HEALTHY PREGNANCY

The goal of all pregnant females is to deliver a healthy and a happy baby. Giving importance to the healthy diet during pregnancy can help you accomplish this goal. Food plays an important role in preserving the health of pregnant women and their babies. While you are pregnant you need to ensure that most of your diet is healthy and you require only 300 extra calories per day to support the growth and the development of your baby. There should be healthy eating during pregnancy as diet that provides important nutrients to you and your baby should be consumed. The healthy diet for pregnancy should include food substances rich in iron, calcium, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, folic acid, etc.

For healthy pregnancies, it is essential to be well aware of the foods which possess essential nutrients and also know regarding the foods that may pose health risks to the mother and unborn baby. Healthy eating in pregnancy should include whole grains, cereals, meat, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, etc and should limit junk food, avoid nicotine, caffeine, strong drugs, unpasteurized cheese and milk, alcohol, etc.

The amount of weight gained differs not only from woman to woman, but also from pregnancy to pregnancy. There are two reasons for healthy weight gain during pregnancy: to nourish the developing foetus and to store up reserves for breastfeeding. The optimal pregnancy weight gain for an average woman is between 25 and 35 pounds.

Moderate exercising during pregnancy also does have a beneficial effect. As regular exercise can prevent excess weight gain, improve sleep, increase energy, reduce pregnancy related problems, etc. Adequate amount of sleep should also be taken by the pregnant mother to ensure healthy pregnancy.

Hence, to ensure healthy pregnancies, mothers should ensure healthy diet, healthy weight gain, moderate exercise and adequate sleep.

Dr Varsha Sharma, MD(Hom), Consultant Homoeopath, drvarshas@gmail.com