One of the most exciting times in the life of a woman and her spouse is the announcement of a pregnancy. Thousands of couples across the country try to get pregnant each year; some have success and others struggle to find the reason why they cannot conceive. Women that are able to conceive will have nine months to carry their child to full term. These nine months can be the healthiest nine months of a woman’s life if she so chooses. A pregnancy can be tough to handle for some if the morning sickness is constant and strong and it can be a walk in the park for others; it all depends on the health of the mother and child.
One of the most important things to remember while being pregnant is that you are now eating for two, which means that eating healthy is more important than ever. If you do not eat healthy foods while pregnant your child will not be healthy upon birth. Almost every woman will gain some sort of weight during her pregnancy, whether it is 10, 15, 20 or 25 pounds. Weight gain differs based on the woman’s body mass index before she became pregnant. The following guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy have been provided by The Institute of Medicine:
- A pregnant woman who was at normal weight prior to pregnancy should expect to gain between 25 and 30 pounds.
- A pregnant woman who was underweight prior to pregnancy should expect to gain between 28 and 40 pounds.
- A pregnant woman who was overweight prior to pregnancy should expect to gain between 15 and 25 pounds.
- A pregnant woman who was obese prior to pregnancy should expect to gain between 11 and 20 pounds.
To have a healthy pregnancy, women should gain weight during their pregnancy and not try to lose it, especially during the third trimester. Doctors recommend that women gain weight during their pregnancy at the following rate:
- Anywhere from 2 to 4 pounds during the first trimester and no more.
- Anywhere from 3 to 4 pounds per month for the second and third trimesters.
Doctors have found that gaining more weight than the recommended amount can lead to your child developing a higher risk of being overweight in the future. Also, women who gain more weight than the recommended amount, and who do not lose this weight within six months of giving birth are at a higher risk of being obese 10 years down the road. Foods that are healthy for both the mother and the baby include the following:
- Cooked or ready to eat cereals and wheat germ
- Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, cooked greens, winter squash, tomatoes and red pepper
- Cantaloupe, honeydew melon, mangoes, prunes or prune juice, bananas, apricots, oranges or orange juice, grapefruit and avocado
- Nonfat or low-fat yogurt; nonfat milk (skim milk); low-fat milk (1% milk)
- Cooked dried beans and peas; nuts and seeds; lean beef, lamb, and pork; shrimp, clams, oysters, and crab; cod, salmon, polluck and catfish