Pregnancy Diet: Nutrients You Need. Eating a healthy, balanced diet while you're pregnant protects you and your growing baby. Although you should take a prenatal vitamin as insurance, choosing the right foods will help give you the complex mix of nutrients that pregnant women need. Aim for meals high in these important nutrients: Calcium. Baby Benefits: Builds bones and teeth. It may also help prevent high blood pressure while you're pregnant. Pregnancy RDA: 1,0. ![]() Best Food Sources: Yogurt, plain, low- fat, 1 cup - - 4. Yogurt, low- fat fruit flavored, 1 cup - - 3. Milk, plain or flavored, 1 cup - - about 3. Orange juice, calcium- added, 1 cup - - 3. Cheddar cheese, 1 oz - - 2. Tofu, firm, prepared with calcium sulfate and magnesiumchloride, 1/4 block - - 1. ![]() Join now to receive free weekly newsletters tracking your baby By Debby Amis, RN, BSN, CD(DONA), LCCE, FACCE. Learn as much as possible about the wonderful ways that your body is changing and about how your baby. Eating a healthy, balanced diet while you're pregnant protects you and your growing baby. Although you should take a prenatal vitamin as insurance, choosing the right. Cottage cheese, 2% milk fat, 1 cup - - 1. Choline. Baby Benefits: Helps prevent problems in the spinal cord and brain, called neural tube defects, and enhances brain development. Your Benefits: Builds strong bones and may help prevent high blood pressure. Pregnancy RDA: 4. Best Food Sources: Egg, 1 cooked - - 2. Pork tenderloin, 3 oz cooked - - 1. Atlantic cod, 3 oz cooked - - 8. Ground beef, 3 oz cooked - - 8. Salmon, 3 oz cooked - - 6. Chicken, 3 oz cooked - - 6. Broccoli or cauliflower, 1 1/4 cup cooked - - 4. Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)DHA is one of the omega- 3 fatty acids. Baby Benefits: Helps boost brain development and vision. Your Benefits: May reduce your risk of heart disease in the future. Pregnancy RDA: 3. Your PCOS Pregnancy Diet. You know how much I believe in the power of a PCOS diet and food to manage PCOS so it comes as no surprise that diet would be top of. Why you need iron during pregnancy. Even before you're pregnant, your body needs iron for several reasons: It's essential for making hemoglobin, the protein in red. The Fourth Month: What to Eat: Here is a plan you can follow during the 4th month of pregnancy diet. High Fiber: This is the perfect time for you to start building. Best Food Sources: Coho salmon, farmed, 3 oz cooked - - 7. Blue crab, 3 oz cooked - - 1. Canned light tuna, drained, 3 oz - - 1. Catfish, 3 oz cooked - - 1. Fortified eggs - - 8. Continued. Folic Acid. Baby Benefits: Helps protect against spinal cord birth defects during the first 3. Your Benefits: Prevents anemia. Pregnancy RDA: 6. Best Food Sources. Lentils, 1 cup cooked - - 3. Spinach, 1 cup cooked - - 2. White enriched rice, 1 cup cooked - - 1. Enriched spaghetti, 1 cup cooked - - 1. Broccoli, 1 cup cooked - - 1. Orange juice, 1 cup - - 1. Enriched bread, 2 slices - - 3. Iodine. Baby Benefits: Needed for brain and nervous system development; important for preventing stunted growth, severe mental disability, and deafness; important in preventing miscarriage and stillbirth. Your Benefits: Important for a healthy thyroid. Pregnancy RDA: 2. Best Food Sources. Cod, 3 oz - - 9. 9 mcg. The neural tube (from which the brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves and backbone develop), heart and other organs are beginning to form. This is when it's especially important to be careful about what you put in your body. Tips (For Months 1- 4)Month 2 (weeks 5- 8)Month 3 (weeks 9- 1. Month 4 (weeks 1. Month 5 (weeks 1. Month 6 (weeks 2. Month 7 (weeks 2. Month 8 (weeks 2. Month 9 & 1. 0 (weeks 3. More Pregnancy At- a- Glance. Pregnancy - Wikipedia. Pregnancy, also known as gravidity or gestation, is the time during which one or more offspring develops inside a woman. Childbirth typically occurs around 4. LMP). An embryo is the developing offspring during the first eight weeks following conception, after which, the term fetus is used until birth. The first trimester is from week one through 1. Conception is when the sperm fertilizes the egg. The fertilized egg then travels down the fallopian tube and attaches to the inside of the uterus, where it begins to form the fetus and placenta. Around the middle of the second trimester, movement of the fetus may be felt. At 2. 8 weeks, more than 9. The third trimester is from 2. After 4. 