Before birth, many gynecologists recommend that pregnant women adjust their diet. However, they should not eat only seafood, soft cheeses and citrus fruits. It is better to give preference to protein foods, dairy products and fresh vegetables. Nutrition before childbirth is of particular importance. Indeed, during this period, the child gains weight, his brain and lungs actively develop and mature, and the woman’s body undergoes significant changes and prepares for the birth of the child.
Does quantity matter?
Some women during pregnancy can go into various extremes: starve or eat for two, for example. This will not bring any benefits to the body.
Restricting nutrition before childbirth may not always have a good effect on the health of the unborn baby. The body is depleted, and due to the fact that the baby eats "mother's reserves", they need to be replenished. If this is not done, then there may be problems with a lack of vitamins and minerals. It will not bring health to the woman.
At the same time, eating for two is a completely wrong approach. As a result, excess weight appears. Therefore, there is a serious load on the spine and edema. All this is undesirable during pregnancy.
It is best for a woman to eat 5-6 times a day, but the amount of servings should be small. However, the calorie content of the food should be sufficient, then the feeling of hunger will not constantly haunt a pregnant woman.
Which foods are the most healthy?
In the diet before childbirth for muscle elasticity and improve the functioning of the whole body, it is necessary to include:
- Olive oil. The product has many positive properties. Oil is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Including this product in the diet before childbirth, a woman takes care of the elasticity of her blood vessels and tissues. Olive oil will also prevent the development of such an unpleasant problem as hemorrhoids.
- Carrot juice. It is useful to drink with the addition of 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. This improves fiber absorption. The presence of vitamin E contributes to the speedy recovery of tissues after childbirth.
- Fruits and berries. It is necessary to include them in the diet for a woman before childbirth in small quantities, especially citrus fruits, so as not to cause allergies. Vitamins contained in fruits will bring special benefits to the body. Eating berries will prevent a problem like constipation.
- Steamed vegetables. Fresh foods have a lot of fiber, which is not completely absorbed by the body. Thanks to heat treatment, vitamins and other useful substances will be preserved in vegetables.
- Dairy products are the main sources of calcium for the body. In the last trimester, the amount of kefir, milk and cottage cheese should be reduced, as this will lead to hardening of the bones of the child’s skull. This will complicate its passage through the birth canal. However, a woman should not completely exclude sour-milk products from the diet, because they positively affect the intestinal microflora.
- Chocolate. A natural product is allowed without soy, dyes and harmful additives.
Based on these recommendations, a woman needs to develop her nutrition before childbirth. She must take into account allowed and prohibited products.
What should I refuse?
From the nutrition of a pregnant woman before childbirth should be excluded:
- Pastries, white bread and pastries. If a woman cannot completely exclude them, then at least it is necessary to limit the amount of these products.
- Fatty meats (pork, lamb, duck). It is not recommended to completely refuse products containing protein. It’s best to include chicken breast and beef in your diet.
- Porridge made from cereals. They are difficult to digest and cause a serious burden on the body. Rice porridge can cause constipation. Buckwheat porridge is a dietary product, but it is not recommended to consume it constantly.
- White cabbage. The vegetable is healthy, but not for pregnant women. It can cause fermentation and bloating.
When compiling a nutrition menu before delivery, a pregnant woman should include allowed foods in the diet, and exclude prohibited foods.
How to make a daily menu for a pregnant woman
You can include in the sample nutrition menu before delivery:
- Vegetable salads seasoned with olive oil.
- The first dishes prepared on a light meat or vegetable broth.
- Meat dishes. This includes meatballs, steam cutlets, baked chicken breast.
- Fruit salads, homemade ice cream, dry cookies.
- Fish meals. A woman can only eat low-fat foods. The fish is steamed or boiled.
- From vegetables, you can cook cabbage rolls without meat, stews, casseroles, mashed potatoes and more.
The variety of dishes is impressive, and if the expectant mother shows imagination, then it will be easy to make a healthy and tasty menu for her.
What kind of drinks can I drink?
When the day of birth comes, the gynecologist will tell you at the last consultation. And the woman herself can determine this by the precursors. To completely refuse food and drink one water is also not recommended. Excess fluid in the body can lead to unnecessary stress on the kidneys. Everything should be in moderation.
The allowed drinks should include: purified water (except carbonated), juices, weak tea. Coffee is excluded from the diet of the pregnant woman. A woman should be careful with herbal teas. After all, only at first glance it seems that medicinal plants are completely harmless. For example, thyme can cause bleeding, and linden negatively affects the heart muscle.
You should drink no more than 2 liters of fluid per day. If doctors recommend limiting its amount, then the pregnant woman should take this into account.
How to make a diet?
Nutrition before childbirth should be fractional and frequent.
The menu for the first 2 weeks of the last month of pregnancy includes:
| breakfast | lunch | dinner | afternoon tea | dinner | |
| oatmeal, berries, tea | apple or pear | fish soup, steam cutlet, vegetable salad, compote | cottage cheese with fruit | vegetable stew, kefir |
For a sample menu 2 weeks before delivery is suitable:
| breakfast | lunch | dinner | afternoon tea | dinner | |
| vegetable salad, compote, slice of bread | fruit salad | mashed soup, sautéed vegetables, fruit drinks | zucchini fritters, kefir | vegetable casserole, boiled egg, tea |
As can be seen from the menu, before delivery it has some differences. During this period, a woman should eat more vegetables and fruits. Not a bit of fish or an egg is forbidden, because starving her is also not recommended.
This is done so that the pregnant woman does not gain excess weight. After all, it negatively affects the health of the fetus.
Opinions of women
Many pregnant women before childbirth, according to reviews, changed their diet. This helped them to give birth to a child without any complications, as well as quickly restore their health.
Proper and balanced nutrition in the last months of pregnancy saved women from excess weight, which, in turn, reduced the load on the spine. Pregnant women practically did not suffer from edema and remained active until the day of birth.