Should I eat bird's nest and supplement DHA during pregnancy? The doctor told you...

6 Tips for Diet during Pregnancy

In my clinic, I often encounter women who are good at eating, drinking and having fun before pregnancy. Once pregnant, be especially cautious. The most frequently asked questions to doctors are: "I am pregnant , Which ones should be eaten? Which ones shouldn't be eaten?”

Before answering this question, we should first know the difference in energy and nutrition requirements between pregnant women and non-pregnant women.

Nutrition supplementation during pregnancy is different!

The nutrients needed by the human body are mainly composed of three major nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fat), vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.

In the first trimester, there is not much difference between expectant mothers' energy and nutrient requirements and non-pregnancy. How to eat or how to eat.

Starting from the second trimester, the daily energy requirement will be increased by 200kcal on the original basis.

At this time, the nutrient energy ratio is not much different from that before pregnancy, but the amount has increased:

protein accounts for 25% to 30% of the total energy, an increase of 15g per day, mainly derived from animal food, Such as eggs, poultry, lean meat and dairy products;

carbohydrates account for 50%-60% of the total energy, an increase of 36g per day;

fat accounts for 25%-30% of the total energy, of which long Chain unsaturated fatty acids have certain benefits to the development of the fetus’s brain and retina, so pregnant mothers should eat some deep-sea fish, walnuts, etc. appropriately.

However, pregnant mothers must pay attention to the fat intake, if too much intake is likely to cause excessive weight gain during pregnancy, and even cause pregnancy complications.

In addition, it is necessary to increase the intake of these substances throughout pregnancy:

Vitamin: It is necessary to regulate body metabolism and maintain a variety of physiological functions, especially in the early embryonic development. Too little or too much supply may increase the risk of fetal malformations;

Inorganic salts and trace elements: Inorganic salts such as calcium and magnesium, trace elements such as iron, zinc, iodine, etc. are all necessary for fetal growth and development The substance;

Dietary fiber: Although dietary fiber is not absorbed by the human body, it can reduce the absorption of sugar and fat, relieve the increase in blood sugar and improve constipation during pregnancy.

Do I need to supplement these foods during pregnancy?

Well, after understanding the above knowledge, we will answer one by one, specifically which foods should be eaten and which should not be eaten.

01

After pregnancy, do I need to eat sea cucumber and bird's nest? Is the skin whiter after eating bird's nest?

Answer: From a nutritional point of view, high-end nutritional products such as bird’s nest and sea cucumbers are not so nutritious and will not bring additional benefits to the fetus.

Of course, if your family is rich, you will find psychological comfort when you eat, I have no objection, just eat if you want.

02

Do I need to supplement DHA during pregnancy?

Answer: This question is really difficult to answer. Because the current research results are not consistent, does not routinely recommend DHA during pregnancy in the obstetric and pediatric guidelines of various countries.

Some studies have found that DHA supplementation during pregnancy and infants is beneficial to children's brain and cognitive development, but some studies have not found any benefits that additional DHA supplementation will bring. Please note that this is the question of supplementing DHA.

If you eat more deep-sea fish in your daily diet, it is recommended.

Some expectant mothers think that supplementing DHA will improve their children's IQ.

In fact, there are many reasons that affect IQ, the most important of which is heredity, which is also related to the environment, nutrition and acquired education. From this perspective, additional DHA supplementation can make babies smarter, which is not very reliable.

Of course, there are also expectant mothers who worry that supplementing DHA will make the baby's head bigger.

There is currently no evidence that DHA can affect the baby's brain volume and skull development. Therefore, it is unscientific to say that DHA makes the head of the fetus bigger.

Therefore, my general attitude towards pregnant women who want to supplement DHA is: no objection, no recommendation.

03

Do I need calcium supplementation during pregnancy?

Answer: is required. On the one hand, the calcium intake during pregnancy meets the needs of the mother-to-be, on the other hand, it ensures the calcium needed by the fetus to grow bones and teeth.

The main food sources of calcium are milk and dairy products. In addition, there are dried shrimps, kelp, etc.

Pregnant women who do not consume much milk products during pregnancy, we recommend an additional 500~1000mg calcium supplement.

04

Do I need iron supplementation during pregnancy?

Answer: It depends on the situation. If the mother-to-be does not have iron-deficiency anemia, generally only food is enough.

The main food sources are animal liver, beef, blood tofu, black fungus and sesame paste.

In particular, animal foods have better absorption of hemoglobin, and eating more spinach does not provide a good iron supplement. In the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, iron deficiency anemia is relatively common. At this time, iron supplements can be provided under the guidance of a doctor.

05

I am pregnant, can I drink tea and coffee?

Answer: The main ingredient of tea and coffee is caffeine.

If you only drink light green tea and scented tea, there is no problem. Similarly, drinking 1 cup of coffee a day is also possible.

It is not recommended to drink milk tea during pregnancy. The main ingredients of milk tea are sugar + fat + caffeine, with very little protein content (milk tea is not milk + tea).

Therefore, milk tea is also considered "junk food". It is ok to drink it occasionally to relieve gluttony, but it is not recommended for long-term drinking.

06

Will eating hairy crabs during pregnancy cause the baby to drool more after birth? Also, can you eat sashimi?

Answer: Eating hairy crabs can cause babies to drool, just like some people say that eating soy sauce will make the skin dark. There is no scientific basis.

Hairy crabs can be eaten during pregnancy, half to one is no problem, just a moderate amount.

Sashimi can also be eaten, just to ensure freshness and food safety.

Summary

Principles of diet during pregnancy: moderate, balanced and diverse.

Everyone’s situation is different. Some people have a good appetite, and some people can’t eat it during pregnancy.

Generally speaking, there are not too many contraindications to what to eat during pregnancy. You can eat before pregnancy and you can also eat during pregnancy, but you must be restrained.

Also, don’t think you’re pregnant, you can eat for two by one.

If you do not exercise restraint, your weight during pregnancy will definitely not be well controlled, and diabetes and pregnancy complications may even occur.

Professional IntroductionPregnancy and hypertension), chief physician, doctoral supervisor, associate professor of Tongji University. Member of the Critical Care Group of the Chinese Perinatal Society, member and secretary of the Shanghai Youth Committee of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chinese Medical Association, member of the Chinese Sex Education Association, member of the Maternal and Child Health Service Industry Committee of the Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association.

Expert expertise: diagnosis and treatment of high-risk obstetrics such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, placental diseases, pregnancy infections, and etiological research and clinical treatment of prenatal diagnosis.

Every year August 1-7 is "World Breastfeeding Week". This year, Jie Ma will cooperate with Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital to create a series of exciting content.

On August 7th, we will give you a unified answer. Welcome everyone to leave your own breastfeeding questions in the comment area!