LilSugar

Baby Bump: An Apple a Day Keeps the Asthma Away

LilSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:00:01 -0800

What you eat prenatally, can pay off in your lil one's health even after she leaves the womb. Recent research suggests that moms-to-be who eat apples during pregnancy, have children with lower rates of asthma. Those who consumed more than four apples a week had children who were 37 percent less likely to have asthma.

Studies also found a specific food would reduce rates of eczema in babies too. To find out what it is, just read more.

Mothers who consume fish (more than once a week) during pregnancy may lower their child's risk of developing eczema. Too much of a good thing can be bad though, especially in the case of fish. Consuming high amounts of fish can boost mercury levels in a developing fetus so don't overdo it.

Best practice is to focus on eating a diet wide in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and proteins - but now you may want to make sure that it includes a few apples and pieces of fish.

Ritmo Prenatal: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

babysugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:00:01 -0700

Pregnant women are barraged with ads for products that are designed to ease their pregnancy and make their babies smarter in utero. I can't tell you how many coupons and brochures I have received for nutritional snack bars and belly creams while expecting.

I had long read about the benefits of playing music for children before birth, but had limited it to the radio in my car and my iPod speaker system. It may be time to take it to a new level with the introduction of the Ritmo Prenatal, a set of headphones made expressly for pregnant bellies. With four speakers built into a soft harness, the Ritmo Prenatal has a cable that connects directly to your MP3 player allowing you and your baby to listen to the music of your choice. According to the photos on the site, the belt can be worn directly against the belly or over clothing and should be comfortable, as the company encourages wearing it while grocery shopping and walking the dog.

The Ritmo Prenatal will not be available until January, which is a bit too late for me, but tell me, would you be willing to shell out the approximately $100 the product will cost?

What to Eat: Recommended Daily Intake During Pregnancy

LilSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:00:46 -0700

Maintaining a healthy diet is paramount when you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Experts suggest you eat a variety of healthy foods and take a daily prenatal vitamin recommended by your health care provider to help fill in nutritional gaps. We've all heard (or said!) the excuse, "I'm eating for two," but the reality is most pregnant or nursing women are advised to consume 300 extra calories a day (400 while nursing). That being said, I think it's most realistic to treat yourself and give in to cravings as long as it's in moderation.

To see a detailed chart breakdown of daily allowances, read more.

Nutrient	Non-pregnant Women	Pregnant Women	Lactating Women	Function
Kilocalories	2200	2500	2600	Provides energy for basic body functioning
Vitamin A (micrograms=mcg)	700	770	1300	Aids vision; needed for growth of bones and teeth
Vitamin B6 (milligrams=mg)	1.5	1.9	2.0	Aids in the formation of red blood cells
Vitamin B12 (mcg)	2.4	2.6	2.8	Aids in the formation of red blood cells
Vitamin C (mg)	75	85	120	Needed for wound healing, resistance to infection, and collagen formation
Vitamin D (mcg)	5	5	5	Aids in the growth of bones and teeth
Vitamin E (mg TE)	15	15	19	Needed for the formation and use of red blood cells and muscles
Vitamin K (mcg)	90	90	90	Prevents a rare bleeding disorder in the newborn
Calcium (mg)	1200	1000	1000	Essential for the growth and health of bones and teeth and proper muscle and nerve function
Folate (mcg)	400	600	500	Prevents neural tube defects in the fetus; essential for blood and protein production and cell division
Iodine (mcg)	150	220	290	Required for hormone production
Iron (mg ferrous iron)	18	27	9	Essential for the production of hemoglobin, an important blood protein
Magnesium (mg)	320	350 - 360	310 - 320	Needed for proper nerve and muscle function
Niacin (mg NE)	14	18	17	Promotes healthy skin, nerves, and digestion; helps the body use carbohydrates
Phosphorous (mg)	700	700	700	Essential for the growth and health of bones and teeth
Protein (grams=g)	38	50	60	Needed for overall health and growth; aids in blood production and supplies the "building blocks" for your baby's body
Riboflavin (mg)	1.1	1.4	1.6	Aids in the release of energy to cells
Thiamin (mg)	1.1	1.4	1.4	Helps the body digest carbohydrates
Zinc (mg)	8	11	12	Aids in the production of enzymes and insulin

Source

What Are Your Doctor's Prenatal Care Goals?

babysugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:05:00 -0700

Most women with access to health care services visit the doctor more during the course of their pregnancy than they do at any other time in their life. It can be overwhelming and alarming the first time around, but it's only for the benefit of mommy and baby.

Prenatal visits are typically scheduled every four weeks during the first 32 weeks of gestation, every two weeks from 32 to 36 weeks gestation and weekly from 36 weeks to delivery. It is quite common for the doctor to tack on additional weekly appointments if she sees anything that she wants to monitor. The extra visits can be nerve racking, but they work wonders in the stress relief department.

For a look at your doctor's primary prenatal care goals, read more.

The goals of prenatal care are to:

Monitor both the mother and baby throughout the pregnancy
Look for changes that may lead to a high-risk pregnancy
Explain nutritional requirements throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period
Explain activity recommendations or restrictions
Address common complaints that may arise during pregnancy (for example, backache, joint pain, nausea, heartburn, headaches, urinary frequency, leg cramps, and constipation) and how to manage them, preferably without medications
Support you through the experience

Source

Baby Bump: Prenatal Diet May Mean Early Periods

babysugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:00:03 -0700

What you eat while pregnant, may affect more than your waistline. A recent study claims that a woman's prenatal diet may influence the age at which her unborn daughter will begin to menstruate. For expecting ladies who indulge their taste buds with ice cream, cookies and other fattening treats, this news may be unwelcome.

Doctors from the University of Auckland conducted a study using pregnant lab rats. During their pregnancy and nursing period, some were fed high fat diets. The remaining rats were given standard rat fare. In addition to the mother's diet being monitored, the researchers monitored the baby rats' diets, which were also divided into fatty and regular food. The results showed that regardless of the baby rat's diet, the rats whose mothers were fed high fat diets while in utero started to menstruate earlier than their counterparts.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Deborah Sloboda said:

This might suggest that the fetal environment in high-fat fed mothers plays a greater role in determining pubertal onset than childhood nutrition.

Source

Would these findings affect your food choices?