You are besides yourself with joy as you see that your pregnancy test is postive. You look down and begin stroking your stomach, knowing that you now have a life growing inside you. The next nine months are going to be an exciting time for you and your baby. You know that you now have a life growing inside of you, and as your baby gets bigger, you will start to feel it move. Your baby is going to go from a single sperm and egg into pounds of adorable flesh that you can’t help but kiss over and over again. It truly is a miracle.
For this miracle to have the best chance, it’s essential that you eat healthy throughout your pregnancy. For many the first three months are the most challenging in terms of maintaining a healthy eating plan, due to morning sickness and certain food aversions. If you are one of the rare lucky ones whose stomach doesn’t so much as move during your first trimester, then you can take full advantage of eating healthy right out of the gate.
Making sure you eat balanced nutritious meals is laying down the foundation for your baby. Having a diet of junk food is not going to provide your baby with all the essential nutrients it needs for growing. Potato chips will not help with brain development. To give your baby and your body a good foundation for growth, it requires an adequate amount of calcium and vitamins.
Having a good eating plan during your pregnancy will give your baby the right tools for when they start eating solids. As your pregnancy progresses, some of what you eat will cross the placenta and the taste will be in your baby’s amniotic fluid. When your baby swallows some of this amniotic fluid, with their developed taste buds, they will also experience some of the flavors. Doctors now believe that babies that are exposed to a variety of vegetables and fruits while still in utero, will probably be less of a fussy eater later in life. They believe that these are the babies who will eat their fruit and vegetables without putting up any fight.
Many doctors believe that pregnant women who consume milk during their pregnancy, will have a much easier time weaning their babies off formula or breast milk onto regular milk later on. However, this is only one benefit, the other great benefit of consuming milk during your pregnancy is the calcium that your baby gets for their bone development. Many doctors will suggest that you drink at least one eight oz glass of milk per day, preferably fat free. Calcium is essential for your baby’s bones and teeth, although you will only see them when they become a few months old.
Throughout your pregnancy, you don’t need to avoid all sweets. You can certainly indulge in them every now and again. You may find that you experience cravings, that require you to indulge a bit more regularly. You do have to keep it in moderation. Bear in mind, that being pregnant for nine months doesn’t mean that you get to eat whatever you want. Both you and your baby could pay a dear price.
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