ALCOHOL: Unsafe during Pregnancy

• Alcohol is a toxin.
• When you drink alcohol, it rapidly reaches your baby through the placenta, via your bloodstream. Heavy, regular or binge drinking can cause miscarriage and premature birth.
• Too much alcohol can even increase the risk of your baby being still born.
• If you drink too much alcohol during pregnancy, it can permanently damage your developing baby's cells. This could affect how your baby's face, organs and brain grow. 
• Heavy drinking can also damage your baby's nervous system. This can mean that your baby develops fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), with problems that can range from mild learning difficulties or social problems, through to birth defects. 
• Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is at the extreme end of the spectrum of disorders.
• Babies with FAS tend to have facial defects, be born small, and carry on being small for their age.
• They also have learning difficulties, poor muscle tone and coordination, and behavioural problems, for the rest of their lives.

Essential Nutrients During Pregnancy

• Essential Nutrients
• Folic acid rich foods
• Iron rich foods
• Calcium rich foods
• Protein rich foods
• Vitamin C rich foods
• Fiber rich foods
• Controlled calorie intake

 

Importance of VITAMIN D in Pregnancy

• Vitamin D is a steroid vitamin from a group of fat-soluble pro hormones.  
• Vitamin D and pregnancy are important together.
• Expecting mothers need to make sure that the get the recommended amounts of vitamin D during pregnancy for both their own well being and the healthy development of their baby.
• The most significant compounds for human development are D2 and D3.
•  Not having enough vitamin D when you are pregnant or breastfeeding may prevent your baby from getting enough calcium and phosphate.
• This can cause him to develop weak teeth and bones, and in rare cases, develop rickets.
• Vitamin D helps to regulate the levels of calcium & phosphate in your body.
• You need calcium and phosphate to keep your bones and teeth healthy.
• Vitamin D can help you to fight infections, and may help to prevent diabetes and some cancers. 
• There may be a link between low vitamin D levels during pregnancy and an increased risk of having a baby with a low birth weight.
• Vitamin D also invests in the well-being of your baby by supporting healthy bone development. Deficiency with vitamin D is related to pre - eclampsia.
  
  

Viamin A & Your Pregnancy

• Vitamin A having supporting role in the immune system.
• Vitamin A benefits your own health throughout pregnancy. An adequate, safe intake is important at all stages. 
• Your risk of deficiency is higher during the third trimester when requirements increase due to your baby’s accelerated development and increased blood volume.
• Your body naturally priorities your baby’s needs, which is why you need more.
•  Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it is stored in the liver and fat cells of the body. 
•  A healthy supply of vitamin A during pregnancy builds up your baby’s natural stores in preparation for the first few months of life.
• A low level of vitamin A can affect your baby’s immune function after birth, leaving them more susceptible to infection and illness.

 

Morning Sickness - Prevention

• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid foods and smell that triggers your nausea.
• Ginger is effective in morning sickness.

•  Sipping Iced water could offer relief from nausea.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Do not worry about eating balanced diet.
• Take smaller meals in a day.

Add Vitamin Supplements

PREGNANCY TIP SERIES - Tip No. 7

• Take prenatal vitamins.
• They can be prescribed by your practitioner.
• Ensure it contains 0.4 mg of folic acid.

Eat green Vegetables

PREGNANCY TIP SERIES - Tip No. 6 

• Green Leafy and Yellow Vegetables and Yellow Fruits.
• While You are pregnant, Eat a new vegetable you've never tried.
• Vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, and fruits such as mango and cantaloupe, pack far more essential vitamins and minerals than most of their comrades-in-produce, including vitamin E, riboflavin, folic acid, magnesium, and beta-carotene.