Nutritional Needs During Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, you have a higher need for some vitamins and minerals. Follow your MyPyramid Plan for Moms to meet most of these increased needs.
In each food group, choose foods that have the vitamins and minerals you need. Click here to see the best sources of these vitamins and minerals. Choose these foods often to make sure you meet your nutrient needs while you are pregnant.
Also make choices that are low in “extras.” Extras are added sugars and solid fats in foods like soft drinks, desserts, fried foods, cheese, whole milk, and fatty meats. Full text »
Food Safety for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
When you are pregnant, your ability to fight off infection is lower than usual. In addition, your unborn baby's immune system is not fully developed. This means both you and your baby have a greater chance of getting sick from eating unsafe food. This is called “foodborne illness.”
If you get a foodborne illness, the effects may be worse than if you were not pregnant. Some foodborne illnesses may cause a woman to have a miscarriage or premature delivery, or cause the newborn baby to die. They may also result in serious health problems for the baby after birth.
To protect your health and your baby’s health, you need to be especially careful about food safety while you are pregnant. Full text »
There are 3 main dangers lurking in the food pregnant women eat. They are:
Listeria – a dangerous bacterium that can grow even in cold refrigerators.
Mercury – a harmful metal found in high levels in some fish.
Toxoplasma – a risky parasite found in undercooked meat and unwashed fruits and vegetables.
These things can cause serious illness or even death to you or your unborn baby.
Follow these food facts to help keep you and your baby healthy: Full text» [PDF, 87.6KB]
Fish Facts for Nursing and Pregnant Moms and Women Who May Become Pregnant
Fish and shellfish can be an important part of a healthy diet. They are a great source of protein and heart–healthy omega–3 fatty acids.
But almost all fish and shellfish contain some mercury. Mercury is a metal that can harm the brain of your unborn baby— even before it is conceived. Mercury mainly gets into our bodies by the fish we eat. Only high levels of this metal seem to be harmful to developing babies. So the risk of mercury in fish and shellfish depends on the amount and type you eat. Full text » [PDF, 147KB]
