Healthy food habits leads to a healthy body. A nutritious diet is very important for your body, mind and soul. During Pregnancy women should understand the importance of nutritious and healthy food options, beneficial for you and for your baby. Although some of the old tales are a myth. Check out below given tips to help you adopt a healthy lifestyle and food habits while pregnancy.
Following tips should be followed during pregnancy
- Keep your body well hydrated; drink at least 3 litres of water a day. This will protect you from problems like urine infection.
- Divide your food into 6 meals including 3 major meals including whole grains, green leafy vegetables, lentils etc and 3 mini milks including lots of fruits, milk and dairy products. The baby needs food after short intervals.
- Food and dietary supplements such as folic acid, iron, calcium etc suggested by the doctor should be followed properly. These help to prevent your baby from various diseases and birth defects
- Avoid JUNK food and aerated drinks, replace them with healthy snacks and juice although occasional consumption of such foods is not harmful.
Foods to eat during pregnancy
There are certain foods which are very important and must be included in your daily diet if you are not already eating them.
- HIGH FIBRE: Consuming food items with high fibre content will help to prevent discomforts like heartburn, indigestion etc.
- Yoghurt: Yoghurt is a good source of protein and has even more calcium than milk.
- BROCCOLI: it is a rich source of calcium and vitamin C, b6 and folate which is essential for baby’s growth.
- BEANS: beans and lentils are foods rich in folate, iron and protein, which help prevent constipation and haemorrhoids during pregnancy.
Food to Avoid during Pregnancy
- UNCOOKED FOODS: Avoid certain dishes with uncooked or semi-cooked food like sunny side up eggs , half-boiled eggs , sushi etc as these foods may contain some infectious bacteria which may cause health problems like diarrhoea or food poisoning.
- EXCESS COFFEE: if taken in small amounts once or twice a day causes no harm but acts as a stress buster, but excess use of coffee may lead to high risk of miscarriage and low birth weight during maternity.
Certain Myths not so True about Nutrition
- Saffron milk gives the baby a fair colour: actually saffron is considered good in pregnancy because it is a muscle relaxer and prevents acidity.
- Leave your favourite foods: Everything you love eating if consumed in a limit will not harm you or your baby.
Tips to Select the Best Maternity Hospitals
Motherhood is an extremely beautiful experience in every woman’s life. News of the addition of a member to the family brings a smile to everybody’s face, especially to the mother. The pregnant woman thinks about all the perspectives when it comes to choosing a hospital for her delivery.They have to check whether their gynaecologist/obstetrician work at the hospital of their choice, quality of the hospital care, their health insurance, paying hospital bills, etc. Evaluate your choice carefully before finalizing a hospital to avoid any sort of issues or problems when the big day arrives.
Checklist to Consider while Selecting a Maternity Hospital
- Nutritionist- The hospital should have qualified nutritionist to help the mothers-to- be to eat healthily and nourish themselves and fetus.
- Fitness during Pregnancy- Selected hospital should offer fitness classes for the expecting mothers to maintain their weight.
- Tests and Vaccinations – Try to select the hospital, which has its own laboratories for speedy diagnosis.
- Lactation Consultant – Check whether any lactation consultant is assigned to the hospital to educate you on the benefits of breastfeeding.
- Location of the Hospital – Choose a hospital, which is nearby your area to avoid long travel and hassles during labor pains.
- Qualified Medical Consultants – Make sure the hospital you choose has all the qualified required doctors i.e. neonatologist, pediatrician, obstetrician, others in case of emergencies.
Complete Maternity Setup
- Make sure the hospital is equipped with spacious labor and recovery rooms.
- Check whether the maternity wards are full most of the time and if there is a possibility for you to get a private room.
- Patient to nurse ratio should be satisfying to get ample support as your transition into motherhood.
- The hospital should have NICU facility and staffed with qualified critical care nurses and doctors.
Read also: What is Personal Hygiene in Nursing and How Nurses Help Patients
Birthing Plan
Have a word with your doctor regarding what kind of birth is expected in your case. If C-section is expected, then make sure the hospital is having specialized trauma care for any unknown complications.
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