Pregnancy is probably the most exhilarating experience a woman can ever go through. It is so exciting that we do so much preparations just to be sure that we give our unborn child the most suitable home to grow healthy and strong and be well prepared when he finally gets out into the world. And this is the reason why we want to make sure that we are 
well-nourished during this most important moment of our lives.
Pregnant women have special needs
Expectant mothers have special nutritional needs that may not always be fulfilled by regular their regular diet. You have to remember that there are two of you who are consuming the food that you are eating. Consuming the amount of food that you eat before you got pregnant may no longer suffice for all the nutritional needs that your body demands.
Getting the right nutrients
However, you need to remember that instead of increasing your calorie intake, you have to focus on getting the right nutrients that are necessary for the proper development of the child inside your womb.
Weight Gain can be risky
Gaining too much weight may be risky for your over-all health because this can lead to certain disorders such as gestational diabetes.
Pregnancy is not the time to diet
On the other hand, limiting your food intake because of your desire to stay trim and slim may also be detrimental to both you and your baby’s health. The most ideal weight gain for women with healthy pre-conception weight is 10-13 pounds for the entire duration of their pregnancy.
Pregnancy Support Vitamins and Minerals
Two of the most important nutrients that every pregnant woman should seriously consider are folic acid and iodine. These nutrients are necessary to support the body in order to prevent certain genetically-induced disorders such as neural tube defects for lack of folic acid and intellectual impairment for lack of iodine.
When do I take folic acid?
To support the prevention and reduction of of neural tube defects, folic acid may to be consumed once you plan to get pregnant and will have to be continued for the first three months of conception.
Healthy foods to take when you are pregnant
They say that the best guide in determining if you are taking in enough nutrients is by the diversity of color in your food intake. You should therefore use the rainbow as your primary guide in choosing a variety of food.
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables as well as wholegrain breads and cereals
- Avoid eating too much fats, sugar and salt
- Choose low fat dairy foods and lean meat, chicken and fish
- Include dried beans, lentils, nuts and seeds because these are protein packed but low in fat and cholesterol
- Green leafy vegetables are very rich sources of many nutritional needs such as calcium, folic acid, iron and many other minerals necessary for the healthy development of the baby.
It is also wise to take folic acid and iodine rich foods to support your body during your pregnancy.
There are many options to choose from as far as pregnancy supplements are concerned. One popular product is Elevit which has been reformulated with iodine. All you need is to visit Bayview Pharmacy Dunedin in order to learn more about your choices.