Lesson 4: Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy & Birth
"You are constructing your own reality with the choices you make...or don't make. If you really want a healthy pregnancy and joyful birth, and you truly understand that you are the one in control, then you must examine what you have or haven't done so far to create the outcome you want."
~ Kim Wildner-Mother's Intention: How Belief Shapes Birth
introduction
It's time for every pregnant woman's favorite topic - nutrition! :) Here we will be discussing some basic guidelines for growing a healthy baby, staying low risk to improve your odds of a natural birth, and reducing your chances of preterm labor.
Let's dive in! We'll keep it fun, I promise! |
learning goals & focus guide
After viewing and completing Lesson 4 - "Nutrition In Pregnancy", students will be able to:
- Connect how excellent nutrition can help pregnant mamas stay low-risk, increasing their chances for a natural birth with less interventions.
- Identify 2 ways healthy nutrition can improve a woman's mental as well as physical health during pregnancy.
- Explain the major role protein plays in the development of the baby during pregnancy.
- Name at least 1 major risk associated with not drinking enough water during pregnancy, AND share at least 1 tip for getting enough fluids in during the day!
- Explain at least 1 way excellent nutrition will assist a woman during labor and recovery.
- Connect how excellent nutrition can help pregnant mamas stay low-risk, increasing their chances for a natural birth with less interventions.
- Identify 2 ways healthy nutrition can improve a woman's mental as well as physical health during pregnancy.
- Explain the major role protein plays in the development of the baby during pregnancy.
- Name at least 1 major risk associated with not drinking enough water during pregnancy, AND share at least 1 tip for getting enough fluids in during the day!
- Explain at least 1 way excellent nutrition will assist a woman during labor and recovery.
video lesson
You might be wondering why we need to discuss nutrition when this class is supposed to be about having a natural birth...trust me, the two topics are connected! Watch the video to learn why!
Audio Only:
resources
The Importance Of Healthy Nutrition
~ "Prepared Childbirth: The Family Way", By Debby Amis and Jeanne Green (Your Purple Book, Specifically pages 8-13. Also consider using the protein counte and diet evaluation forms from pages 101-103 to track the amount of protein you have eaten over the next week. Also keep track of the number of ounces of water you are drinking each day! You may also want to reference pages 4-5 and complete the Puzzle Activity over Discomforts of Pregnancy & Solutions found on p.113.)
~ Health Recommendations - Compiled from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
~ "Benefits of Protein During Pregnancy"
~ "Fetal Growth and Protein" Apr 09, 2011 By Bridget Coila, Livestrong.com
~ Need Help Getting More Protein In Your Diet??? Check out these high protein menu plans from Dr. Brewer's Pregnancy Diet!
National Eating Disorders Awareness:
- http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/ResourceHandouts/HealthyBodyImageTipsforPregnantWomenandNewMothers.pdf
- http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/ResourceHandouts/PregnancyEatingDisorders.pdf
A FREE, ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP FOR Women Struggling with Eating Disorders Before or During Pregnancy and Postpartum
~ Health Recommendations - Compiled from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
~ "Benefits of Protein During Pregnancy"
~ "Fetal Growth and Protein" Apr 09, 2011 By Bridget Coila, Livestrong.com
~ Need Help Getting More Protein In Your Diet??? Check out these high protein menu plans from Dr. Brewer's Pregnancy Diet!
National Eating Disorders Awareness:
- http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/ResourceHandouts/HealthyBodyImageTipsforPregnantWomenandNewMothers.pdf
- http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/sites/default/files/ResourceHandouts/PregnancyEatingDisorders.pdf
A FREE, ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP FOR Women Struggling with Eating Disorders Before or During Pregnancy and Postpartum
~ These Nutrition Recommendations are by Melanie Schmidt, Health & Wellness Coach and Owner of Food 4 Thought:
www.Food4thoughtdm.com
For recipes and daily health info, join Melanie on Facebook!
Providing Individualized Health Coaching, Group Health/Nutrition Classes, Juice Plus+ Whole Food Nutrition, and Group Coaching
www.Food4thoughtdm.com
For recipes and daily health info, join Melanie on Facebook!
Providing Individualized Health Coaching, Group Health/Nutrition Classes, Juice Plus+ Whole Food Nutrition, and Group Coaching
diving deeper
Want to Dive Deeper? Let's Go!
~ Would you benefit from a personal health consultation with a certified health coach? Click Here to Learn More about Food 4 Thought Prenatal Health Consultations!
Melanie is a mom of two small children with one on the way that is passionate about the health and wellness of moms and children. As a Certified Health Coach (through AADP and The Institute of Integrative Nutrition),the owner of Food 4 Thought, and a positive advocate for moms and children, Melanie meets clients where they are at in their health and pregnancy journey. She approaches health from all perspectives and components of life; food being just one of many components.