1 weeks, it is known as post term. Babies born before 3. The number of pregnancies in women ages 1. Common causes include maternal bleeding, complications of abortion, high blood pressure of pregnancy, maternal sepsis, and obstructed labor. Half of unplanned pregnancies are aborted. Twins and other multiple births are counted as one pregnancy and birth. A woman who has never been pregnant is referred to as a nulligravida. A woman who is (or has been only) pregnant for the first time is referred to as a primigravida. In- progress pregnancies, abortions, miscarriages and/ or stillbirths account for parity values being less than the gravida number. In the case of twins, triplets, etc., gravida number and parity value are increased by one only. Women who have never carried a pregnancy achieving more than 2. This is in contrast to pregnancy complications. Sometimes a symptom that is considered a discomfort can be considered a complication when it is more severe. For example, nausea can be a discomfort (morning sickness), but if, in combination with significant vomiting, it causes water- electrolyte imbalance it is a complication (hyperemesis gravidarum). Common symptoms and discomforts of pregnancy include: Tiredness. Constipation. Pelvic girdle pain. Back pain. Braxton Hicks contractions. Occasional, irregular, and often painless contractions that occur several times per day. Edema (swelling). Common complaint in advancing pregnancy. Caused by compression of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and pelvic veins by the uterus leads to increased hydrostatic pressure in lower extremities. Increased urinary frequency. A common complaint referred by the gravida, caused by increased intravascular volume, elevated GFR (glomerular filtration rate), and compression of the bladder by the expanding uterus. Urinary tract infection. Common complaint caused by relaxation of the venous smooth muscle and increased intravascular pressure. Haemorrhoids (piles). Swollen veins at or inside the anal area. Caused by impaired venous return, straining associated with constipation, or increased intra- abdominal pressure in later pregnancy. Using this date, the resulting fetal age is called the gestational age. This choice was a result of inability to discern the point in time when the actual conception happened. In in vitro fertilisation, gestational age is calculated by days from oocyte retrieval + 1. Fertilization is the event where the egg cell fuses with the male gamete, spermatozoon. After the point of fertilization, the fused product of the female and male gamete is referred to as a zygote or fertilized egg. The fusion of male and female gametes usually occurs following the act of sexual intercourse. Fertilization can also occur by assisted reproductive technology such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation. Fertilization (conception) is sometimes used as the initiation of pregnancy, with the derived age being termed fertilization age. Fertilization usually occurs about two weeks before the next expected menstrual period. A third point in time is also considered by some people to be the true beginning of a pregnancy: This is time of implantation, when the future fetus attaches to the lining of the uterus. This is about a week to ten days after fertilization. The fertilized egg, known as a zygote, then moves toward the uterus, a journey that can take up to a week to complete. Cell division begins approximately 2. Cell division continues at a rapid rate and the cells then develop into what is known as a blastocyst. The blastocyst arrives at the uterus and attaches to the uterine wall, a process known as implantation. The development of the mass of cells that will become the infant is called embryogenesis during the first approximately ten weeks of gestation. During this time, cells begin to differentiate into the various body systems. The basic outlines of the organ, body, and nervous systems are established. By the end of the embryonic stage, the beginnings of features such as fingers, eyes, mouth, and ears become visible. Also during this time, there is development of structures important to the support of the embryo, including the placenta and umbilical cord. The placenta connects the developing embryo to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply. The umbilical cord is the connecting cord from the embryo or fetus to the placenta. After about ten weeks of gestational age, the embryo becomes known as a fetus. At the beginning of the fetal stage, the risk of miscarriage decreases sharply. Sex organs begin to appear during the third month of gestation. The fetus continues to grow in both weight and length, although the majority of the physical growth occurs in the last weeks of pregnancy. Electrical brain activity is first detected between the fifth and sixth week of gestation. It is considered primitive neural activity rather than the beginning of conscious thought. Synapses begin forming at 1. Retrieved 2. 00. 7- 0. Fetus at 8 weeks after fertilization. Retrieved 2. 00. 7- 0. Fetus at 1. 