Nutritional Care of Pregnant and Lactating Mothers

By: Vivek Chauhan

B.Sc Forestry Hons. College of Forestry, Ranichauri

VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry

Email ID- vivek.bhaukal@gmail.com

Present Scenario # Mother's Food # Mother's Day-2020

Food is the basic need of life and is the base for nutritional status and health.The nutrients we get from food have direct effect on growth and development. All the essential nutrients should be available from our diet in the required amount. The requirements of nutrients vary with age, gender, physiological status and life style including the physical work. Hence, the diet of an individual should supply the nutrients as per his requirements as lower or higher than the requirements may lead to malnutrition in terms of under and over nutrition, both being the harmful for health. Points to be considered during pregnancy in women can be:

• Mothers during their pregnancy and lactation require higher amounts of vital nutrients for the proper growth of child in the womb and secreting adequate amount of milk to feed respectively.
• Attention should be given for the proper nutrition of these groups such as they should eat more food, more whole grains, sprouted grams and fermented foods, milk/meat/eggs, vegetables and fruits.
• Superstitions and food taboos should be avoided as these may restrict the consumption of some nutritious foods.
• They should not consume alcohol and tobacco and should take medication only prescribed by an eligible health worker.
• Further, they should take iron, folate and calcium supplements regularly after 14-16 weeks of pregnancy and continue the same during lactation.
• They should eat folate rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts etc. and iron rich foods like green leafy vegetables, meat, fish and poultry.
• Iron bioavailability is better from animal foods. Foods rich in ascorbic acid like amla, guava and citrus fruits enhance iron absorption.
• Beverages like tea may affect the iron availability hence should be avoided before, during or soon after a meal.
• Further, the family atmosphere should always be maintained as healthy and happy, to avoid any mental pressure and stress to the mothers.
• Thus, the above points may help the mothers and their babies to be healthy having good nutritional status.

Vivek Chauhan

B.Sc Forestry Hons. College of Forestry, Ranichauri

VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry

Email ID- vivek.bhaukal@gmail.com