2. Importance of Healthy Eating Before
and During Pregnancy
Maintaining a healthy balanced diet is
important for maintaining optimal health
throughout life. For women of childbearing
age, good nutrition is important for
preparing the body for the demands of
pregnancy.
3. During pregnancy, a woman’s macronutrient
(energy) and micronutrient (e.g. vitamins,
mineral) requirements increase, and it is even
more important that she consumes food which
will give her both the energy and the specific
micronutrients which are essential for
maintaining her and her growing baby’s health.
For example, women require an additional 240
calories of energy per day in the second trimester
and 452 calories per day in the third trimester of
pregnancy to account for foetal growth.
An additional 975 milligrams of iron is required in
the course of the pregnancy to form fetal and
additional maternal blood
4. Women who have an increased risk of
experiencing poor nutrition during
pregnancy include:
Women of low socioeconomic status who generally
have poorer nutrition and health and are more likely to
give birth to a low birth weight infants
Women who have recently given birth, as short birth
intervals do not give a woman’s body the chance to
recuperate and build up nutritional stores between
pregnancies
Women with multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.)
which place greater nutritional demand on the pregnant
woman’s body;
5. Impact of Poor Maternal
Nutrition
Maternal nutrient depletion may contribute to the
increased incidence of preterm births and fetal growth
retardation among these women as well as the
increased risk of maternal mortality and morbidity
Poor maternal weight gain in pregnancy due to an
inadequate diet, increases the risk of premature
delivery, low birth weight and birth defects
Poor iron and folic acid status has also been linked to
preterm births and fetal growth retardation.
Supplementation with food and micronutrients during
the inter pregnancy period may improve pregnancy
outcomes and maternal health among women with
early or closely spaced pregnancies.
6. Nutrition for pregnant and Breastfeeding
women
During pregnancy, one extra small meal should be
taken each day to provide energy and nutrition for the
pregnant mother and the growing baby.
During breastfeeding, two extra small meals should be
taken each day to provide energy for the lactating
mother and the growing baby.
Pregnant/lactating mothers need to eat the best foods
available including milk, fresh fruit , vegetables, meat ,
fish, eggs, grains , peas and beans.
Pregnant & lactating mothers should take fluids/ Liquids
whenever they are thirsty.
Limit the amount of teas/coffees during pregnancy .
7. Continued.....
Pregnant/lactating mothers should take iron &
folic acid tablets to prevent anemia.
Take Vitamin A immediately after delivery or
within 6 weeks so that your baby receives the
Vitamin A in your breast milk to help prevent
illness.
Pregnant mothers should use iodized salt to help
baby’s brain and body develop well
Take de-worming tablets to help prevent anemia.
Adolescent mothers need extra care, more food &
more rest than an older mother. They need to
nourish their own body, which is still growing, as
well as your growing baby’s.