8 weeks after fertilization. Retrieved 2. 00. 7- 0. Fetus at 3. 8 weeks after fertilization. Retrieved 2. 00. 7- 0. Relative size in 1st month (simplified illustration)Relative size in 3rd month (simplified illustration)Relative size in 5th month (simplified illustration)Relative size in 9th month (simplified illustration)Maternal changes. Breast changes as seen during pregnancy. The areolae are larger and darker. During pregnancy, the woman undergoes many physiological changes, which are entirely normal, including cardiovascular, hematologic, metabolic, renal, and respiratory changes. Increases in blood sugar, breathing, and cardiac output are all required. Levels of progesterone and oestrogens rise continually throughout pregnancy, suppressing the hypothalamic axis and therefore also the menstrual cycle. The fetus is genetically different from the woman and can be viewed as an unusually successful allograft. Many symptoms and discomforts of pregnancy like nausea and tender breasts appear in the first trimester. Although the breasts have been developing internally since the beginning of the pregnancy, most of the visible changes appear after this point. Weeks 1. 3 to 2. 8 of the pregnancy are called the second trimester. Most women feel more energized in this period, and begin to put on weight as the symptoms of morning sickness subside and eventually fade away. The uterus, the muscular organ that holds the developing fetus, can expand up to 2. Although the fetus begins to move during the first trimester, it is not until the second trimester that movement, often referred to as . This typically happens in the fourth month, more specifically in the 2. It is common for some women not to feel the fetus move until much later. During the second trimester, most women begin to wear maternity clothes. Third trimester. The uterus expands making up a larger and larger portion of the woman's abdomen. At left anterior view with months labeled, at right lateral view labeling the last 4 weeks. During the final stages of gestation before childbirth the fetus and uterus will drop to a lower position. Final weight gain takes place, which is the most weight gain throughout the pregnancy. The woman's abdomen will transform in shape as it drops due to the fetus turning in a downward position ready for birth. During the second trimester, the woman's abdomen would have been upright, whereas in the third trimester it will drop down low. The fetus moves regularly, and is felt by the woman. Fetal movement can become strong and be disruptive to the woman. The woman's navel will sometimes become convex, . It also severely reduces bladder capacity, and increases pressure on the pelvic floor and the rectum. It is also during the third trimester that maternal activity and sleep positions may affect fetal development due to restricted blood flow. For instance, the enlarged uterus may impede blood flow by compressing the vena cava when lying flat, which is relieved by lying on the left side. In order to have a standard reference point, the normal pregnancy duration is assumed by medical professionals to be 2. The best method of determining gestational age is ultrasound during the first trimester of pregnancy. This is typically accurate within seven days. This calculates the expected due date from the first day of the last normal menstrual period (LMP or LNMP) regardless of factors known to make this inaccurate, such as a shorter or longer menstrual cycle length. Pregnancy most commonly lasts for 4. LNMP- based method, assuming that the woman has a predictable menstrual cycle length of close to 2. The average time to birth has been estimated to be 2. A decision may be made to induce labour if a fetus is perceived to be overdue. Furthermore, if ultrasound dating predicts a later due date than LMP, this might indicate slowed fetal growth and require closer review. The stage of pregnancy defined as the beginning of legal fetal viability varies around the world. It sometimes incorporates weight as well as gestational age. While childbirth is widely experienced as painful, some women do report painless labours, while others find that concentrating on the birth helps to quicken labour and lessen the sensations. The average duration of pregnancy is about 2. Estimation of the date on which delivery should occur is based on the first day of the last menstrual period. Naegeli rule; table; prenatal care; prenatal diagnosis; Demographics. About 7 million American women become pregnant each year, and about two thirds of these pregnancies result in live births. In 2. 00. 