During pregnancy it is important to eat a variety of food from all five food groups and eat the correct nutrients to support the health of the mother and the growing baby. 

 

 

Another protective factor for foetal development is having the correct intake of folate and folic acid. This is necessary during pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and spina bifida. To get the right daily intake of folate you can eat green leafy vegetables and fruit (citrus, berries, bananas) or you can take folic acid supplements.  

 

Iodine is essential for the babies’ brain and nervous system development. Inadequate iodine intake during pregnancy increases the risk of mental impairment and cretinism in the baby. Cretinism is a condition of severely stunted physical and mental growth. Good sources of iodine seafood, seaweed, egg, meat and dairy products.

 

Consuming alcohol during pregnancy is also a risk factor for foetal health and it is recommended that pregnant women do not drink any alcohol at all. The consumption of alcohol increases the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, congenital deformities and effects on the baby’s intelligence. Too much alcohol during pregnancy can change the way a baby’s face, organs, brain and nervous system develop. This causes learning difficulties and lifelong problems with movement and coordination. The term for these problems is called foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

It is very important for pregnant women to get the right amount of nutrients by eating a healthy and balanced diet from the five food groups. A pregnant women needs to boost her nutrient intake, rather than her kilojoule intake. There is no need for women to eat for two when they are having a baby, during the first trimester the mother’s energy intake should remain the same as before she was pregnant. During the second and third trimester the energy needs of a pregnant women needs to increase. 

Pregnant women often suffer from nutrition deficiency if they are not eating the right amount of nutrients in their diet. This is due to the baby getting the nutrients first before they go to the mother. That is why it is so important for the mother to eat a balanced diet. 

Another risk for pregnant women is gestational diabetes, which is the condition of abnormally raised blood sugar levels in the second half of pregnancy. This occurs from too much sugar in the diet and increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life. 

 

Protein is also an essential nutrient as it supports changes in the body such as increased breast tissue. 

 

Eating foods high in fibre such as vegetables, fruit, legumes, wholegrain and water are also important for the women’s health during pregnancy to avoid constipation, which is a common occurrence during pregnancy.  i