Nutrition for the Expectant Mum

EXPECTANT women are advised to eat 300 to 800 calories more per day, and gain from 11.25 to 15.75kg during their pregnancy (up to 18kg for those who are underweight). For some women, these numbers can be scary, but most are aware that the additional food intake is essential for foetal health and development. Caloric quality, however, is just as if not even more important. In most cases, expectant women find it easier to eat five to six small meals throughout the day. The following are the daily recommendations for what to eat during pregnancy:
? 6 to 11 servings of grain products
? 6 to 8 glasses of fluids

? 4 to 6 servings of milk and milk products
? 3 to 5 servings of vegetables
? 3 to 4 servings of meat and proteins
? 2 to 4 servings of fruits

Women who have difficulty gaining weight need to be more creative about getting the nutrients and can benefit from fortified foods produced expressly for pregnant women. These can range from protein-enriched beverages to fortified juices and dairy products, or through the simple addition of a tablespoon peanut butter to fruit or crackers and non-fat powdered milk to mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs and soups.

On the opposite end of the scale, excessive weight gain can be dangerous for both mother and baby. A new study shows that obesity in pregnant mothers contributes to higher body fat in newborns. The research, which reviewed data from more than 74,000 births, found that a key measure of body fat composition in newborns increased significantly over a 15-year period, mirroring similar increases amongst pregnant mothers.

According to the study by researchers from Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, as the body mass index of pregnant mothers increased from the years 1990 to 2005, so did a measure of body fat composition in newborns. "Health care providers need to pay closer attention to the body mass index of women before they get pregnant, and equal attention to how much weight they gain during the pregnancy," said lead investigator Felix Okah, MD, MS, professor of paediatrics and director, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. "Adult diseases like obesity may have their foundation during the foetal period, so efforts to safeguard the health of the foetus could translate to future adult health for these newborns."

Gestational diabetes is another risk associated with overweight. Recent research also demonstrates the importance of treating pregnant women at risk of the mildest forms of gestational diabetes to reduce healthcare risks for both infants and mothers. If a woman has elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy, the foetus may also experience high blood sugar levels. As a result, the foetus makes extra insulin, which can lead to excess body fat.

Previous studies have suggested that larger babies have an increased frequency of long-term complications such as childhood diabetes and a risk for type II diabetes throughout their lifetime, according to Dr Mark Landon, lead investigator in a clinical trial on diet intervention and frequent glucose monitoring in the management of mild gestational diabetes.

Through diet intervention along with close monitoring using a portable metre (at least four glucose tests per day), 93 per cent of women managed to control blood sugar, whereas only 7 per cent required insulin injections to control blood sugar. "Considering the potential downstream effects on the infants, treatment at this stage might serve to control the amount of diabetes in the future," noted Dr Langdon.

Positive effects of fortification

To make up for any nutritional deficiencies as well as respond to specific nutritional requirements of the pregnant mom and her baby, she is advised to take so-called "prenatalLebron Soldiers XI 11