During the period of intrauterine development, the baby’s body completely depends on the lifestyle of the expectant mother. If a woman does not experience nervous overload, gets full rest, and eats right, then the child feels protected. Particularly conscious young ladies switch to a proper diet even when planning a pregnancy. However, in most cases, questions about nutrition during the perinatal period arise after an event has occurred. Advice from gynecologists, nutritionists, and pediatricians will help you develop a personal menu.
Nutrition during pregnancy raises many questions. Firstly, the older generation advises “eating for two”, and women are afraid of gaining extra pounds. Secondly, hormonal changes in the body dictate new gastronomic preferences. Fearing harm to the child, the expectant mother is lost between “would I like to” and “can I?” Thirdly, the pseudo-medical advice on nutrition that is poured in abundance on women from social networks is confusing. How to choose healthy foods, safe cooking methods, and create a diet during pregnancy? Read our article.
Nutrition during pregnancy
Organization of nutrition during the perinatal period is aimed at maintaining the health of the woman and ensuring the harmonious development of the baby. The main tool in achieving the goal is the responsible attitude of the expectant mother to her daily diet. Poor nutrition during pregnancy results in nutritional deficiency. This leads to the occurrence of intrauterine pathologies, complications of gestation, increases the chances of the child developing autoimmune reactions, and activation of unfavorable genetics (hereditary predisposition to diseases).
The causes of nutritional imbalance in the body of a pregnant woman are:
• Calorie deficit and surplus. The low energy value of the diet forces the baby’s body to turn on the mechanism of accelerated absorption of everything that the mother eats. Nutrigeneticists claim that the habit of eating everything continues after birth, threatening obesity. In the female body, a lack of calories is reflected in the weakness of the uterine muscles. There is a danger of miscarriage. Excess calories lead to excess weight gain, and this puts stress on joints, blood vessels, and the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and varicose veins. • Lack of vitamins. Hypovitaminosis during pregnancy is a direct threat to the life and health of the child. Deficiency of vitamins A and E slows down fetal growth and provokes premature birth. Deficiency of B1, B9 causes defects in the development of the nervous system. Vitamin D deficiency is the cause of neonatal rickets and visual impairment. Hypovitaminosis B2 results in heart defects, cleft palate, and deformation of the arms and legs of a newborn. • Lack of minerals. Microelements participate in embryonic development no less than vitamins. Copper deficiency leads to a decrease in the immune status of mother and child, calcium, phosphorus - to demineralization of fetal bone tissue, iodine - to a delay in the neuropsychic development of the baby, iron - to iron deficiency anemia in a pregnant woman, the threat of miscarriage, magnesium - to premature birth, development arrhythmias in the mother, zinc - to slow growth of the embryo.
Eating right means ensuring your child’s stable growth and development, and protecting yourself from perinatal risks and complicated childbirth. A pregnant woman needs to eat not “for two,” but “for two.”
Approximate vitamin and mineral norm per day (in mg)
Minerals
- calcium - 1200
- phosphorus - 700
- magnesium – 360
- iodine - 200
- zinc - 15
- iron - 30
- copper - 2-3
Vitamins
- retinol (A) - 1.2
- thiamine (B1) - 1.8
- pyridoxine (B6) - 2.1
- folic acid (B9) - 400 mcg
- tocopherol (E) – 10
- ergocalciferol (D) – 500IU
- ascorbic acid (C) – 100
To prevent vitamin and mineral deficiency, it is recommended to supplement your diet with special vitamins for pregnant women.
Metal
The reason may be unhealthy teeth or gums.
A metallic taste in the mouth can be caused by metal crowns or fragments of dentures. In this case, you should discuss with your dentist the issue of replacing them. When making a diagnosis, exclude:
- diseases of the periodontium and maxillofacial system with obvious signs of a purulent process;
- bleeding from the gums;
- poisoning with salts of heavy metals - such taste sensations are caused by mercury, zinc, arsenic, copper;
- diabetes mellitus in the stage of decompensation with a slight change in blood sugar levels;
- Iron-deficiency anemia;
- chronic bleeding due to stomach ulcers;
- hormonal disorders;
- taking certain medications. The appearance of such sensations is facilitated by drugs from the NSAID group and anticonvulsants. When the drug is discontinued, the metallic taste disappears on its own.
Difficult first trimester
The female body adapts to new conditions. Fatigue, drowsiness, and unstable mood are typical for a pregnant woman. There are problems with urination and bowel movements, acute reactions to tastes and smells. And at this time, the foundation of the baby’s health is laid. His nervous and circulatory systems are formed, and his heart begins to work intensively. Proper nutrition in the first trimester is a way to stabilize the mother’s condition and mitigate the risks of intrauterine anomalies.
