Nutrition Before Pregnancy

So you have decided to have a baby and you know that eating well and eating the right healthy foods will ensure the well being of your baby.  Now is the time to plan for the good health of your baby by eating nutritionally sound meals so your baby will have a good health environment to grow in. 

Since you have decided to start a family you should begin evaluating what you are eating to make sure you are getting enough nutrient stored in your body to carry your baby full term.  First thing to do to make sure you have the nutrients you need is to take  a prenatal supplement with the proper amount of folic acid.  Check with your doctor for recommendation of the amount  you should take.  Some of the benefits of Folic Acid are:

• Helps to prevent congenital disorder like spinal bifida
• Helps facilitate proper cell growth
• Helps proper development of the embryo
• Helps reduce risk of neural tube defects
• Helps reduce the risk of recurrent miscarriage
• Helps reduce the risk of preterm delivery and even low birth weight babies.

The importance of a balanced diet is a known part of good health in anyone’s life, but it’s even more important when you are pregnant.  Just remember that the only nutrients your baby gets is through you and what you eat.

Nutrition During Pregnancy

Now you are pregnant it’s essential for you to continue eating as good as you can through the nine months of your pregnancy.  One thing to realize and be careful of within the first three months is how hard it is to eat a balanced diet when you are having morning sickness and food aversions.  Eating junk food is not going to help your baby and give your baby the nutrients they need.

When you eat well during your pregnancy it helps your baby eat well after she/he is born.  Research has shown that what your baby is exposed to when developing like fruit and vegetables will be less fussy when they are growing up.

One of the most important nutrients that you and your baby needs is iron.  Not having enough iron could lead to anemia.  If you think that you are not getting enough iron check with your doctor about taking an iron supplement.

Finally, one of the best things you can do for your baby and yourself for that matter is eating right during your pregnancy.  Just look at the foods in your diet and make sure that they provide the nutrients you and your baby needs.

Nutrition After Pregnancy

Just as important as good nutrition before and during pregnancy is the importance of proper nutrition after the birth of your baby. It should be easy to continue your good eating habits by eating a good-quality diet just as you have been doing.  If you are not going to breastfeed you should eat just the way you were prior to getting pregnant.  If you are breastfeeding you need special nutritional management.

You will have a few problems after the birth of the baby as far as you are concerned like getting your iron back up to normal again, dealing with fatigue, maybe a little constipation here and there but just take a creative approach to your eating habits by choosing the right foods will help.  The secret to post-pregnancy nutrition is to gradually regain a desirable figure, while maintaining or restocking nutrient stores.

It is also important to first consult your physician before starting any physical activity program to start your healing process.  Ask your doctor about any precautions you need to take before you start getting your body back in shape again to prevent any injuries you could experience.

There is a lot of changes for your family when you bring your baby home.  My daughter had her baby five weeks ago and the biggest change she has is in sleep, or rather lack of sleep.  Because every child is different you can’t basic it on your other children.  Even though some babies start early sleeping through the night, others make you wonder if you will ever sleep again.

You’ve heard the advice given to moms, sleep when the baby sleeps.  While this may seem simplistic, it really does help. This one isn’t much fun. The free time and quiet time with your spouse (and yourself!) is eliminated.  Many moms treat nap times as work times, to get things done.  But if you aren’t well rested, you won’t enjoy time with the baby when she/he  awaken and ready to play.

Some babies are born with a “different clock”; they seem to want to be awake at night and asleep during the day.  While still in the womb, babies were rocked to sleep during the day by the mother’s movements.  Then when mom settled down for the night, the babies think it’s time to become more active.  So, once the little one arrives, it will take some time to adjust to the new routine and will develop good nighttime habits.

Even though it may be difficult at first, it is important to remind yourself that eventually things will settle into a normal routine.  Daytime napping will change.  But what is normal for one family isn’t for another.  You have to find what works for yours.  Start to establish a nap and bedtime routine as soon as you come home from the hospital, start with the basics.  It will help the transition, and hopefully the baby will start sleeping regularly for you at bedtime.

If your baby seems to be a night owl, and you want them to go to sleep at an earlier hour, try adjusting the time a little bit each day.  It can also be a help to dim the lights as it gets closer to bedtime.  This can help the baby adjust and realize it’s time to sleep soon.  Sounds helps, turn off the TV and maybe play some gentle music.  It will help both of you relax.  Once the baby is in a deep sleep, spend a little more time pampering yourself before getting some sleep.

Babies get hungry during the night’s.  How you handle night-time feedings can make a difference to how much sleep everyone gets. Night waking is not always the answer.  If you are nursing, keeping the baby’s crib in your room, or even co-sleeping, can reduce the amount of time it takes to get back to sleep.  If you are bottle-feeding, you can ask your partner to take a turn feeding the baby during the night so that you get a little extra sleep.

All babies take time to begin sleeping through the night and it won’t happen overnight.  As long as you are consistent in your approach, everyone will soon find they are sleeping better.  Remind yourself that you aren’t a bad parent if you baby doesn’t begin sleeping well right away.  It just takes time.

Do you have any tips to help teach newborns and mom’s to sleep better?  Go down to the comment section and let us here them.

Baby Sleep Solution Some good information if you still having sleeping problems.

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Increases in preterm birth and preterm-related infant mortality account for much of the lack of decline in the United States’ infant mortality rate from 2000 to 2005.

There are large differences in infant mortality rates by race and ethnicity. Non-Hispanic black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Puerto Rican women have the highest infant mortality rates; rates are lowest for Asian or Pacific Islander, Central and South American, and Cuban women.

Source:  CDC

US scientists tested umbilical cord blood and found higher levels of immunoglobulin E – a protein linked to allergies – among babies whose mothers were stressed while pregnant.

Previous animal experiments have also suggested that a combination of stress and allergy triggers during pregnancy can affect an offspring’s immune system.

Source: Daily Mail