Aug

Nutrition during your Last Trimester of Pregnancy

As your baby’s nutritional needs increase during the final growth spurt of the last trimester, you may be at risk of developing nutritional deficiencies.

Since nature intends that your baby’s extra nutritional needs are met before your own, you have to make sure whatever food you eat is nutritious, and at the same time, provides the extra calories that you need.

Also, the baby gains maximum immunities from the mother in the last trimester, so eating healthy will also lay the foundation for your baby’s good health in the long run.

During your third trimester, you need to consume between 200 and 300 more calories each day.

Junk food is especially tempting during the third trimester.

You may feel tired and not like cooking, and it’s all too easy to grab something quick. When this happens, focus on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Add some protein and your snack will have staying power; such as yoghurt, fish, nuts and seeds, olive oil or flax oil.

You’ll also feel better if you eat several small meals throughout the day rather than eating fewer, large meals.

Your stomach will be a bit cramped toward the end of your pregnancy until your baby drops and smaller meals will be easier to tolerate.

One food you need to be sure to include in your third trimester diet is good fat.

The last weeks before birth are when your baby’s brain does most of its developing. You particularly need essential fatty acids, including Omega 3s, which you can get from servings of fish, flax oil and some nuts.

Leading up to the birth, you will transfer vital nutrients to your baby to prepare them for life outside your womb.

And giving birth itself will also drain you of key vitamins and minerals – zinc again is lost during any demanding event, plus iron with blood loss, B vitamins are lost with all that energy you’ve expended, and calcium and magnesium are depleted by hours of muscle contractions.

Vitamin C will also be depleted, and A and E are key. So continue taking your multivitamin throughout this time.

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