The baby gets no other nutrition than from what the mother eats and drinks. Therefore, according to experts, the food and beverages of a mother should be healthy and good so that the baby can benefit from it and make her healthy. Some key nutrition during pregnancy is folic acid, calcium and iron. Mothers who are pregnant need these nutrients more than those who are not pregnant. Folic acid for one is a B vitamin that helps to prevent the defects that occurs to the brain and spinal cord that is called neural tube defects. When mothers are deficient in this nutrient during pregnancy, their baby has a high risk of having this defect. The diet alone cannot give the recommended amount of folic acid so mothers are advised to take about 400 milligrams of folic acid as supplements per day to complement the one that is taken in the diet. Some sources of this nutrient are leafy vegetables, cereals that are fortified or enriched, breads, pastas, and citrus fruits. Another key nutrient is calcium. The baby needs these mineral in order to build strong bones and teeth. When a mother’s diet cannot provide for the baby, the baby draws from the stores of this nutrient in the mother to make up for the deficiency. Some sources of this nutrient are milk, yogurt, cheese, and fruits.

Key Takeaways:

• The baby does not have any source of nourishment while in the womb except to feed on what the mother eats and drinks.
• When the nutrient intake of a mother that is expecting is compared to a non-expecting mother, the expecting mother should have more calcium, folic acid, and iron.
• Folic acid is essential to a pregnant mother because the acid helps to prevent defects in the brain and spinal cord known as neural tube defects.

“So, experts recommend that a mother-to-be choose a variety of healthy foods and beverages to provide the important nutrients a baby needs for growth and development.”

Read more: https://www.livescience.com/45090-pregnancy-diet.html