As you get ready to welcome your new bundle of joy into this world, you have to ensure that your body is prepared to house it well. For the next 9 months, everything that you do, eat and perform will have a direct or indirect impact on the fetus.

In the initial three months, the fetus undergoes development, brain development and overall growth. Though it is important to have a balance diet during pregnancy, it is best to ensure that you eat well even before you conceive as this will ensure that your body is well prepared and nourished in order to have a healthy baby.

Why is the first trimester so important?

The whole nine months of pregnancy are extremely important but the 1^st trimester is especially crucial as this when the fetus gets implanted on the walls of the uterus. A small ignorance or mistake can cause complications. If the uterus is healthy, it will ensure that the fetus is firmly implanted. During this phase women tend to be extremely deficient in nutrition if they suffer from morning sickness.

Nausea accompanied by vomiting can lead to

• Dehydration
• Depletion of salt level in the body
• Decrease in the level of nutrition.

When women experience symptoms of morning sickness during early pregnancy, it becomes difficult to maintain a healthy diet. Under such conditions, a woman should:

• Choose to have small light meals at small intervals.
• Some women feel better with bland food while others feel better with spicy food. Understand what your body appreciates more and eat accordingly.
• If you are suffering from morning sickness, start your morning with ginger ale and lemon drops.
• Stay hydrated by consuming water and juice in order to compensate for the fluid loss through vomiting.  Dehydration can be extremely dangerous.
• Do not have junk food and trans fat while you are carrying the baby.
• Increase the intake of proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and healthy fats.
• Avoid foods like sushi and raw eggs as they can be harmful during pregnancy.

Having a well nourished body will help to decrease the impact of morning sickness. Also, your body is catering to its own need along with that of the body and to ensure that the surplus demand is met, you have to eat more of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. It is important to stick to only natural food items and avoid canned, processed and spicy foods, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and sweets such as sugar, cakes and cookies along with sodas and colas.

You should also eat these foods in moderation as too much of anything is bad. The total calorie intake during pregnancy is around 22, 00 or 28, 00. To ensure that you are getting the required nutrient, try having three meals a day. Consuming more calories than these can lead to excess weight gain during pregnancy.   Ideally, your health care provide will put you on a dose of vitamin supplement so that you have the right amount of prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement for the next 9 months.

During the first trimester, one of the most important nutrients is Vitamin B (folic acid). This vitamin prevents neural tube defects. Also known as NTD, it is an opening in the spinal cord or the brain.

Along with the right balance, one needs to be in constant touch with their health care provider so that your diet and health are supervised.

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