Essential Nutrients

Recommended Nutrients during pregnancy and where they are found...

Carbohydrates: Important source of fuel for you and your baby. Carbohydrates are of two types

• Refined or White (Such as white rice, white bread) is bad since it is rapidly broken down into the blood stream causing a spike of glucose which is unhealthy for both mother and baby as it may cause obesity in future.
• Unrefined (such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, multigrain bread) break down more slowly and provide steady glucose in to the blood. they are also good source of fiber.

Proteins: It is essential for the overall growth of the baby and the placenta 

Choose protein sources containing less saturated fats

• Skinless Chicken
• Lean beef and pork
• Tofu
• Low fat cheese
• Curd
• Skimmed milk 
• Fish (this should be limited cause almost all fish contain mercury that could be harmful to the baby)
• Nuts

Fats: They contain vitamins for the healthy development of cells

Unsaturated fats like Fish and some types of oils are healthy while Unsaturated fats and processed fats are not recommended.

Omega 3 Fatty acids : They boost the baby's nervous system

• Fatty fish like Salmon
• Anchovies
• Flaxseeds
• Flaxseed oil
• Walnuts
• Canoli oil

Dairy Products provide good supply of Protein and Fats as well as Calcium and other Vitamins. Calcium is important for the bone development of the baby. I heard that if the baby does not recieve enough calcium as per requirement it will take it from the mother's bones and that is the reason women suffer with calcium deficiency post pregnancy. 

Vitamins and Mineral support the healthy functioning of body systems.

Vitamin A:

• Orange fruit and vegetables such as Carrots, Tomatoes, Apricots

Vitamin B: Helps fight infections

• Banana
• Milk
• Whole grains
• cheese
• cabbage

Vitamin C: Aids in the absorption of calcium

• Citrus fruits
• Kiwis
• Peppers
• Broccoli
• Spinach

Vitamin D : Also helps in the absorbtion of Calcium

• Eggs
• Leafy Vegetables
• Sunlight is a great source.

Vitamin E :

• Nuts and Seeds

Iron for hemoglobin

• Meat 
• Fish
• Chicken
• Dried Apricots
• Spinach
• Broccoli

Calcium for bone development

• Dairy products
• Eggs
• fortified cereals
• leafy vegetables

Zinc for a healthy immune system

• Sea food 
• Nuts

Eating Healthy

Eating healthy should start way before you get pregnant, many say that a improper life style and irregular diet are the major reasons for not conceiving. Take care of diet and this advice is for both expectant mothers and fathers. 

45-65 percent of your calories must be from Carbohydrates;
20-35 percent from Fats;
10-35 percent must be from Proteins

The components of the meal may not be the exact same as given above but we should strive to maintain this balance even during the pregnancy.

If you are trying to conceive and it is not happening then consulting a doctor is the best way to start, I know you wouldn't be reading this blog if you have not done first but that is the first step of the process. When I went to the doctor, she has done a series of tests on me just to make sure that everything is working fine, then she prescribed Folic acid tablets to strengthen my Uterus, she has also given me a food chart and an excising schedule. I think that has made everything happen, once I started eating healthy everything fell into place and the magic happened. Go get yourself a Food chart that will help you have a balanced meal that would meet the demands of your body. 

It is also important to eat healthy after you conceive because the developing baby inside you requires all the essential nutrients.  By eating a wide range of foods you can ensure that the baby gets all the nutrients in balance. Including fresh fruits and vegetables to the diet is quiet important as well as whole milk and eggs.

 During pregnancy make sure you eat each day

• 2-3 portions of protein- rich foods
• 3 servings of dairy
• 3 servings of wholegrain carbohydrates
• 4-5 servings of vegetables
• 3-4 portions of fresh fruit.
• 1-2 servings of iron rich foods

Most women may need to increase their calorie intake by 100-300 calories per day, but this may vary depending on your pre-pregnancy weight and activity. Always consult your doctor before any change is diet plans. This is just a guide line for you to have a healthy pregnancy diet plan, the requirements of the individual may vary according to your requirements. 

Do it with love

Do not do it as a chore

I mean who likes to do household chores, so don't make this a chore you get tired of. Do it with love, have fun and celebrate your love. If you cannot do it with love then don't do it at all... simple. Because no child should be brought into this world without love. No child should be brought into this world out of wedlock and even if you and your partner are married, that is no reason to bring the baby into this world if you do not love each other.


