Food and nutrition during pregnancy

It is important for an expectant mother to eat a healthy diet. Unless she has a specific health problem (e.g., diabetes mellitus or edema) common sense nutritional advice should be followed: balancing carbohydrates, fat, and proteins; and eating a variety of foods, including dairy products and several fruits and vegetables, daily. A pregnant woman should consult her obstetrician for specific advice. Some specific nutritional needs for pregnancy include: Folic acid (also called folate or Vitamin B9) is strongly needed at the start of pregnancy, and even before conception. Folic acid is needed for the closing of fetus' neural tube. It thus helps prevent spina bifida, a very serious birth defect. Folates (from folia, leaf) are abundant in spinach (fresh, frozen or canned), and are also found in green vegetables, salads, melon, and hummus. In the United States, most wheat products (flour, noodles) are supplemented with folic acid. Calcium and iron are particularly needed by the rapidly growing fetus. Pregnant women should eat enough dairy products (for calcium) and red meat (for iron) if they are not vegetarian. Women are often prescribed iron pills, since many young women get slight anemia. Calcium is effective only if women also obtain enough Vitamin D. The best way to get vitamin D is to sunbathe each day for 10-15 min. Salmon and fatty fishes are also a good sources of vitamin D. Fluoride helps to build strong teeth by changing the nature of calcium crystals: if water or salt does not contain fluoride, it is wise to take fluoride mini-pills at the end of pregnancy and during breast-feeding (but high doses are toxic). In many American cities, drinking water is supplemented with fluoride. Some pregnant women suffer edema, and are told not to eat (too much) salt. Fat from salmon, trout, tuna, herring, sardine, and mackerel contain long-chain omega 3 (n-3) fatty acids that are needed to build neurone membranes. Thus fatty fish intake during pregnancy may provide nutrition for proper brain and retina development of the fetus. However, large fish such as tuna and swordfish may contain too much toxic mercury, and one should balance risks with benefits: fish two or three times a week seems to bring enough good fat, but not too much mercury. Dangerous bacteria or parasites may contaminate foods, particularly listeria and toxoplasma, toxoplasmosis agent. To avoid those two hazards, hygiene rules should be strictly adhered to: carefully wash fruits and raw vegetables; over-cook remainders, meat and processed meat; avoid raw-milk cheeses (listeria); try to avoid contact with cat feces (toxoplasma); clean the fridge often with diluted chlorine (then rinse).

Timeline of a typical pregnancy

First trimester

Traditionally, doctors have measured pregnancy from a number of convenient points, including the day of last menstruation, ovulation, fertilization, implantation and chemical detection. In medicine, pregnancy is often defined as beginning when the developing embryo becomes implanted into the endometrial lining of a woman's uterus. In some cases where complications may have arisen, the fertilized egg might implant itself in the fallopian tubes or the cervix, causing an ectopic pregnancy. Most pregnant women do not have any specific signs or symptoms of implantation, although it is not uncommon to experience light bleeding at implantation. Some women will also experience cramping during their first trimester. This is usually of no concern unless there is spotting or bleeding as well. The outer layers of the embryo grow and form a placenta, for the purpose of receiving essential nutrients through the uterine wall, or endometrium. The umbilical cord in a newborn child consists of the remnants of the connection to the placenta. The developing embryo undergoes tremendous growth and changes during the process of embryonic and fetal development. Morning sickness afflicts about seventy percent of all pregnant women, typically only in the first trimester.Most miscarriages occur during this period.

Second trimester

Months 4 through 6 of the pregnancy are called the second trimester. Most women feel more energized in this period, and begin to put on weight as the symptoms of morning sickness subside and eventually fade away. Although the fetus begins moving and takes a recognizable human shape during the first trimester, it is not until the second trimester that movement of the fetus, often referred to as "quickening", can be felt. This typically happens by the fourth month. The placenta is now fully functioning and the fetus is making insulin and urinating. The teeth are now formed inside the fetus' gums and the reproductive organs can be recognized, and can distinguish the fetus as male or female.

Third trimester

Final weight gain takes place, and the fetus begins to move regularly. The mother's belly button will sometimes "pop" out due to her growing belly. This period of her pregnancy can be uncomfortable, causing symptoms like weak bladder control and back-ache. Movement of the fetus becomes stronger and more frequent and the fetus prepares for viability outside the womb through improved brain, eye, and muscle function. The mother can feel the baby "rolling" and it may cause pain or discomfort when the baby is in the mother's ribs. It is during this time that a baby born prematurely may survive. The use of modern medical intensive care technology has greatly increased the probability of premature babies living, and has pushed back the boundary of viability to much earlier dates than would be possible without assistance. In spite of these developments, premature birth remains a major threat to the fetus, and may result in ill-health in later life, even if the baby survives.

Pregnancy symptoms

Symptoms of pregnancy may vary from woman to woman and even pregnancy to pregnancy. While not all will occur with every pregnancy and some symptoms are in fact rare, following is a list of some of the potential symptoms of pregnancy.

• Implantation, the female body begins to adjust to prenatal stage. There may be some twinge associated with implantation. (Generally 7-10 after fertilization.)
• Delayed or difference in menstruation.
• Minor vaginal bleeding (spotting).
• Swollen or tender breast, minor lactation in third trimester.
• Fatigue, also may experience sleeplessness.
• Nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, esp. the first trimester, most likely to start at around 7 weeks. (morning sickness).Lower backaches, but few pregnant women had serious back pain.Headaches, some may reach migraine level in others.Long frequent hiccuping spells.
• Enlarged feet and hands, or expanded buttocks.
• Frequent urination, sometimes random "drips" of urine.
• Constipation, but a few encounter random defecation.
• Food cravings, or increased appetite.
• Rational fear of increasingly imposing burden.
• Heartburn or upset stomach, but rarely may accompany vomiting.
• Stomach/intestinal gas, may be frequently flatulent or belch.
• Difficulty in walking and balance, some may be put on bedrest.
• Difficulty with contact or vision prescriptions.

Symptoms of pregnancy do not allow for a pregnancy diagnosis because each of these symptoms has the potential to be explained by other reasons (e.g. missing a period because of stress).

Pregnancy does have a minor, but noticed psychological effect by hormonal changes and chemical reactions in some women, known as "mood swings" that are controlled. She may experience periods of enhanced content, excitement or fickleness, and melancholy, anxiety or angst, but it often depends on how the pregnant woman views herself and attitudes on her condition in various ways.