Pregnancy

Pregnancy

 

Like the menopause, pregnancy is not an illness but a natural event. I have included it in these sections because there can be complications and uncomfortable symptoms that can be distressing and even debilitating for some women. It's also very important that you know how to reach and maintain a state of optimum health in order to prepare for a comfortable pregnancy and the delivery of a healthy baby.

At more than any other time, you will be considering what you eat when you are pregnant. The responsibility of feeding (indeed, growing!) another human being should never be taken lightly. You need to know what foods are beneficial for your baby's health and development, but you'll also need to know what should be avoided and whether you should be taking supplements.

Many women experiment with natural approaches to health for the first time when they are pregnant, largely because so many drugs are inappropriate for use during pregnancy, but also because it simply feels right to let nature take its course. During the early weeks and months of pregnancy a baby's cells divide and multiply rapidly and its organs are formed. For the remainder of the pregnancy, everything that will eventually make up your baby is formed. I cannot stress too much the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy.

For many years, we have believed that babies in the womb are insulated from the external environment, and that they are protected from anything that could cause them harm. It makes sense that nature would protect the next generation. However, we now know that this is only true to a point. If there is little food, for example, your baby is more likely to benefit from it than you are. That's one of nature's protective mechanisms. However, it appears that what an expectant mother eats - or doesn't eat - can have a profound effect on a baby's health in the womb, after he is born and even when he becomes an adult.

Your diet during pregnancy
It is important to eat as well as you can from the moment you discover that you are pregnant. However, it is even more beneficial to prepare for pregnancy by changing your eating and drinking patterns up to four months before conception. If you are considering having a baby, then take a four-month 'preconception' break, and follow the recommendations from the Fertility Section. You may be alarmed to find this information in the infertility section of the book, but let me reassure you that the recommendations are the same, whether you are trying to conceive, or simply getting yourself into peak condition before having a baby.

If you are already pregnant, start straightaway with the nutrition recommendations on the Foundation of Health page.

Problems you might experience during pregnancy
Although pregnancy is not an illness, there are a number of different problems that may cause concern or discomfort during this time. These can include morning sickness, constipation, heartburn, pre-eclampsia, concerns about your weight, premature labour and infections