9, there were 4,1. U. S. Signs and Symptoms. Presumptive and probable signs are those commonly associated with pregnancy but may be due to other causes, such as oral contraceptive therapy. Presumptive symptoms include amenorrhea, nausea and vomiting, breast tenderness, urinary frequency, fatigue, chloasma, vaginal hyperemia (Chadwick sign), and . Positive signs and symptoms of pregnancy are auscultation of fetal heart sounds, fetal movements felt by the examiner, and an identifiable embryonic outline on ultrasound. Physical Changes. The pregnant woman experiences many physiological alterations related to the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone and to the demands of the growing fetus; every system in the woman's body responds to these changes. Reproductive tract changes: Alterations in uterine size, shape, and consistency include an increase in uterine muscle mass over the months of pregnancy. In response to elevated estrogen and progesterone levels, the cervix and lower uterine segment soften. A thick mucous plug fills the cervical canal. Vaginal secretions increase, and vaginal p. H is more acidic (p. H = 3. 5 to 6. 0). Change in vaginal p. H discourages the survival and multiplication of bacteria; however, it also encourages infection by Candida albicans. The vagina elongates as the uterus rises in the pelvis; the mucosa thickens, with increases in secretions, vascularity, and elasticity. See: Chadwick sign; Goodell sign; Hegar sign. Breast changes: The breasts become enlarged, tender, and more nodular. The areolae darken; the nipples become more sensitive and erectile; and Montgomery's tubercles enlarge. Colostrum may leak out during the last trimester, as the breasts prepare for lactation. Endocrine glands: The size and activity of the thyroid gland increase markedly. Thyroid- binding globulin and triiodothyronine levels rise, while thyroid- stimulating hormone levels drop slightly. These changes allow the pregnant woman to meet the endocrine needs imposed by the developing fetus, and other body changes that occur during pregnancy. Pituitary activity increases; prolactin levels increase ensuring lactation; placental hormones prevent ovulation and encourage development of the corpus luteum. Parathyroid activity decreases during the first trimester, then increases throughout the pregnancy to meet the increasing calcium demands of the fetus. Insulin resistance increases; this poses a risk, for some women, of glucose intolerance or gestational diabetes mellitus. Cardiovascular alterations: Circulating blood volume increases progressively throughout pregnancy, peaking in the middle of the third trimester. Although the red blood cell count rises by about 3. The lower relative hematocrit decreases the viscosity of the blood . However, a hemoglobin concentration of less than 1. Rising levels of clotting factors VII, VIII, IX, X, fibrinogen, and von Willebrand factor increase coagulability. The pulse rate increases, along with cardiac stroke volume. Peripheral vascular resistance drops. Mid- trimester blood pressure may be slightly lower than normal but remains essentially unchanged. Skeletal system: Softening and increased mobility of the pelvic articulations is reflected in the waddling gait of pregnancy. As pregnancy progresses, the woman's center of gravity shifts, and the lumbar curve increases to compensate for the growing anterior weight of the gravid uterus. Problems with dental caries may become more prominent during pregnancy but can be prevented with oral rinses (such as chlorhexidine) and regular brushing and flossing. Respiratory system: The effects of progesterone on smooth muscle include a decreased airway resistance, which enables the woman to meet her increased needs for oxygen by permitting a 3. The effects of estrogen include edema and congestion of the nasal mucosa, reflected in nosebleeds and nasal stuffiness. Gastrointestinal system: Nausea and vomiting is the single most common complaint during the first trimester. Progesterone- related diminished motility contributes to common complaints of heartburn and constipation. Hemorrhoids are common and caused by increased pressure in the lower pelvis and constipation. Immune system Alterations in T helper cell dominance produce immunological tolerance for the fetus and the placenta, both of which contain antigens that are alien to the mother. During pregnancy, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus tend to become less active. Skin: Pigmentation changes in pregnancy include chloasma (the so- called mask of pregnancy), areolar darkening, and linea nigra (a pigmented line that vertically bisects the abdomen). They reflect estrogen- related stimulation of skin melanocytes. Striae gravidarum, also called stretch marks, may appear in the skin of the abdomen, breasts, and thighs. Urinary system: By middle of the first trimester, the glomerular filtration rate has risen by about 5. Although urinary