Principles for creating a diet in the 1st trimester:
• Don't be greedy. Overeating increases the symptoms of toxicosis and provokes digestive failure. You need to eat in modest portions at intervals of 3-3.5 hours. • Take care of “building materials”. The basis for the formation of fetal cells is protein. From it the body receives 20 essential amino acids that it cannot produce on its own. The menu should include lean meat - turkey, chicken, veal. Twice a week you need to eat fish, alternating low-fat varieties (pollock, cod) with fatty ones (salmon, pink salmon, salmon). • “Agree” with the intestines. The problem for many women at the beginning of pregnancy is constipation. Fiber, which is found in raw vegetables, hard fruits, and bran, helps to cope with them. • Replenish supplies. During the formation of the nervous system, the baby squeezes iodine and B vitamins from the mother’s body. To prevent vitamin and mineral deficiency, shrimp, squid, seaweed and cauliflower, buckwheat porridge, eggs, and nuts should be introduced into the diet. • Do not experiment with drinks. It is recommended to drink water - still bottled or filtered. Adding freshly squeezed lemon juice will help calm nausea.
Daily caloric intake is 2500-2700. Nutrient distribution: proteins - 110 g, carbohydrates - 350 g, fats (vegetable + animal) - 75 g.
What are the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion?
Broadly speaking, symptoms of reflux may include:
- Sour taste in the mouth, sometimes accompanied by nausea;
Hoarseness and a bitter taste in the mouth – this condition is also called “silent reflux” or reflux esophagitis.
If we talk about heartburn, it is characterized by the following sensations:
- Burning pain in the chest area, most often behind the sternum;
- Sensations of compression in the chest area.
Heartburn may last for a few minutes or several hours, especially if you suffer from severe heartburn.
Indigestion usually manifests itself in the form of:
- Pain in the lower chest, abdomen and stomach (usually occurs after eating, although this is not a necessary condition);
- Feelings of fullness; in this case, you feel bloating in the stomach area;
- Belching;
- Nausea and even vomiting.
Second trimester - needs increase
By about 14-15 weeks, the woman’s well-being returns to normal - toxicosis goes away, physical and emotional activity increases. The baby begins to produce blood cells, strengthens bone tissue, the pituitary gland begins to work, the first hair and nails appear, bone mineralization progresses, and muscles begin to contract. To meet the increased needs of the child, the mother needs to eat more. At the same time, it is not the caloric intake that needs to be increased, but the amount of nutrients. At this time, both organisms need vitamin D, calcium, and iron.
Mandatory foods in the diet:
• to provide calcium - cheese, cottage cheese, milk, almonds, sesame seeds; • sources of vitamin D - fatty fish, cod liver, eggs, butter, flaxseed, olive oil; • for the prevention of iron deficiency - beef and pork liver, cocoa, beans, cabbage, apples, blueberries, greens (spinach, parsley, mint). In the second trimester, it is important to control the amount of table salt and fluid you drink. This will help avoid surges in blood pressure and cardiac overload. Recommended values: calories - 2800-3000, proteins - 120 g, fats - 85 g, carbohydrates - 400 g.
Third trimester - diet correction
From the 27th week of pregnancy, the female body begins to prepare for childbirth, and the baby begins to be born. At this time, gastronomic fads give way to heartburn, constipation, shortness of breath, swelling, and rapid weight gain.
A properly composed menu will help you adjust your well-being in the 3rd trimester. What should be done:
• Reduce the amount of protein foods. A protein surplus leads to kidney dysfunction and the accumulation of uric acid. • Avoid heartburn triggers - sour foods, black coffee, fried foods. • Replace 50% of animal fats with vegetable oils. They contain essential polyunsaturated acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, which are not synthesized by the body, but are needed for the absorption of minerals and vitamins. • Limit salty foods. Salt is the cause of edema, unstable functioning of the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. • Set a limit on sweets. Simple carbohydrates quickly turn into extra pounds, causing flatulence, dyspepsia, and skin problems. • Eat more vegetables, fruits, berries, greens. Natural sources of vitamins provide energy and strengthen the immune system - this will come in handy during childbirth. Standards for KBJU: calories - 2900-3100, proteins - 100 g, fats - 75 g, carbohydrates - 400 g.
Acid and bitterness
A bitter taste indicates a disruption of the liver and bile ducts. It may appear occasionally, but may bother you regularly.
