[H109]Having A Healthy Pregnancy

Everyone knows that most all of us feel much better and work much better when eating a balanced diet. Planning and following a good diet before pregnancy ensures that your developing fetus receives good nutrition during the first few weeks or months of your pregnancy.
Generally speaking, a woman will great care of herself once she finds out she is pregnant. By planning ahead, she will almost guarantee that her baby has a healthy environment for the entire nine months of her pregnancy and not only the six or seven months she discovers her pregnancy. When she maps out her nutrition plan, she is creating an environment in which the baby will be conceived and will develop and grow.
Before you even try to get pregnant, you have to pay attention to your weight. Try not to be too overweight or too underweight. Either of these conditions can make pregnancy more rough for you.
Do not diet during pregnancy or while you are trying to get pregnant. And certainly do not take diet pills, unless you are using reliable contraception. Consult your doctor if you are considering a special diet for weight reduction or weight gain before you even attempt to get pregnant. Dieting may cause temporary deficiencies in vitamins and minerals that both you and your developing baby need.
Do not self medicate with big doses of wild combinations of vitamins, minerals, or herbs. Believe it or not, you can actually overdo these. Certain vitamins, such as vitamin A, can cause birth defects if used in large amounts. As a general rule, cease all extra supplementation at least 3 months before pregnancy. Eat a well-balanced diet and take one multivitamin or one prenatal vitamin a day. Most doctors are thrilled to prescribe prenatal vitamins if you are planning a pregnancy.
Folic acid is a B vitamin that can contribute to a healthy pregnancy. If a prospective mother takes 0.4mg of folic acid each day, starting three or four months before pregnancy begins, it may protect her developing baby against various birth defects of the spine and brain, called neural-tube defects.
One such defect, spina bifida, afflicts about 4000 babies born in the United States every year. It usually develops during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Studies have shown that about 75% of all cases can be prevented if a mother to be takes folic acid. As you plan your pregnancy, ask your physician about supplementation.
Just remember that the key to good nutrition is balance. Eat a balanced diet. Going to extremes with vitamins or fad diets can be harmful to you and your growing baby. It could even make you feel very run down during pregnancy.