Are there any good studies on the effects of good or bad maternal nutrition?

Question

There's an awful lot of "eat well -- it's SO important for your baby!" but I'm not running into a lot to back it up.

There's some reasonably well-documented stuff on why and how bad things are bad (the alcohol hysteria is a bit overblown, but no mind), but would spending nine months eating junk food really cause that many problems? And, is nine months of the healthiest possible stuff really going to offer a tremendous advantage? Details, please!

(NB: I have always eaten a quite healthy diet; this is just curiousity.)

Answer 1

You can actually google the effects of prenatal nutrition.

There actually have been several studies done on the subject.

They have found that in all industrialized nations, the nutritional diet of the pregnant mother really doesnt effect the outcome of the baby. This include things like mineral and vitamin intake.

What DOES effect the baby is the amount of nutrients available BEFORE you get and know your pregnant. Especially folic acid. Its the most important the weeks before you get pregnant, and up to about 8-10 weeks as the brain, spinal cord, and vital systems are established.

The amazing thing is that a baby will suck you dry of anything it needs, whether you eat it or not. So much so that it will suck the calcium from your teeth if it cant get it through your diet.

I googled it back when i first got pregnant, and asked my doctor about it. Its pretty interesting, but makes sense when you think about it.

Answer 2

Being moderate and sensible is the best advice I have. The baby is going to get all the nutrients it needs if you eat a balanced diet. Even if you don't, the mother is the one who will suffer mostly because the baby will pull all it needs from the mommy and leave you deficient. As for studies, well, I don't know, but I have had four very healthy children and I was not obcessive one way or the other, just moderate and as I mentioned balanced. There are many things which can contribute to the health of your unborn child, such as undo stress, heavy drug use, heany alcohol use, heavy tobacco use, tremendous weight gain, the list goes on, but I think that our mental and emotional health while pregnant can effect the unborn child just as directly as anything else, so be happy and don't over worry! (Just friendly advice from one mother to another!)

Answer 3

Well, prenatal nutrients are full of the entire further iron and stuff that your child demands while your pregnant. So, particularly it's normal. I attempted to take my prenatal nutrients day-to-day seeing that I knew that it could advantage my son and make him robust. And good, he used to be born three months early and he is presently within the NICU and he is an excessively robust little boy! If you continue to do not wish to take pre-natal nutrients, then simply be certain you get plenty of iron and calcium into your nutrition. I endorse you speak for your health practitioner and might be have him/her support you arise with nutrition. Good success! And, CONGRATS to your being pregnant!

Answer 4

Gee, Im gonna watch this question, maybe itll get me on the right track, Im always eating sugars and bad things *runs off to do research* ...Great question, was kinda wondering it myself!