Nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy have a significant impact on the development and health of the child. A healthy diet and good health are the main criteria for the mother to meet the baby’s nutritional needs during pregnancy. Some women do not lead a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, eat poorly, abuse alcohol and smoking, and do not have physical activity. As a result, this can lead to improper development of the child and future serious diseases.
In order to avoid possible health problems for the child, one needs to start with proper nutrition. Koletzko et al. (2019) state that the focus should be on foods with high levels of nutrients rather than food as usual. Poor nutrition can cause obesity in the mother, leading to cardiovascular and other diseases in the child. Lack of nutrition and being underweight can also negatively affect the health of the unborn child. To avoid health problems in the future, it is important to eat properly during pregnancy, as well as to maintain a balance of essential vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.
During pregnancy, a woman needs more iron than usual because the blood volume increases to meet the growing fetus’s needs. Iron deficiency can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, headaches, and anemia. Pathirathna et al. (2020) claim that anemia can lead to poor cognitive development. In addition, iron reserves are created in the fetus during pregnancy, which will be used in the first months of life. This vitamin can be obtained both from food and taken in the form of tablets or capsules.
Folate should be consumed both before and during pregnancy because it has many favorable properties, as it is involved in the construction of DNA. During pregnancy, the organs of the fetus develop, including the brain. At this stage, the incorrect development of even a few cells can violate the entire system. Folate can only be obtained from food, but a synthetic form of folic acid can be obtained from tablets.
In conclusion, expectant mothers need to properly prepare for pregnancy, with the help of doctors to determine the necessary diet and a set of necessary vitamins. This is necessary for the fetus to develop properly and to avoid health problems in the future. It is essential to lead a healthy lifestyle and eliminate bad habits that can harm the unborn child.
References
Koletzko, B., Godfrey, K. M., Poston, L., Szajewska, H., van Goudoever, J. B., de Waard, M., Brands, B., Grivell, R. M., Deussen, A. R., Dodd, J. M., Patro-Golab, B., & Zalewski, B. M. (2019). Nutrition during pregnancy, lactation and early childhood and its implications for maternal and long-term child health: The early nutrition project recommendations. Annals of Nutrition and Methabolism, 74. Web.
Pathirathna, M. L., Wimalasiri, K. M. S., Sekijima, K., & Sadakata, M. (2020). Maternal compliance to recommended iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, Sri Lanka: A hospital based cross-sectional study. Nutrients, 12. Web.