Melanie is a mom of two small children with one on the way that is passionate about the health and wellness of moms and children. As a Certified Health Coach (through AADP and The Institute of Integrative Nutrition),the owner of Food 4 Thought, and a positive advocate for moms and children, Melanie meets clients where they are at in their health and pregnancy journey. She approaches health from all perspectives and components of life; food being just one of many components.
~ A FREE, ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP FOR Women Struggling with Eating Disorders Before or During Pregnancy and Postpartum:
~ A Daily Food Plan for Moms:
"A Daily Food Plan for Moms shows the foods and amounts that are right for you at your stage of pregnancy or when breastfeeding. Get your Daily Food Plan by creating a profile using SuperTracker.
Your plan will be personalized, based on your age, height, weight, physical activity level, and stage of pregnancy or breastfeeding status (pregnancy and breastfeeding options display upon providing your gender and age). You will have the option to register to save your profile if you want." - From ChooseMyPlate.gov
~ "Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes? It’s not the end of the world." © 2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
~ The Paleo Diet, or the "Caveman's Diet" - Click here for specific resources from "The Primal Parent" for living Paleo while pregnant!
~ Gluten Free Diet for Pregnancy
~ Vegetarian and Vegan Diets for Pregnancy
~ Pregnant and Dairy Free? Click Here for More Info!
~ Nutrition Articles from Midwifery Today:
"A Daily Food Plan for Moms shows the foods and amounts that are right for you at your stage of pregnancy or when breastfeeding. Get your Daily Food Plan by creating a profile using SuperTracker.
Your plan will be personalized, based on your age, height, weight, physical activity level, and stage of pregnancy or breastfeeding status (pregnancy and breastfeeding options display upon providing your gender and age). You will have the option to register to save your profile if you want." - From ChooseMyPlate.gov
~ "Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes? It’s not the end of the world." © 2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
~ The Paleo Diet, or the "Caveman's Diet" - Click here for specific resources from "The Primal Parent" for living Paleo while pregnant!
~ Gluten Free Diet for Pregnancy
~ Vegetarian and Vegan Diets for Pregnancy
~ Pregnant and Dairy Free? Click Here for More Info!
~ Nutrition Articles from Midwifery Today:
- Nutrition during Pregnancy—by Amy V. Haas
“The single most important thing that you can do for your baby is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. A well-balanced diet is one that includes foods from all food groups in appropriate amounts, so as to ensure proper nutrition.” - Preventing Complications with Nutrition—by Amy V. Haas, BCCE
“Nutrition in pregnancy—a no-brainer, right? Who would think it was so controversial? Disagreement over a healthy diet during pregnancy continues to rage, with one side saying that what a woman eats will have no effect on her pregnancy and the other saying it has an enormous impact. So what's a woman to eat?” - Keeping Childbearing Normal Through Nutrition—byMarion Toepke McLean, CNM
“During the months of pregnancy, every system of a woman's body changes. The blood and circulatory system expand and work for two. The basis of this expansion is nutritional.” - Hummous and Enchiladas Make Beautiful Babies, Too!—by Valerie El Halta
“If you had asked me to be your midwife in 1978, I would have come to our initial interview armed with vitamin charts, diet lists and food diaries—all in my well meaning attempt to get you to eat foods I thought were best for you.” - Are You a Size-Friendly Midwife?—by Pamela Vireday
“Nutrition for pregnant women of size is essentially the same as for every other pregnant woman. Larger women may need slightly fewer calories because they do not need to add the fat layer for energy that smaller women need, but restricting calories can lead to complications and has not been proven to be safe.” - How to Stay Healthy and Low Risk During Pregnancy and Birth—by Amy V. Haas, BCCE
“If you did only one thing to help yourself stay healthy during pregnancy, good nutrition would be it! It is the single most important factor in having a healthy baby and a healthy mom. Eating well in pregnancy means following the Brewer diet, which consists of 75 to 100 grams of good quality protein per day from varied sources.”
Web It! Resources from The Family Way®:
Nutrition (page 9)
~ Guidelines from the US Government
~ Guidelines from the Canadian Government
Precautions (page 8) -Topics from alcohol to stress, and much more
~ March of Dimes
~ Listeria and Pregnancy
~ Guidelines from the US Government
~ Guidelines from the Canadian Government
Precautions (page 8) -Topics from alcohol to stress, and much more
~ March of Dimes
~ Listeria and Pregnancy
reflection opportunities
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Student Poll: |
Journal Entry:
Please visit the forum below under "Unit 2: Preparing Your Body And Mind - Nutrition In Pregnancy" to reflect on the following question:
- Name at least 1 major risk associated with not drinking enough water during pregnancy, AND share at least 1 tip for getting enough fluids during the day!
- Name at least 1 major risk associated with not drinking enough water during pregnancy, AND share at least 1 tip for getting enough fluids during the day!