Overview
A mother needs more of everything during pregnancy because
she is making a new being. Further, the body has provided
the baby with the mechanisms to get what it needs from the
mother whether she has extra or not. The baby can pull minerals,
vitamins, and protein from the mother's bones, organs, tissues,
and other storage areas. This can leave the mother depleted,
which can take a long time, even years, to correct.
Besides
making a new baby, these nutrients are needed to form the
placenta, to increase the size of the uterus and breast tissue,
and to
create amniotic fluid. Mother's blood volume increases by
25-50 percent, and more fluids, iron, B12, folic acid, zinc
and copper,
calcium, magnesium, and proteins are needed to support this
new blood. Storage levels of most nutrients must be obtained
from the diet as well.
Adequate nutrition is one of the greatest challenges when
you have hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Pregnant women obviously
benefit
from a
variety of nutrients both for
their own health and for the development of their unborn
child. However, the cravings and aversions that accompany HG
will
prohibit a well-balanced diet. It may be the smell, texture,
appearance or taste that provokes your nausea and vomiting.
Even just seeing the food on a TV commercial is enough to
trigger vomiting for many.
You may crave salty and crunchy,
sweet and
soft or some other very specific combination. Entering
a grocery store, opening the refrigerator, or even contemplating
food
preparation are usually intolerable for at least the first
trimester. This has significant impact on you and your
family. It's
important that your family know that these food preferences
are not within your control, and they need to be accepted
to ensure you eat and drink as much as possible. Be
as specific as possible when you tell them what you feel
like
eating
or drinking. It's impossible to understand the bizarre
cravings of HG unless you have experienced it!
Postpartum, you will need to replenish your nutrient stores
by eating a very healthy diet with plenty of whole grains,
low-fat proteins, fruits, and vegetables. This is especially
true if you are breast feeding, and/or you had severe/prolonged
hyperemesis. See the resources on the right for more information
and healthy lifestyles.
Updated on:
Aug. 09, 2006 |