frequency is common in the first and last trimesters, bladder capacity actually increases; however, pressure from the growing uterus reduces the volume required to stimulate voiding. During the second trimester, the uterus rises out of the pelvis, becoming an abdominal organ and relieving bladder compression until late in the third trimester. Weight: In average- sized individuals, expected first trimester weight gain is 2 to 5 lb. Total weight gain and the pattern by which it increases should be monitored to enable early signs of pregnancy- related problems common to the particular point in gestation. The Institute of Medicine recommends the following weight gains during singleton pregnancies: a woman with a prepregnancy body mass index less than 1. The recommended weight gains during pregnancy are different for multiple gestations, e. Health care providers describe to pregnant women common complaints related to normal physiological changes of pregnancy and suggest actions to minimize discomfort. Disorders. Nausea and vomiting. See: morning sickness. Heartburn: Hormone- related delayed gastric emptying, cardiac sphincter relaxation, and stomach displacement by the growing uterus contribute to reflux. The use of low- sodium or combination aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide preparations is recommended for symptomatic relief. For severe, unresponsive heartburn, over- the- counter H2 blockers, such as ranitidine (Zantac) or famotidine (Pepcid), may be recommended. Constipation: The woman should increase fiber and fluid intake. She also may use stool softeners. Muscle cramps: The woman may relieve the so- called charley horse that occurs during sleep by dorsiflexing the foot of the affected leg. A calcium- phosphorus imbalance may contribute to increased frequency of this problem, although the causes are not clear. The woman can increase calcium intake by drinking the recommended daily quart of milk or by drinking a pint of milk daily and taking a calcium supplement with vitamin D. Back pain: Growing anterior mass, shift in center of gravity, and increased lumbar curve contribute to backaches. To relieve discomfort, the pregnant woman should wear well- fitting, low- heeled shoes and perform exercises that increase abdominal muscle tone. See: pelvic rock; pelvic tilt. Dependent edema: Pedal edema is a common third- trimester complaint related to decreased venous return from the extremities. The woman is advised to rest frequently and to elevate her feet. She should report promptly any edema of the face, hands, or sacral area to facilitate early diagnosis and management of pregnancy- induced hypertension. Varicose veins: Decreased venous return from the extremities and compression of vascular structures by the growing uterus aggravate any weakness in the vascular walls and valves. Varicosities often occur in the legs, vulva, and pelvis. The woman should avoid tight clothing and prolonged standing. Other preventive and therapeutic measures include wearing support stockings, resting in left Sims' position, and elevating the lower limbs during sleep. Hemorrhoids: Temporary symptomatic relief may be obtained by Sitz baths and analgesic ointments. The woman also should be instructed in how to reinsert the hemorrhoid with a well- lubricated finger, holding it in place for 1 to 2 min before releasing the pressure. See: constipation. Vaginal discharge: A normal increase in vaginal discharge occurs during pregnancy. Common perineal hygiene usually is effective as a comfort measure; douching is contraindicated during pregnancy. The woman should contact her primary caregiver promptly if profuse, malodorous, or blood- tinged discharge occurs. See: vaginitis. Dyspnea: Shortness of breath occurs as the growing uterus presses on the woman's diaphragm. Elevation of the head and shoulders may provide some relief. The dyspnea disappears when lightening occurs. Pruritus: The normal stretching of the skin may generate itching on the breasts, abdomen, and vulva. Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy is the most common benign dermatosis of pregnancy. Occurring in the third trimester, it usually resolves spontaneously after delivery. If severe, topical emollients, steriods, and, antihistamines may provide some relief. Use of an emollient lotion may be suggested; the patient is instructed to inform her primary caregiver if vulvovaginal itching occurs in conjunction with an increase or alteration in vaginal discharge. See: vaginitis. Nutrition. A woman's nutritional status before and during pregnancy is an important factor that affects both her health and that of her unborn child. Nutritional assessment is an essential part of antepartal care.
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