Archive for January, 2009

As natural a pair of conditions as the world has ever known, pregnancy and breast-feeding nevertheless are still the subjects of heated and contradictory nutritional advice. The reason is obvious: the out- come matters so much that the merest hint of a ”new” development leads to dogmatic pronouncements and worried acquiescence on the part of mothers determined to do everything just right. A case in point is the matter of weight gain. How much is normal and desirable during pregnancy?

When childbirth was still very risky for mother and child, and a small infant was easier to deliver, women were urged to restrict weight gain to between 10 and 15 pounds. But studies completed within the last 10 to 15 years have shown that gains by the mother of 20 pounds or more actually increase the infant’s chance of survival under modern delivery conditions. Now most obstetricians urge a gain of from 24 to 30 pounds; nearly half of that will be the fetus, placenta, and amniotic fluid which are expelled at delivery; the rest is mainly the calorie bank that the mother will draw lactation and increased on for postpartum activity.

Because women who are significantly ender- or overweight at the start of pregnancy stand a greater chance of developing complications, modest compensatory adjustments in weight gain arc generally recommended, with underweight women encouraged to gain up to 30 pounds, and overweight women urged to hold weight gain to the average. More than others, pregnant teenagers must eat for two-to accommodate their own growth needs as well as that of the fetus. Under no circumstances should pregnancy be viewed as an opportunity to lose weight.

The pregnant woman has three basic and complementary dietary obligations. The first is to consume approximately 80,000 additional food calories during the nine-month period over and above what she needs to sustain her own weight and normal activity. This works out, over nine months, to about 300 extra calories per day, but no more than 150 extra calories a day should be consumed during the first trimester of pregnancy, increasing to 300 per day in the second trimester, and 400 to 450 during the third trimester. The second obligation is to obtain sufficient amounts of selected nutrients needed for fetal development. The third obligation, to meet your body’s increased need for iron, may have to be met by an iron supplement.

A Pregnancy week by week calendar is sort of a step by step chart that will inform you on the status of your pregnancy, week by week. There are many sites online that are designed specifically to guide and update you throughout your pregnancy week by week so you are fully aware of what is going to happen to your body and the changes that will occur in your pregnancy week by week. You will be sent emails and newsletters directly to your inbox each week as your pregnancy progresses, once you register with any of these sites.

I have listed some sites for you that specialize in the week by week pregnancy program for you to look into:

List of Pregnancy week by week sites:

- http://pregnancy-calendar.adoption.com
- www.babycenter.com
- www.whattoexpect.com

Please, realize that there are literally hundreds of similar websites out there, if not thousands, who all provide pretty much the same service on what you need to know regarding your pregnancy week by week. So do your own research, and search for a website suits you best and want to register with. Just type “Pregnancy week by week” in the Google search engine, and you will come across various Pregnancy week by week websites.

Alternatively, there are also books on Pregnancy week by week for you to read up on. Books are usually more informative and detailed than any website can get, although less interactive obviously. If books are what you are after, then you can search for Pregnancy week by week books on amazon.com. There’s plenty of them.

Some Pregnancy week by week websites are more informative than others. Some lets you personalize the information based on your personal requirements. And some even send you pictures of changes occurring with a baby week by week during pregnancy. Find the site you feel most comfortable with, and good luck!

Pregnancy, regardless of whether it is hoped or not, usually occurs in different ways. The most common and first sign of pregnancy is the absence of menstruation. For women with regular menstrual cycle, marking the time can tell if they are too late. Many women today are not even waiting until their missed period and decide to use a pregnancy test before the missed period come. Nowadays, new pregnancy tests technology could be use before missed period come and could detect the pregnancy.

Typical morning sickness is one of the most common and first sign of pregnancy. Despite the nausea and vomiting were reported to be more problems in the first half of the day, what could happen all of the day. Women who are pregnant, should be happy if morning sickness come, as it may be a sign of good hormonal levels in the body, say pregnancy is going well. For example, the failed pregnancy is often accompanied by a reduction or interruption of the morning sickness..

Some pregnant women do not feel nausea at their first sign of pregnancy, and may be perfectly normal. For other women suffer from nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, there are many ways to control them and a pregnant woman should know that most of nausea of pregnancy, usually after 16 weeks of pregnancy.

First Sign of Pregnancy can be a form of breast tenderness. It is normal for a pregnant woman breast tissue supported by hormones during pregnancy and the experience of growing up tenderness. These complaints may be using supportive bra and should be restored over time.

