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Importance
of diet when planning to have a baby.
Alyson Carter
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When
planning for a baby, a healthy diet will provide both you and your
partner with the nutrients needed to prepare your bodies for
conception. It takes 3-4 months for 'new' eggs and sperms to
develop and so it is important that over this time span certain
guidelines are followed to maximise the chances of them being
healthy.
When you
are pregnant, or even just considering it, what you eat is vital for
the development and well being of your unborn baby and may affect its
future health. So if you are planning pregnancy in the near future,
the earlier you start assessing your diet and making relevant changes
the better, if you want to give your unborn the best start in life!
Being a
healthy body weight is important when considering pregnancy. If you
are under weight it can be more difficult to conceive, primarily
because there may not be enough 'fat' in the system to transport
the all important hormones such as oestrogen, FSH (follicle
stimulating hormone) and testosterone round the body. Women who are
very overweight may also have problems conceiving and when pregnant
may suffer complications with the birth.
Eating a
healthy diet is also important for men who are hoping to become dads.
There have been many studies confirming the importance of specific
nutrients such as zinc and selenium for male sperm quality. It is
also essential for men to stick firmly within the alcohol limits -
ideally avoid completely but certainly not exceeding 2-3 units per
day.
Eat
regular meals and snacks within a healthy regime which includes the
following:
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Wholegrain
carbohydrates such as brown pasta, rice and bread.
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At
least 5-7 portions of fruit and vegetables per day - especially
dark coloured berries and green vegetables.
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At
least 3 portions of dairy produce per day - drink semi skimmed
milk and eat pro biotic yogurts - avoid 'very low fat'
versions, as, as previously mentioned, some fat is needed to
transport hormones around the body.
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Lean
sources of protein such as meat, chicken, fish and eggs (well
cooked), beans and pulses.
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Occasional
fat rich and sugary foods.
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At
least 8 medium glasses of fluid per day - diluted fruit juice,
water or herbal teas are ideal.
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Very
little or no alcohol or caffeine.
The above
plan includes all the nutrients required to prepare the body for
pregnancy - calcium from diary products, zinc, protein and iron
from protein sources, all the vitamins, especially Vitamin C, from
lots of varied fruit and vegetables and the all important B vitamins,
essential for growth and energy, from whole grains.
Indeed,
once pregnant, the digestive system in pregnant women changes and
becomes more efficient at absorbing the nutrients, and, in fact most
of the additional nutrients can be met by eating a well-balanced and
varied diet.
So the old
adage 'eating for two' does not mean that you should eat twice as
much food!!
 A top tip from our resident Medical Herbalist David Hammond
Heartburn
Because the internal
organs become compressed during pregnancy, heart burn can become a
serious problem. Use of antacid preparations should be avoided unless
advised by your doctor or midwife. However, there are a number of
soothing herbs that can help. Slippery Elm Bark powder is the first
port of call here. It can be stirred into a little cold water, and
then into hot water. Alternatively, it can be stirred into hot milk
or even hot chocolate drink. Slippery elm powder can also be obtained
in capsules. However, in my opinion, it is more effective if taken in
a drink. Two heaped teaspoons full, taken four to six times a day is
usually enough, however there are other herbs that can be taken if
this is not fully effective.
David was kind enough to write a paper on using herbs for pregnancy. You can find it by clicking HERE.
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