SingaporeMotherhood | Pregnancy

February 2012

How to Eat Well for Two: Nutrition during Pregnancy

As the saying goes, “you are what you eat”, so choose your food well, as this will provide the necessary building blocks for a healthy baby. Proper nutrition will provide your body with the resources it requires during pregnancy. Proper nutrition is also essential for the healthy development of your baby.

The Health Promotion Board and Senior Dietitians from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Ms Lim Siew Choo and Ms Nehal Kamdar, offer advice on foods that are beneficial for mums-to-be during pregnancy, and those which should be consumed in moderation.

FOOD FOR GROWTH

Recommended Daily Intake

Over the course of pregnancy, the mother’s total weight gain should be 11-15 kg (for women of normal weight before pregnancy), with an approximate gain of 0.45 kg per week from the second trimester onwards.

Most of this weight is due to the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid, and approximately 3 kg is stored as fat in the mother in preparation for breastfeeding.

Dieting during pregnancy is not advised as this will reduce the amount of nutrients available for the baby’s development. If you stay within recommended daily food intake guidelines, it should not take long to return to your pre-pregnancy weight after delivery.

A pregnant mother only requires 2,200 calories per day during the first trimester and an additional 300 calories per day from the second trimester onwards.

Since this “quota” is easily reached, it is important to choose food that will fulfil for your additional nutritional needs. Some food combinations which make up 300 calories include:

  • 2 thin slices of pork, ½ cup of cabbage, 1 carrot
  • 2 slices of bread with cheese and margarine
  • 1 cup of low fat yoghurt, 1 medium-sized apple, 1 cup of lettuce
  • 1 chicken curry bun and 1 bowl of tau huay (beancurd)

The table below summarises nutrients which are required for your baby’s development, as well as the foods that are rich in these nutrients. A description of each nutrient follows.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is required for cell growth and is often prescribed during the first trimester. A deficiency in folic acid increases the chances of neural-tube defects such as spina bifida, where the spinal cord and nerves are exposed at the base of the baby’s spine.

Iron and Vitamin C

Iron is required for blood formation in both mother and baby, while Vitamin C aids iron absorption and boosts the body’s immune system. An increased iron intake is required to build up the iron stores in the baby for the first six months of life. Because the blood volume in a pregnant woman increases by up to 50%, iron deficiency can cause the mother to become anaemic and feel tired easily. As Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, it has to be taken on a daily basis.

Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium is required to develop strong bones and teeth, as well as healthy nerves and heart muscles in the baby, while Vitamin D aids calcium absorption. Failure to take sufficient calcium during pregnancy may deplete the mother’s calcium stores. Vitamin D may be manufactured by the body just by having ten to 15 minutes of exposure to sunlight (although the noon-day sun should be avoided).

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is important for the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system while EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) benefits the heart and the immune system. An increased intake of DHA and EPA also lowers the risk of pre-term labour and post-natal depression.

FOOD THAT SHOULD BE CONSUMED IN MODERATION

Caffeine

Studies have shown that high levels of caffeine in the mother may affect the development of the baby’s respiratory system and increase the risk of miscarriage. In addition, every 150 mg of caffeine consumed causes approximately 5 mg of calcium to be excreted from the body.

Pregnant women are advised to limit their caffeine intake to 200 mg daily, and to allow at least half an hour between taking caffeine and calcium supplements. Caffeine may be found in several food items as listed below:

Some Types of Fishes

While fish is an important source of Omega-3, Vitamin B and other nutrients, some large fishes contain high levels of mercury due to environmental pollution. Because mercury affects the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system, it is best to consume various fishes within the following recommended limits as recommended by American Pregnancy.

Fortunately, some fishes which provide a good source of Omega-3 contain low amounts of mercury and are relatively safer to consume. However, mothers who are concerned about the mercury levels can seek their gynaecologists’ or dietitians’ recommendations for high quality purified fish oil supplements, in which the toxins have been removed.

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How to Eat Well for Two: Nutrition during Pregnancy