Dieting and Pregnancy...is it good for you?

Almost all medical expert condemn dieting during pregnancy for the simple reason that dieting can affect the quality of nutrition a baby receives.

Normal-Weight Women

Women who are not obese are not encouraged to go on a pregnancy diet, as a lack of nutrition may have a a negative impact on baby. Research has found that children of women who had the lowest calories intake had thicker arteries, regardless of their mother's weight, health, whether she smoked or exercised during pregnancy. Birth defects have also been linked to pregnancy diets. dieting during pregnancy increases the risk of neutral tube defects, in which the spinal cord and brain don't fully develop.

Obese Women

In the past, obese women were often advised to either lose weight during pregnancy or to maintain their pregnancy weight, even though they tend not to gain as much weight during pregnancy as smaller women. however, obese pregnant women are more likely to experience complications during pregnancy such as, hypertension, gestational diabetes and more likely to require a C-section. while some doctors encourage weight lose, most feel this could be dangerous. Undernourished babies are more likely to be born prematurely. Pregnancy diets also increase risk of infant mortality.

Lifestyle Diets
Most doctors agree that lifestyle or fad diets e.g the Atkins, Zone or South Beach Diet should not be followed while pregnant.

Eating a well-balanced meal is key to staying healthy during pregnancy and ensuring your baby develops properly. Vitamins such as a prenatal multivitamin, plus a daily mineral supplement are encouraged. Folic acid supplements are also important.

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Parental Nudity

Worried about getting dressed in front of your baby? Wondering how long should I let him see me naked?

Experts agree that up until the preschool years, parental nudity won't affect a child in any way i.e beyond the age of 3 or 4. At that point, many believe, it may not be healthy for children to see parents of the opposite sex fully naked.

An infant under a year is too young to remember year's later what he has seen and is unlikely to notice anything special about mom's birthday suit!

If your baby is curious about what he sees, and wants to touch your public hair or pull your nipples, feel free to end any exploration that bothers you. His interest in the private parts of your body is, after all, just as innocent as being interested in your belly button or ears.

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Baldy Baby

Tired of hearing "what a cute little boy" whenever you're out with your cute little girl? If your daughter was born bald and still has little more than peach fuzz...don't worry the days of pretty bows, pig-tails and plaits will soon come.

Like toothlessness, hairlessness at an early age is normal and not permanent. Hairlessness is most common among fair babies with light hair and is not a forecast of scarce hair later in life.
In no time hair strands will sprout with most of them arriving as late as 2 years old in some cases.

In the meantime just be grateful you don't have to wrestle to comb or wash a tangled headful of hair!

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Is Your Baby a Chubby Checker?

With dimples on knees and elbows, a Buddha belly, double chin and puffy cheeks, she is a picture of absolute cuteness, but could this be the way to becoming a fat child and an obese adult?

One study has found that babies who put on weight fast in their first 4 months may be at an increased risk of obesity later on in life. The baby who is too heavy to move may become victim to a vicious cycle of inactivity and overweight. The more chubbier baby is, the less she moves and the more chubbier she will get. Her inability to move will make her frustrated and irritable, which may lead to parents overfeeding her to keep her happy.

The prescription for a chubby baby is not usually a diet, but rather slowing down the rate of weight gain. Here are a few tips to help with this:

• Use feeding only to satisfy hunger and not other needs.


• Make dietary adjustments if necessary e.g. switch to low calorie formula or use skimmed milk.


• Try water for a overweight older baby who wants to keep sucking after her appetite has been satisfied, or who is thirsty rather than hungry.


• Don't give solids prematurely as a way to encourage sleeping through the night - it doesn't work and may lead to overweight.


• Evaluate your baby's diet. If you've already started your baby on solids and she's taking more than just a few spoonfuls of cereal, reduce the milk intake. Cut back on solids if you have started them prematurely (most experts recommend not starting solids until 6 months). If baby is taking juices (which shouldn't be before the age of 6 months) dilute them. and don't put thin cereal in a bottle for feeding.


• Get your baby moving e.g. let your "stand" on your lap and bounce

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