Preparing for Pregnancy
Food Warnings
Occasionally, a federal or state governmental health agency will issue food safety warnings. These are usually of a temporary measure, lasting until the problem is corrected. The warning may involve a local area, state, region, or may involve the entire country. Pay attention to them. These warnings are issued when a food source may have… »
Vegetarian Nutrition
The human intestinal tract will tolerate a fairly broad diet. Human beings are probably designed to be omnivores with a significant leaning toward the vegetarian end of the spectrum. It is well established that a diet high in animal-source fats and proteins contributes to increased risk of heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and colon cancer. Vegetarians… »
Vitamin A
If you eat a well-balanced diet AND take a supplement that contains more than 3,000 IU (800 RE) of Vitamin A, you may want to re-consider taking the supplement before you get pregnant. Vitamin A is a suspected teratogen, and some Vitamin A-type compounds are documented teratogens. A teratogen is a substance which can cause… »
Folic Acid
Before you become pregnant, start taking a vitamin supplement which contains folic acid. Folic acid (also known as folacin) is one of the B vitamins. It is known as “folate” when found in natural food sources. Recents studies show that folic acid deficiency may be a significant factor in the formation of neural tube defects… »
Protein
The National Research Council recommends that adult men and women ingest daily (on average) about 0.75 gm of protein for every kilogram of weight. A gram is about the weight of one lima bean. A kilogram is 2.2 pounds. A woman weighing 125 pounds should consume about 43 grams of protein per day. An ounce… »
Calories, Weight and Body Mass
If you are significantly underweight or overweight, consult a dietician before you get pregnant. If you have a history of bulemia or anorexia, discuss this with your clinician. Unless you are significantly underweight, you will not need additional calories prior to your pregnancy. Some clinicians, use a simple calculation as a beginning point in a… »
Your Nutrition Before Pregnancy
Your body and your body’s nutritional stores will supply the building blocks of life for your baby. Proper nutrition is essential for both you and your baby. Of all the factors you have control over before, during and after pregnancy, the food you place in your mouth and swallow may be the most important. What… »
Preconceptional Health Care
If you have decided to get pregnant, consult your health care clinician about your overall health status. Make certain you tell her/him you are considering pregnancy. A preconceptional evaluation should include a complete physical examination, complete history (including your family history) and the following tests. If your evaluation doesn’t include these aspects, go see a… »
Does Exposure to Computer Terminals Harm Your Baby?
Computer terminals are the TV-like monitors that display the words and picture from your computer. These screens are also known as video display terminals (VDTs) and cathode ray tubes. In the early days of television, TVs emitted some forms of ionizing radiation (like x-rays). However, since the 1960s, TV tubes have used lead shields to… »
Teratogens
There are things in this world which you should avoid if you are planning a pregnancy. A teratogen is a substance or condition which can cause a birth defect. There are relatively few, known teratogens. Not all birth defects are caused by teratogens. In fact, teratogens are probably responsible for less than 10% of human… »