Possible causes of a bitter-sour aftertaste:
- significant errors in nutrition - the liver is simply not able to cope with so many fatty, heavy, spicy foods, alcoholic drinks;
- alcoholism - the liver suffers first;
- treatment with aggressive drugs - a long course of antibiotics, antihistamines, and other medications;
- those who like to smoke a cigarette at night.
If we consider bitterness in the oral cavity in terms of the intended diagnosis, then most often it is cholecystopancreatitis, erosion of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, gastritis.
What should you not eat or drink?
There is no place for harmful foods in a properly composed diet for a pregnant woman. Throughout the perinatal period, the following are blacklisted:
• fast food; • flavored snacks; • hot sauces; • smoked meats; • products containing many preservatives; • alcohol.
The expectant mother is advised to limit the consumption of sausages, confectionery products, and sweet pastries. You also need to be careful with citrus fruits, strawberries, mushrooms, and coffee. It is advisable to exclude packaged juices, bottled tea, sweet cocktails, and soda from the grocery basket.
Dieting is difficult, but necessary. This will help minimize the harmful effects on the fetus, maintain pregnancy, improve well-being, avoid weight gain, and the development of gestational complications - preeclampsia, pyelonephritis, diabetes.
Sour taste in pregnant women
The appearance of such an unpleasant aftertaste in a pregnant woman is facilitated by 2 metabolic processes associated with the process of bearing offspring.
You can thank for the acid in your mouth:
- The hormone progesterone. This is a necessary condition for pregnancy. This substance helps relax muscle tissue, preventing the development of fetal rejection. Ideally, it should act only on the muscles of the uterus. But in reality, all smooth muscles relax, including the muscles of the stomach and esophagus.
- The growing uterus puts pressure on the hollow organs. There is a reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and oral cavity. The result is heartburn and an acidic taste in the mouth.
In this case, taking an antacid is indicated at the discretion of the gynecologist. But first you should exclude diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The drug of choice can be Gaviscon in any convenient form.
Diet rules
The principles of constructing a diet during the perinatal period differ little from the general rules of healthy eating. After all, pregnancy is not a disease.
Organizing a proper diet includes:
• Refusal of junk food and drinks. Carcinogens, preservatives, flavorings, flavor enhancers, and alcohol increase perinatal risks. • Control of KBJU. Helps maintain stable weight and nutritional balance. • Daily consumption of healthy foods containing protein, minerals, vitamins. These substances are necessary for the development of the fetus and the health of the mother. • Compliance with the drinking regime (1.5-2 liters per day). Clean water ensures normal blood flow, regulates the functioning of the urinary organs and intestines. • Small meals: 5-6 times a day with an interval of 3-4 hours. This schedule helps you not to overeat and properly absorb nutrients. • Cooking foods in healthy ways. Cooking dishes by boiling, stewing, and baking allows you to reduce calories, reduce the load on the digestive organs, and get rid of nausea and heartburn. • Limiting salt. A slight salt deficiency during pregnancy reduces the load on the kidneys and heart muscle and prevents the appearance of swelling. • Limit on fast carbohydrates. The body gets glucose from sweet foods, the main source of energy, so you can’t give them up completely. But excessive passion for confectionery products leads to metabolic failure, obesity, and the development of insulin resistance. • Keeping a food diary.
The diet for pregnant women has its bonuses. A woman will master healthy menu recipes, get used to eating right, and easily get into shape after giving birth. Of course, you shouldn’t make a cult out of food, forgetting about your own comfort and appearance. Special underwear for pregnant women will help you feel confident, and hypoallergenic products will take care of the beauty of your skin - stretch mark creams, gels, balms. Today, all products for pregnant women and nursing mothers can be ordered from an online pharmacy with home delivery.
Acid and sweet
Acidity in the mouth is not a very pleasant sensation
A pure taste sensation is rare. Since there are receptors in the oral cavity for determining and analyzing various combinations.
In a pathological process, acid may predominate, but in most cases other flavors are also present. This provides additional information to find the cause of the unpleasant sensation.
Sweet and sour taste is caused by the following conditions:
- increased blood glucose levels due to stress, physical exertion;
- state of depression;
- excessive consumption of sweets;
- disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
- liver pathologies;
- toxic effects of pesticides, gaseous chemicals;
- smoking cessation period;
- diabetes with a slight increase in blood glucose levels, a latent form of the disease;
- pathologies of the maxillofacial system, which are accompanied by purulent processes - gum disease, caries, periostitis, gumboils and abscesses.
Before contacting a doctor, you should analyze the factors that contribute to the appearance of a sour taste in the mouth.
