Nutrition during pregnancy

THE WELL-being of an infant depends to a considerable extent on the mother's diet. The foetus requires nutrients not only for its growth in the mother's womb but after birth as well.

Poor nourishment during pregnancy can lead to premature labour and toxaemia. Such women may give birth to low weight babies. Read on to know what kind of diet you need during pregnancy.

First trimester

This is the time when a pregnant woman usually suffers from nausea and poor appetite. Thus, she may not be able to eat much at a time and must space her meals - instead of three main meals, eat 6 or 7 small meals at short intervals. Before getting up from bed, eat a plain sweet biscuit and get up slowly, not with a start. Taking lemon juice or orange juice in the mornings, and before meals, also helps relieve nausea.

Second and third trimester

The expectant mother needs an extra 150 to 300 calories, 10 gm of protein, 300 to 500 mg of calcium, about 1,000 to 2,000 IU of vitamin A and 0.5 mg of riboflavin to meet her requirements. These increases can be achieved by adding about 300 to 500 ml of milk and 50 gm of leafy vegetables and carotene-rich fruit to the normal diet or an extra 50 gm of cereal, 35 gm of dal or legumes and 25 gm of leafy vegetables. Lastly, listening to what your grandmother, mother or mother-in-law say about diet may not be so harmful as you think.

LILY MADHOK

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