, you may not be aware of the baby with your body. Therefore, you should consume an adequate diet even before you become pregnant. Once you realize that you are pregnant, you may experience morning sickness, which tends to minimize thoughts of food. But even in pregnancy, you need to make sure that you eat a good diet. This sot be difficult, since your nutritional requirements at this point are ally the same as those for a nonpregnant woman, with the excepyaw additional folic acid requirement.

Lack of certain nutrients in the diet, primarily vitamin B 6, is thought to to morning sickness. Morning sickness may also occur because of dime sugar after not eating all night. Some women experience nausea the day, however, especially if they go for long periods without Many women find that natural remedies can bring relief from morning However, if natural remedies do not help you, and nausea and vomitting is a severe problem, your doctor can prescribe medication. Gratefully sickness usually disappears by the fourth month.

Pregnancy Second Trimester Nutrition

During the second trimester, nutritional needs increase, and you should begin additional calories, vitamins, and minerals by following a pregnancy diet. The baby puts on very little weight during the second However, the maternal tissues greatly increase. The woman begins putting down a store of fat for her body to utilize during lactation. Her uterus and breasts enlarge, the volume of amniotic fluid increases, the placenta ait size. and the blood volume expands. Therefore, increased protein intakes are essential.

Pregnancy Third Trimester Nutrition

During the last trimester, the baby gains weight rapidly. His brain grows the the last 2 months, and his liver stores up iron. Continue with your pregnancy diet during this time—and beyond, if you You must take in sufficient calories and protein to ensure optimum nt of the baby's brain and body. Dieting at this point is not beneficial for either of you, and fasting before doctor's appointments to minimize Lam is foolish. Make certain that you eat well, and your weight gain will guarantee the health of both you and your baby.

If you experience increased swelling as your due date approaches, try adding more protein to your diet. In rare cases, swelling puts pressure on the nerves in the wrist, resulting in tingling, numbness, and pain in the hands and This is called carpal tunnel syndrome. Additional vitamin B6 may help relieve this condition or prevent its further development. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome will gradually subside following delivery.

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