Recommended Diet for Pregnant Women

The main principle of the diet of pregnant women is actually not just losing weight or limiting calories, but refers to improving diet to meet the nutrients needed. Therefore, let's get to know the diet of pregnant women like what pregnant women should do. Every pregnant woman has a different weight, depending on the condition of the weight before pregnancy. This will then determine the target of weight gain and recommended eating patterns during pregnancy.

Recommended Pregnant Women Weight Based on BMI

Before recognizing pregnant women diet tips, it is important for pregnant women to understand that there are four weight groups of pregnant women and their weight gain targets according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). The first is a group of pregnant women with underweight (BMI <18) who need to gain weight by 13-18 kg during pregnancy. Then the group of pregnant women with normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9) who need to gain weight as much as 11.5-18 kg. Next is the group of pregnant women with excess body weight (BMI 25-29.9) which is sufficient to increase body weight by 7-11.5 kg. Then finally, a group of obese pregnant women (BMI> 30) who are advised to increase body weight by only 5-9 kg during pregnancy. Given the differences in target weight gain needed during pregnancy, the recommended recommendations for pregnant women can also vary. Some need to increase the amount of food intake, but there are also those who need to limit it so as not to overdo it. Even so, adequate intake of nutrients needed in pregnancy must be the main focus in the diet of pregnant women.

Various Tips on Recommended Pregnant Women Diet

As long as pregnant women eat healthy food and drinks, weight gain is nothing to worry about. In fact, pregnant women are encouraged to eat three times a day by consuming healthy snacks regularly, even if they do not feel hungry. That's because when pregnant women are not hungry, the fetus in the womb may not necessarily feel the same thing. It's just, pregnant women should not eat, Know what kind of nutritional intake that must be met. If necessary, calculate your daily calorie needs with your obstetrician, then adjust to your pregnant mother's daily diet. Make sure your diet or diet that you live contains the nutrients you need. Here are the nutritional intake that needs to be considered in the diet of pregnant women:

Folic acid

Adequate folic acid intake is very important for the growth of placental and baby cells. The reason, folic acid is thought to reduce the risk of heart problems, preeclampsia, and neural tube defects. Dishes rich in folic acid include beef liver, spinach, broccoli, bananas, and cereal.

Iron

Not only folic acid, foods containing iron are also important for pregnant women. This is because the need for iron during pregnancy will increase, along with the increase in blood volume to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. Pregnant women can eat bread, wheat products, nuts, and red meat to get iron intake.

Iodine

Iodine is a mineral that plays an important role in supporting fetal growth and development. Lack of iodine intake can increase the risk of mental disorders and cretinism in newborns. Examples of foods that are rich in iodine are meat, eggs, milk, and salt. In addition to the three important nutrients above, pregnant women also need to consume other foods rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, and supplements recommended by doctors to support the health of pregnant women and babies in the womb. A pregnant woman's diet does not mean losing weight, but improving nutrition intake in order to achieve a healthy pregnancy. Measure your weight and BMI before pregnancy, so that your pregnant woman can find out how much weight gain is recommended during pregnancy. Pregnant women can also consult an obstetrician regarding a good diet for pregnant women and recommended daily calorie intake.