***** Positive Thinking, Happy Living

I am a complete worrier, I will admit it. My husband gives out to me constantly about worrying too much but I can't help it, it's a natural trait in me and as I told him"You're not going to change me, love me or leave me"! So when I did become pregnant, yes I did fret and 'By God' I fretted about the silliest of things. I wanted the best start for baby and for me. Call it vanity but I didn't want to lose my figure either. There are so many scaremongerers out there when it comes the what you should eat when you become pregnant and sometimes it is difficult to tell fact from fiction.

1. The Myths I think we must start with the pickles. If you are craving a particular type of food, see what type of food it is and evaluate what it consists of in terms of minerals, sugars etc. Women may crave extra minerals during pregnancy as their bodies increase blood volume by up to 20% so the minerals can become diluted. Therefore when a woman craves pickles, it may be just that she is deficient in sodium and craves substances containing salt. I also heard the old fable that "You're eating for two now", as long as you're eating properly and healthily there is really no need to eat for two. In your last trimester, the baby should be gaining approximately half a pound a week and Mom should be gaining slightly more than that but your doctor will let you know if there is anything out of sync, otherwise, just stick to a healthy and varied diet.

2. When pregnant and you are loaded down with all sorts of text books, you will learn an awful lot about vitamins and minerals that you never knew before. It is important to maintain a healthy balance and in doing so you are ensuring that you are giving baby the best start in life and making sure that your body is armed and ready for the tough time ahead. Folic Acid is one nutrient to take notice of, it is worth making sure you take it, as a lack of it has been directly linked with neural tube defects such as Spina Bifida. It is also very easy for pregnant women to become deficient in Iron so it is important to eat some red meat, pulses and green vegetables. Although, here's another myth buster, stay away from liver.

3. Liver is a great food when you need iron but during pregnancy it is not a food that you should eat in abundance as it provides Vitamin A aswell. The upsetting thing about Vitamin A during pregnancy, is that too much of it may be harmful to your unborn child. Fish is a food that gets both pro's and con's arguments for pregnant women. I would never warn anyone off fish however, when pregnant, you do have to be careful that you avoid particular types altogether and that you eat some in very limited or infrequent amounts. For example, try to limit the amount of tuna that you eat as tuna has the potential to contain high levels of mercury. Mercury can affect your baby's nervous system while it is developing.

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