Pregnancy Questions and Answers
- By Southern Mom
- Published 03/4/2008
- Pregnancy
- Unrated
I think I’m pregnant. I’ve heard that folic acid is essential for my baby. What is it and why is it important?
A: Folic acid is essential for baby’s brain and spinal cord to develop properly. It is important to get enough of this B vitamin even before you know you’re pregnant—and throughout your pregnancy. Foods that are particularly rich in folic acid (also called folate) include oranges and their juice, green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals, dried peas and beans, and nuts.
Why are pregnant women advised to take a vitamin and mineral supplement?
A: Although everyone agrees you should turn to nutritious foods first to meet your vitamin and mineral needs, the reality is that many women’s diets fall short of the ideal. A supplement can fill in the nutritional gaps on those days when you don’t eat quite right. The secret is to supplement sensibly. A multiple vitamin and mineral supplement that supplies about 100 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for each nutrient (as listed on the label) is sufficient for most adults. However, during pregnancy, iron, calcium, and folic acid are required at higher levels. Therefore, your physician may prescribe a prenatal supplement to help meet your needs.
Pregnancy isn’t the time to experiment with large doses of single nutrients, since megadoses of some of them—such as vitamin A, vitamin D, selenium, and fluoride—can produce numerous side effects, ranging from mottled teeth
to birth defects. Always consult your physician before taking any supplement during pregnancy.
How can I sensibly satisfy my sweet tooth?
A: Desserts are fine, just don’t go overboard. Satisfy your sweet tooth and meet your nutritional needs by enjoying fresh fruit, fat-free ice cream, pudding made with nonfat milk, low-fat yogurt with fresh fruit, dried fruit, or angel food cake with fresh berries.
Can I give in to my food cravings?
A: As many as 85 percent of pregnant women report craving foods or combinations of foods they never would have eaten prior to pregnancy. Sweets, fruits and fruit juices, salty or spicy foods, and hard or chewy foods rank high on their lists. As with aversions, your best bet is to follow your body’s signals if the craved food is healthful, or to find a nutritious alternative if it’s not. If you crave carbohydrate-rich doughnuts, try substituting a nutritious carbohydrate-rich bagel, an English muffin, or an apple cinnamon muffin. If all you want are sweets, try using sweet-tasting spices such as vanilla, nutmeg, spearmint, cinnamon, and anise to appease your sweet tooth.
Should pregnant women avoid certain types of cheese?
A: Some soft cheeses, such as feta, brie, camembert, and roquefort, along with Mexican-style (e.g. queso blanco, queso fresco, queso decrema) have been associated with the risk of contamination with the bacteria Listeria, and are not recommended for pregnant women. The same bacteria has been found in some lunch meats and hot dogs so you should stay away from them as well.
A: Folic acid is essential for baby’s brain and spinal cord to develop properly. It is important to get enough of this B vitamin even before you know you’re pregnant—and throughout your pregnancy. Foods that are particularly rich in folic acid (also called folate) include oranges and their juice, green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals, dried peas and beans, and nuts.
Why are pregnant women advised to take a vitamin and mineral supplement?
A: Although everyone agrees you should turn to nutritious foods first to meet your vitamin and mineral needs, the reality is that many women’s diets fall short of the ideal. A supplement can fill in the nutritional gaps on those days when you don’t eat quite right. The secret is to supplement sensibly. A multiple vitamin and mineral supplement that supplies about 100 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for each nutrient (as listed on the label) is sufficient for most adults. However, during pregnancy, iron, calcium, and folic acid are required at higher levels. Therefore, your physician may prescribe a prenatal supplement to help meet your needs.
Pregnancy isn’t the time to experiment with large doses of single nutrients, since megadoses of some of them—such as vitamin A, vitamin D, selenium, and fluoride—can produce numerous side effects, ranging from mottled teeth
How can I sensibly satisfy my sweet tooth?
A: Desserts are fine, just don’t go overboard. Satisfy your sweet tooth and meet your nutritional needs by enjoying fresh fruit, fat-free ice cream, pudding made with nonfat milk, low-fat yogurt with fresh fruit, dried fruit, or angel food cake with fresh berries.
Can I give in to my food cravings?
A: As many as 85 percent of pregnant women report craving foods or combinations of foods they never would have eaten prior to pregnancy. Sweets, fruits and fruit juices, salty or spicy foods, and hard or chewy foods rank high on their lists. As with aversions, your best bet is to follow your body’s signals if the craved food is healthful, or to find a nutritious alternative if it’s not. If you crave carbohydrate-rich doughnuts, try substituting a nutritious carbohydrate-rich bagel, an English muffin, or an apple cinnamon muffin. If all you want are sweets, try using sweet-tasting spices such as vanilla, nutmeg, spearmint, cinnamon, and anise to appease your sweet tooth.
Should pregnant women avoid certain types of cheese?
A: Some soft cheeses, such as feta, brie, camembert, and roquefort, along with Mexican-style (e.g. queso blanco, queso fresco, queso decrema) have been associated with the risk of contamination with the bacteria Listeria, and are not recommended for pregnant women. The same bacteria has been found in some lunch meats and hot dogs so you should stay away from them as well.