In addition, pregnancy may even desire to urinate frequently. Urinate frequently during pregnancy, is under the control of hormones and new pressure on the bladder to the growing uterus.

Another frequent sign of the beginning of pregnancy is that pregnant women will feel more tired than usual. You may need to sleep longer than normal, or low energy during the day.

Once the suspicion that a woman is pregnant, the first day of the last menstrual cycle, since it will be very important during pregnancy. You should also be tested to confirm the pregnancy and then with your doctor. For most women, the principle of pregnancy is a very positive event in her life. If a woman, the opening of pregnancy is not taken, you should take the time with her husband, and to examine the participation of all parties.

Suggested Reading:
+ How Dangerous Can Ectopic Pregnancy Get?
+ Ectopic Pregnancy Signs

Previously, there was a myth, that the pregnant woman must eat for two. That is not true when you literally twice as much says so. Is correct, however, that from now on for a good diet should provide. Because of everything you eat, get the substances on the umbilical cord to your child. That is why your diet during pregnancy and lactation is very important.

If you are missing important nutrients, then they are missing the child as well. If you before your pregnancy weight had problems, you should take with your doctor or midwife your nutritional plan.
How much energy you need during pregnancy?

* A woman needs about 2100 kcal / day.
* A pregnant woman needs about 2500 kcal / day.
* During the breastfeeding needs a woman around 3000 kcal / day.

What should you eat during pregnancy?

A balanced diet is the healthiest. It is food that emerged from all food groups composed: dairy products, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, fats and cereal products. Eat all components of every day something, then you get energy from fat, protein and carbohydrates. You eat five to six small servings instead of two or three abundant meals.

* Due to the rapid growth of your baby increases the protein requirement at the beginning of pregnancy and should be proportionally represent about ten percent. Many proteins are present in meat, fish, egg and dairy products, beans or bean products.
* The recommended fat percentage is around 35 percent. Fat gives you the following products: butter, oil, margarine, dairy products and nuts.
* The rest should only contain carbohydrates. The recommended proportion is around 55 percent. Carbohydrates found in bread, noodles in, in potatoes, cereal products and rice.

What should you eat extra attention?

Folic Acid: If you are pregnant, you need folic acid in any case. Folic acid is a vitamin and helps in the development and the formation of the embryonic nervous system. Folic acid prevents it especially so-called neural tube defects (defects in the development of the nervous system) before: open back (spina bifida) and lip-palate-pine columns. Folic acid works best when they are with vitamin C and vitamin B12 to take. In the food you will find folic acid in barley, wheat germ, soy, beans, calf liver, Endive fruit, orange juice, lentils, peas and rice.

It is recommended additional 0.4 milligrams / day of pure folic acid to take. The best two months before conception and at least until the third month of pregnancy. If you ever been a child with an open spine (spina bifida) have brought to the world, should be above the higher dose. Talk with your doctor.

Iron: Pregnant women need more iron than usual because the blood volume is increased to deliver the baby via the placenta with nutrients supply. Iron is in green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and beetroot, strawberries, apricots and cereal products such as cereal and bread. The iron is better absorbed by the body when prompted some vitamin C-containing food. Vitamin C is for example in oranges contain. Tea and coffee on the other hand, inhibit the absorption of iron.

During pregnancy, it is important that larger quantities of vitamin A, because it is in the worst case to damage the embryo can occur. Vitamin A can be found largely in the liver and liver pate. Avoid these diets during their pregnancy. Avoid the consumption of non garem pork or beef, because it is Toxoplasmen may contain. Even raw eggs and not enough long cooked poultry represent a potential hazard because they may contain salmonella. Avoid large quantities of coffee or tea, since it is stimulants, alcohol during pregnancy is taboo.

How to avoid constipation?

Due to the changing hormonal budget is the bowel function. This can lead to constipation. They prevent or alleviate complaints by fiber diet: fruits, vegetables, cooked and raw, whole wheat, whole grain products such as muesli or soaked in the morning Plums. Helpful is also a glass of lukewarm water on an empty stomach to drink. In very stubborn cases can Sie1-2 tablespoons milk daily in juice or yoghurt to get too much. Drink plenty of water, juice or tea, even better, at least two of three liters a day.

Suggested Reading:

+ Dealing With Diabetes Among Pregnant Women
+ Achieving Healthy Pregnancy Despite Diabetes
+ Having a Healthy Pregnancy With Exercise and Yoga
+ Pregnancy Diet Plan