I heard that it takes a village to raise a child,
but today the child is lucky if he gets the love of both parents and grands parents. Women, in general are so adamant about asserting their independence that they tend to raise a wall around them and keep everyone out, the result, kids are being robbed of the love and affection. There could be many arguments and misunderstandings in a family but to rob a child of love is an unforgivable sin. A child needs the love of both father and mother, it needs to cuddle in the arms of grandparents and feel safe, it needs the companionship of siblings and cousins to grow and bloom, it needs to know that the world is full of different kinds of people, not just motherand father; they need to develop their social skills so friends and relatives are also important. Raise a child in a friendly and loving environment and that means the love and support of everyone close to you.

Raising a baby is a tiresome business, yes it is blissful and beautiful but it is also true that this needs a considerable time and patience. Those sleepless nights take the toll on you in a way you never thought possible, sometimes you feel like sleeping all day without a care in the world and during those times you need to make sure your child is in responsible hands, who you trust. It is hard enough to do it with the love and support of your partner, but to think you do not love your partner and having the child will only feel like a burden and it is the most unjust thing you will be doing for your child. 

Do not take stress

If you are trying to conceive, don't take stress...

That's easier said than done ain't it? What with all your friends having their little ones running around. When they call you to their child's birthday and all you do is watch your friends chasing and complaining about how busy life has been with their kids and all you wish was when would such a time come for you, when you would fuss and complain about your kids. Going to kids stores only to buy gifts for others children, while those cute little baby dresses mock you on their hangers. Unable to attend bfamily gatherings because all everyone seem to care is when will there be a little one in your arms. Family gathers can be tiresome, what with all those nosy relatives who want to know the reason for not conceiving,
'is it pill? Don't use them' ;
'you are not getting any younger you know',
yes I know,...

While your in-laws make sure to announce infront of everyone how they would really love to have a grand child. While there are those relatives who feel that is their duty to push blame on the other party, which helps exactly the way petrol would help to put out fires. There are also those who are so very curious about other people's private lives. I remember someone asking me 'how many times do you do it in a week',... That's kind of personal don't you think, but after a while when I kept thinking about that question I started to doubt, how many times should we do it in a week to get pregnant, argh... I should have asked her... you stupid woman. When I shared this piece of information with my husband, he smiled at me and said 'you are an educated woman, don't you know that it's not how many times you do it but when you do it that matters' that was when I felt really stupid. See it's easy to get side tracked if you are not careful, like now,... so where were we... yes... not to get stressed is the key different people suggest different techniques to de-stress, yoga, meditation, herbal tea, me... I decided to train my mind into thinking that if you do not have kids then it is not the end of the world. I taught myself that if I don't have a baby of my own I could always adopt. I mean that there are thousands of children out there who are orphans and looking for a decent family and loving parents, if I could love and care for at least one of them I would be doing myself a huge favour and in the process help someone. I always remember seeing a poster in my youth of Yashoda Krishna and underneath it the quotation that read "Adopt, you never know who you might bring home".

Inspiring, isn't it, I always that I could not have one of my own I would adopt for sure and bring home a child and tell him stories of krishna, superman, spiderman... don't know half the super heroes are adopted when you come to think of it. Yes, there would be some real difficulties in all fronts, but if you are determined and be able to love with your whole heart, nothing is difficult. Anyway that's a thought, something to ease your mind, makes you strong to think that even if you do not have a child you still have a purpose in the world.

About The blog

Motherhood is the greatest blessing a woman enjoys, feeling a tiny life take form in you, holding it in your arms and watch it grow, learn and play. Blessed is the child who is born to a loving and caring parent, but most of all blessed is the mother who delivers a healthy and happy baby. When I first entered the threshold of motherhood I was full of doubts and uncertainity. Late pregnancy, obesity, gesticial diabetics were not helping at all. When you have the responsibility of another life in your hands you can never be too careful, especially when it is so innocent and precious. You are responsible for sculpting a whole new life and that responsibility should not be taken lightly. As everywomen does I have turned to the all knowing Internet for most of my answers but then I found out that no one can tell you exactly how to do it, how to be a good mother. They can suggest you but you have to take the journey alone with your child. Every one has a story to tell and this one is mine. In the following blogs I will reveal some of the challenges I faced, some disasters I made, much knowledge I gathered and most of all the fears I overcame. You will find some useful websites and books I ran into when I was browsing the net, but you will also occasionally find me yapping about some story I heard, or start lecturing about how it should or shouldn't be, just bear with me, after all this is my blog... Cheers