A complete dietary recommendation guide for pregnant women – Bansal Global Hospital
Pregnancy sure is a demanding state, not only psychologically but also physically. The body is adapting itself to nurture a baby within itself, so it’s important to ensure adequate nutrition is being supplied to the mother and to the developing fetus. To meet the extra requirements of the fetus, the mother needs extra food and nutrients. But that doesn’t mean one would gobble up everything that comes on the way, as is generally practiced in Indian societies. The below guide will help you prepare a much-balanced diet for you, making sure you are getting sufficient nutrients during various stages of your pregnancy.
Normally, a non-pregnant, non-lactating woman requires 1900 kcal each day as a part of a healthy diet. When pregnant, the requirement increases to +600 kcal, i.e. 2500 kcal each day. You can divide your food accordingly but make sure to follow the healthy rules by Bansal Global Hospital:
Choose food from different food groups: You might like some things better than the other but make sure you include food from different food groups. In a day, you need to have:
About 9 servings of cereals and millets. (Of 30-35gms each)
5 servings of fruits and vegetables. (100gm each)
5 portions of milk and milk products. (100gm each)
2 portions of pulses (30gm each)
1 portion of meat, egg, etc. (30gm)
5 portions of fats and sugars. (10gm each)
Take extra care of hygiene: It is very important to take extra care of hygienic. Make sure the food is prepared under hygienic conditions in the kitchen and fruits and vegetables are washed properly before use as harmful bacteria like Listeria and Toxoplasmagondii present in them can contaminate the food.
Make sure the food is thoroughly cooked: Pregnant women are exceedingly prone to salmonella infections. Therefore, food must be cooked properly before serving, especially, poultry, eggs, and meat.
Balance your cravings: Even though it’s normal to have cravings during this period, don’t indulge yourself in having too much of junk or unhygienic food preparations. Spicy foods should also be avoided. If you are having cravings for inedible items like clay, soil, chalk, etc. you must consult your gynecologist immediately.
Take proper supplements: Apart from the diet you take, it’s important to take up some supplements to cover up energy requirements. Normally Vitamin A supplements are given to pregnant women. De-warming supplements are also advised in some cases. It is advised to keep in constant touch with your gynecologist with regular checkups. Take supplements only on the medical recommendation of your gynecologist, as different bodies demand different medication.
There are some particular precautionary measures/tips; you will need to follow according to the stage of pregnancy you are going through. Here’s what you need to be aware of when it comes to food habits during pregnancy:
Complete Dietary Recommendation Guide for Pregnant Women
First Trimester
Take a small amount of food frequently: As the body changes, you will need to be careful to accommodate those changes to your body. Taking a small amount of food at a time will reduce a feeling of nausea and sickness that pregnant woman often feels at this stage.
Take adequate Calcium: Increase the intake of calcium foods in your diet (dairy foods) as it encourages healthy bone development which is very important for your changing body.
About Bansal Global Hospital
A world class private hospital located in North-West Delhi, the Bansal Global Hospital offers the best treatment possible and care to its patients round the clock (24×7). The multi-specialty Bansal Global Hospital provides specialist medical and surgical care ranging from simple day-case procedures to complex surgeries, blood and other tests in our state of the art pathology lab, digital X-rays, inpatient facilities. The hospital has dedicated inpatient facility, with all fully air-conditioned ensuite rooms. Our staff offer high quality services to ensure that your stay with us is as comfortable as possible in private and discrete facilities.
Address:
Bansal Global Hospital C-10 Ramgarh,, Near Jahangirpuri Metro Station, Delhi, 110033
Bansal Fracture, Gynae and Kids Clinic, E-1086 Saraswati Vihar, Pitampura, Delhi 110034
Neo Kidz Clinic, C-38 Raj Nagar, Pitampura, Delhi 110034
Tel: 011-27636400
Dr Suresh Bansal – Specialist Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr Bimla Bansal – Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Dr Neha Bansal – Child Specialist