List of Nutrition Needed When Planning a Pregnancy

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Medical Video: Nutrition & Fitness Before & During Pregnancy

Are you planning a pregnancy in the near future? One of the things that really determines health during pregnancy is your nutritional status. Nutritional preparation during the preconception period is important, because it can determine the success of your pregnancy and your child's health status later. Here are some things you should pay attention to if you plan to get pregnant.

Increase consumption of iron (Fe) sources

A total of 468 million women aged 15 to 49 years (30% of the total population of women in the world) are suspected of having anemia due to iron deficiency. In fact, the incidence of anemia in women that occurred in Southeast Asia reached 182 million women of childbearing age and 18 million pregnant women. Anemia and iron deficiency are closely related to a decrease in body capacity and the immune system.

If you are planning a pregnancy, it is better to meet your iron intake so that you do not experience anemia. Anemia in pregnant women can cause various complications in the fetus, such as malnutrition in the fetus and result in babies born with low weight. According to the number of nutritional adequacy determined by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, the iron requirement needed when the pre-conception period is 26 mg / day. Iron can be found in various animal source food ingredients, such as beef, chicken meat, and seafood.

Adequate consumption of iodine and folic acid

Micronutrients that are no less important for those of you who are planning a pregnancy are folic acid and iodine. Lack of iodine and folic acid can occur for three months before up to three months after pregnancy. This micronutrient deficiency can increase the risk of mental disorders and disability in children. The results of a survey conducted in several countries in America and Europe, it is known that 50 to 70% of pregnant women who experience iodine deficiency and folic acid, give birth to children with disabilities and mental retardation.

The recommended consumption before pregnancy during the day is 150 micrograms of iodine and 400 micrograms of folic acid in one day. Sources of food rich in iodine and folic acid are fish and various kinds of dairy products, such as yogurt, cheese, and so on.

Have a normal body mass index (BMI)

Do you have a normal body mass index (BMI)? If not, you need to be careful because having a BMI that is less than normal or exceeds normal will have a negative impact on the health of the fetus. Women who are short and have a low body mass index (<18.5 kg / m2), at high risk of experiencing various complications in pregnancy such as, the risk of premature delivery, babies born have a low birth weight, and development and growth of children who are disturbed. Children who are born with low weight have a high risk of experiencing death at the beginning of birth and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus when adulthood.

Whereas women who have excessive BMI are> 30 kg / m2 or obese, can cause babies born with a large body weight and at risk of obesity in children and various degenerative diseases as adults.

Pay attention to age when pregnant

Age is one factor that is also quite important in pregnancy. It should be noted the age when planning a pregnancy. Early gestational age, such as adolescence, can cause the fetus and mother to compete with each other in getting food, because each experiences growth and development. Children born to teenage mothers weigh 200 grams lower than children born to mature mothers. Pregnancy at an early age risks increasing the incidence of malnutrition in children, by 40%.

Age over 35 years also turns out to have the risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy. Various risks of complications that arise if you become pregnant when you are over 35 years old, have gestational diabetes, namely diabetes that appears during pregnancy, high blood pressure, children at risk of experiencing Down syndrome, premature birth, and miscarriage.

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List of Nutrition Needed When Planning a Pregnancy
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