Eating for two?

All the nourishment a baby needs is taken from the mother’s blood and, if necessary, the baby will even draw upon his/her mother’s reserves. Folic acid, iodine and iron are essential to the baby’s mental and physical development. If the supply is good, mother and baby with thrive. Therefore, both mother and child benefits from good nutrition.

Please note that breastfeeding demands a great deal from the mother too, so during that time you should ensure that you have a balanced diet and adequate nutrient intake.

It is an old wives’ tale that you have to “eat for two”. During the first three months, expectant mothers will have no need for additional calories. Only later on, from the fourth month, should you eat around 250kcal more per day. That is about the equivalent of just an extra portion of muesli or a sandwich.

So, how can you achieve “healthy nutrition”? Well, it all depends on the ingredients of the food. This means that your diet should be as varied as possible and deliver vitamins and minerals, but not excess calories. It is not the quantity that matters, but the quality.

In this context, experts talk about a high density of nutrients. In plain terms, an ideal diet in pregnancy contains a daily intake of fruit, vegetables, salads, potatoes, whole-grain products, low-fat dairy products, regular sea fish for the supply of Omega-3 fatty acids and occasionally some low-fat meat. It is also important to drink enough.

Even if you do manage to maintain a health-conscious diet, the requirements of certain nutrients may not be covered sufficiently. Deficits are frequent, particularly in folic acid, iodine and long-chain Omega-3 fatty acid DHA.

This is why nutritional experts recommend a dietary supplement tailored to the specific needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women during these stages. Please consult your gynaecologist in this matter.