Pregnancy

Educate yourself about pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a thrilling and wonderful part of a woman's life. But, it can also be a little scary. Every woman has questions about what to do and what not to do, to make sure she has a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Some women have problem-free pregnancies, but many women encounter some discomforts along the way.

Over the nine months of pregnancy you will be going through many different and exciting changes, as well as some challenges. By educating yourself about pregnancy, you can learn what you need to do to keep both you and your precious baby healthy. Enjoy your new adventure!

Have a healthy pregnancy

It is often thought that pregnant women should eat for two, and in a sense this statement is true. We have develop this pregnancy section as an introduction to nutrition in pregnancy.

What you eat during each trimester may effect the health and well-being of your child. That said, it is important that expecting mums digest the information on these pages as well as consulting other pregnancy - nutrition literature.

The power of protein

An increase of 10 g of protein per day will allow your baby to optimally grow and develop. 10 grams of protein can be found in:

• Half a pint of semi or skimmed milk
• Half a tin of tuna fish
• Two or three slices of wholemeal bread

It's all in the preparation

Lead is harmful to an unborn child. It is found in regular tap water and some soft drinks cartons. Reduce your contact with lead by:

• Use filtered tap water / bottled water
• Store fruit juices in plastic / glass container

Eat a little extra!

Expecting mums should eat on average 150 calories extra during trimesters 1 and 2 and 300 cals extra during the third. This approach will give you the extra energy needed to cope with pregnancy and natural milk development.

Gaining a little weight

It is perfectly normal to gain 26 - 32 pounds during pregnancy, but don't worry, just look out for the pregnancy and exercise articles in your women's lifestyle online magazine.