• Health , Lifestyle ,
• 13 Mar

During pregnancy, most women have a mixed feeling of excitement and anxiety. For most women, especially the first time mothers, this is a hard time that requires guidance, patience and determination. Remember that, carrying another human being for nine months is not a simple task and hence, care should be taken to ensure that both the mother and the unborn infant remain healthy during this tiring period. Below are some of the healthy tips that pregnant women should consider:

Maintain a healthy eating habit

Although some women might develop a higher appetite during pregnancy, it is important that you maintain a good eating habit. Avoid eating too much food as too much weight can result in complications during delivery. Also, remember that it may be difficult or even impossible to lose the excess weights after giving birth. It is important that you focus on taking a balanced diet and your food should include the following:

Starch

Ensure that your diet has enough starch by taking foods such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice and most importantly, cereals.

Fruits and vegetables

Research shows that women who take enough fruits and vegetables during pregnancy are likely to give birth to health and strong kids. Fruit and vegetables also make you strong, add you blood and hence you are able to withstand the pressures associated with child delivery.

Fibre

It is also important that you increase your fibre intake during pregnancy. This can be done by taking fruits, vegetables and most importantly, wholegrain bread or cereals.

Protein

Food rich in protein such as lean meat, fish and chicken should be included in your diet. It is also important that you increase your intake of dairy foods e.g. milk, cheese and yoghurt.

Foods to Avoid

As we have already said, pregnant women are delicate and should be handled with ultimate care. In this regard, below are some of the foods that pregnant women should not consume:

Too much vitamin A

Although you need to include vitamin A in your diet, it is important that you avoid foods with a lot of this vitamin. This is because too much of this vitamin can be harmful to your unborn baby. In this regard, try to limit your intake of liver and its products e.g. liver pate. You should also avoid vitamin A supplements.

Foods with high listeria levels

Although listeria is usually not harmful, it could be disastrous when taken by pregnant women. High levels of listeria in pregnant women can lead to miscarriages, baby infections or even lead to stillbirths. To avoid this, avoid taking undercooked eggs or meats. It is also important that you avoid taking unpasteurised milk and raw fish.

Avoid foods with too much caffeine

Although most people don’t know this, too much caffeine can be very harmful especially during pregnancy. Apart from giving birth to underweight kids, caffeine can also lead to miscarriages. It is therefore critical that you avoid taking too much coffee, tea or even chocolate.

With proper care, pregnancy is supposed to bring joy to your family. It is therefore very important that you observe the rules, see your doctor and eat healthy foods!