Increased Nutrient Needs to Support Pregnancy

The thought that pregnancy is a time of restriction of nutrient was a wrong one. You should know that the need for nutrients is increased in this period. There is also need to make it clear that every woman require different amount of nutrition and their health status is also different from each other. But some facts are true to some extent about the nutritional needs of women.

Increased Energy Needs in pregenency

There is a need of approximately 300 kcal on daily basis in second and third trimesters of pregnancy period. The first trimester does not require much energy. Six whole-wheat crackers, only 1 ounce of cheese, low-fat cup of milk or yogurt and an orange contain an amount of 300-kcal. A pregnant woman should take her normal energy food. But she have to take quality oriented food in order to make her child healthy. During the period of pregnancy, there is a 20 to 50 percent increase in several minerals and vitamins but only 15 percent increase in energy intake during second and third trimesters when a 300 kcal intake is added to 2000 kcal each day for a normal woman.

You can easily obtain energy intake through weight gain during period of pregnancy. But if a pregnant woman wants to obtain vitamins and minerals, then she should take energy-oriented foods.

If a pregnant woman feels active during this period, she can acquire more energy intake. The weight will require more energy to perform her activities. A pregnant woman should avoid activities like bending down on knees, scuba diving, weight lifting and sports like hockey. Other activities like walking, cycling, swimming, and light aerobics may also be performed but women who are inactive during pregnancy period should no go for such hard exercise programs. In the last months, usually women feel inactive because of their weight and they should use extra 300 kcal in their daily routine nutrition.

Women who are in risk of premature contractions should avoid their daily routine work. In order to achieve a healthy life for herself and the child, the woman should consult with her doctor for performing of physical activities and other restrictions.