Effects of diet in pregnancy

1. Effects of diet in pregnancy By; Lauren, Shannon & Tasha

2. Biological: The effects of diet in pregnancy. • During pregnancy it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet because during this period of time you’re not only providing for yourself you’re providing for someone else too. • Some effects of an unhealthy lifestyle: 1. always eating sweets: your body and the babies body isn’t getting the correct nutrients needed. 2. not eating enough: baby won’t get all the vitamins and nutrients needed to be a healthy baby.

3. Pregnant women. • Pregnant women need more protein, iron, foliate and iodine, but only a small increase in energy. • Folic acid supplements before and after conception can reduce the risk of neural tube defects, such as, spina bifida. • Small regular snacks may help nausea or morning sickness. • Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may affect your unborn baby.

4. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy. • When you drink alcohol it will pass through your blood and through the placenta to your baby. • Because a baby’s liver is last to develop and the baby cannot have too much exposure to alcohol as it will effects your baby’s development.

5. Healthy foods. • Healthy foods for pregnant women consist of; • Lots of fruit and vegetables • Whole grain breads and cereal • Moderate amounts of low fat dairy foods • Lean meat, chicken and fish • Small amounts of high fat, sugar and salt • Dried beans and lentils • Nuts and seeds • Green leafy vegetables

6. Physical. Positives: • Mothers who eat a healthy diet during pregnancy may cause their new born to be fit and healthy and will encourage them to maintain a healthy diet throughout their life. • Folic acid (vitamin B) helps to prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord (neural tube defects). Negatives: • Mothers who eat an unhealthy diet during pregnancy may be putting their children at risk of developing long term irreversible health issues including obesity, raise levels of cholesterol and blood sugar.

7. Intellectual. Positives: • Taking folic acid in the first three months of pregnancy can reduce the risk of behavioural problem during early childhood. • Eating oily fish is very beneficial because it provides building blocks for brain cells and also for the iodine content which has a positive effect on reading ability on children when they develop to the age of nine. Negatives: • An extremely healthy diet during pregnancy (low calorie intake) can effect the brain of the unborn child. • Mothers who eat less than the recommended amount during the first half gestation can effect the formation of cell-to-cell connections, cell division, and some growth factors.

8. Emotional. Positives: • Eating healthy during pregnancy will cause you to feel good about yourself and higher your self-esteem. • It will also help you to not feel stressed about your unborn baby. Negatives: • Not eating a healthy diet during pregnancy can cause you to feel rubbish about yourself and lower your self-esteem. • Also not eating anything at all at times it can cause you to feel bad about yourself because you’re not providing the correct vitamins and nutrients for your unborn baby.

9. Social. Positives: • Mothers to be are likely to be meeting up with friends and socialising becomes a big part of the woman's life. Negatives: • Pregnancy can be extremely socially challenging as a persons former life changes drastically with the arrival of a child.