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Faith Bontrager, RN, BSN
Faith's passion in nursing is to help people find the options they need to discover
their personal path to optimum health. Ask her friends and they will tell you
that their appreciation of nutritious food has grown through Faith. About
Faith Bontrager, RN, BSN
Thinking About Getting Pregnant?
One important step you can take to help ensure a healthy pregnancy is to
consider your weight before even getting pregnant. Obesity has major effects
on placental, embryonic, and fetal growth. Obese mothers are more likely
to have large for gestational age (LGA) babies than lean moms, no matter
how much weight they gain during pregnancy.
Congratulations on Your Pregnancy! (for
those who are newly pregnant)
My first recommendation would be to find a doctor or midwife with whom
you can comfortably talk and who makes nutrition a priority. Don't
be afraid to call several offices and ask, "Dr Smith, how does your belief about
nutrition affect your practice?"
What is a healthy pregnancy weight
gain?
I remember talking to an elderly family member who related to me the pregnancy
diet advice she received from her mother-in-law. "You are eating for
two now!" Wanting to be a good mother (don't we all?) she diligently
doubled her food intake - and then had a terrible time attempting to lose
her "baby weight."
Can I continue to eat a vegetarian
diet during pregnancy?
Yes, you can. Here are some guidelines.
A Pregnancy Menu For You and Your Baby
How do you choose a menu that will benefit you and your baby? Googling the
phrase "healthy pregnancy diet" returns more than two million
responses. Even reputable groups like the USDA and Harvard School of Public
Health disagree. Where do you start?
Treating Nausea and Vomiting
According to researchers, over 70% of women suffer from nausea during early
pregnancy. Despite the name "morning sickness," pregnancy nausea
happens throughout the day for many women. It is most common in the first
trimester but 13% of women had nausea past their 20th week of
pregnancy.
What About Seafood?
Seafood is a great, healthy choice for expecting mothers. It's both high
in protein and naturally low in saturated fat as well as being high
in omega-3 fatty acids. Adequate levels of the omega-3 fatty acid
DHA has been linked to increased intelligence in children. One study
indicated that fish consumption during pregnancy decreased the child's
chance of developing asthma.
Don't Eat That!
Many of these articles are about things that you should eat. The
focus of this article is about things that you should either limit
or eliminate entirely from your diet.
Wash Those Veggies!
Pregnancy is a time when many women (and their partners) think about pesticides
on fruits and vegetables. Are they dangerous to our unborn child? Does
washing the produce do any good? Should I use some type of special wash?
Should I buy organic? Is it worth it?
Breastmilk, the Healthiest Diet for Babies
As a site dedicated to the best in food and nutrition, we HAD to address
the issue of breastfeeding. While we respect a woman's right to choose
formula, just as we respect her right to eat spaghetti from a can, we can't
honestly recommend either as first choice nutrition.
What DOES that Broccoli Do for My Baby?
All of us have days when we would rather have a tall cappuccino than a spinach
salad. Holding up a glass of milk and saying, "Here's to you, baby;
I'm building your bones!" can be a great motivator. This article mainly
includes nutrients that are challenges to a number of pregnant women.
Vitamin D Supplements in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Browse any health website or magazine and you are likely to see something
about vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is essential for
the absorption of calcium and for bone health. It is also important for
cell health, the immune system and neuromuscular function. Recent studies
have indicated that adequate levels of vitamin D may reduce the risk of
other diseases including cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes,
immune disorders, and other health conditions.
Breastfeeding: Developing a Future Gourmet
In other articles we have covered how breastmilk is excellent nutrition for your baby, but this site isn't only about nutrition. It is about food that tastes great! Babies, like their parents, appreciate wonderful flavors. Breastmilk provides a variety of flavors that may influence baby's palate for years to come.
What to Do About the Flu
You know that it is flu season and in addition to the seasonal flu, you
need to be aware of H1N1 ("swine flu"). You may or may not know
that pregnant women who get the flu are more likely to be hospitalized
or have complications than non-pregnant women.