Important of good nutrition during pregnancy and breast feeding

Comprehensive improvements in the nutritional and health status of women before and during
pregnancy, will contribute to optimal fetal growth, better outcomes in childbirth, improved perinatal
survival, and the potential for better long-term health in both the mother and child.

Low birth weight, small and large for gestational age, fetal growth restriction and other abnormal
growth patterns are associated with poor maternal nutritional status.

Dietary patterns of pregnant adolescents are generally less healthy than adult pregnant women. This,
during a critical time for their own nutritional status, indicates the need for enhancing diet quality
among young pregnant mothers.

There is an association between healthy dietary patterns before and during pregnancy, and a reduced
risk for disorders such as gestational diabetes, preterm birth, obesity-related complications, and in some
populations, preeclampsia and high blood pressure. Nutrition therapy is used to treat gestational
diabetes and is especially important for pregnant women with obesity who have undergone bariatric
surgery or who have preexisting diabetes.

Nutritious diets include ample quantities of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish, oils
enriched in monounsaturated fat, and fiber — and are lower in fatty red meat and refined grains.
Furthermore, healthy diets avoid simple sugars, processed foods, and trans and saturated fats.

A diet that consistently and substantially restricts any macronutrient should be avoided during
pregnancy. Fad diets may be especially harmful during pregnancy because of the resulting nutrient
imbalance, nutrient deficiencies or ketosis.
The best time to improve nutrition and BMI is before becoming pregnant. However, having weight gain
goals during pregnancy may be more feasible for some women. That would mean limits on foods with
empty calories and calorie dense foods may be more achievable. Growing evidence indicates that BMI
before pregnancy does affect the degree of influence that gestational weight gain has on pregnancy
complications.

Exclusive breast feeding

Breast milk is uniquely suited to meet the nutritional needs of normal infants born at term for the first 4
to 6 months of life, and its consumption during infancy is associated with lower risks of chronic disease
in later life. Breast milk composition is influenced by what the mother eats, and her adipose nutrient
stores. Among women with gestational diabetes, there is evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for at
least 6 months decreases the risk of Type 2 diabetes for the mother and is protective against the risk of
childhood obesity in her offspring.

WHO recommends mothers worldwide to exclusively breastfeed infants for the child's first six months to
achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, they should be given nutritious
complementary foods and continue breastfeeding up to the age of two years or beyond.

The latest systematic review of the evidence on this issue was published in 2009 ("Optimal duration of
exclusive breastfeeding (Review)", Kramer MS, Kakuma R. The Cochrane Library, 2009, Issue 4). The
findings of the review, which included two controlled trials and 18 other studies conducted in both
developed and developing countries, support current WHO recommendations.

The systematic review's findings suggest that exclusive breastfeeding of infants with only breast milk,
and no other foods or liquids, for six months has several advantages over exclusive breastfeeding for 3-4
months followed by mixed breastfeeding.
These advantages include a lower risk of gastrointestinal infection for the baby, more rapid maternal
weight loss after birth, and delayed return of menstrual periods. No reduced risks of other infections or
of allergic diseases have been demonstrated. No adverse effects on growth have been documented with
exclusive breastfeeding for six months. But a reduced level of iron has been observed in some
developing country settings.

Advantages of breast feeding

WHO closely follows new research findings and has a process for periodically re-examining
recommendations. Systematic reviews accompanied by an assessment of the quality of evidence are
used to review guidelines in a process that is designed to ensure that the recommendations are based
on the best available evidence and free from conflicts of interest.

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies.

As the baby grows, the mother’s breast milk will change to meet the baby’s nutritional needs.

Breastfeeding can help protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases.

Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.

Breast milk shares antibodies from the mother with her baby.

These antibodies help babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses.

Check out these links to learn more:

CDC’s Breastfeeding pages

Office on Women’s Health—Breastfeeding

CDC’s Infant and Toddler Nutrition pages

Mothers can breastfeed anytime and anywhere.

Mothers can feed their babies on the go without worrying about having to mix formula or prepare
bottles. When traveling, breastfeeding can also provide a source of comfort for babies whose normal
routine is disrupted.

Breastfeeding can reduce the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood
pressure.

Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother too! Some cancers, type 2 diabetes, and high blood
pressure are less common among women who breastfeed.

Weaning Foods

Babies get to spark their taste buds around six (6) months, by adding foods to their otherwise breast
milk- or formula-based diet. Many caregivers look forward to the opportunity to watch their babies
respond to a variety of new colors, textures, and flavors. The following variety of edibles are shown to
be the most suitable foods for weaning as evinced by research:

1. Avocado

Avocados are fruits known for being highly nutritious. They are an ideal food for babies and adults alike.
It’s no secret that babies grow rapidly in the first year of life and need adequate nutrition to support
this.

This easily mashable fruit is typically famed for its healthy fat content, but it’s also packed with fiber,
potassium, folate, copper, and vitamin E (2Trusted Source).

Only 5% of Americans meet their adequate intake (AI) for daily fiber. This nutrient is known to enhance
digestion and help reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart
disease (3Trusted Source).
In a study in young children, those with high fiber intakes also had greater intakes of key brain-boosting
nutrients for babies, including iron, folate, and vitamin B6. So, feeding your baby avocado and other
fiber-rich foods will provide them with many beneficial nutrients (4Trusted Source).

6–8-month-olds: Cut a ripe avocado into slices about the width of an adult finger for easy gripping.

9–12-month-olds: Cut a ripe avocado into small cubes or chunks.

2. Yogurt

Though it’s not necessarily a mess-free option for your baby, yogurt is a taste bud-friendly food with
calcium, protein, and gut health benefits. Yogurt is a cultured dairy product, meaning that it contains
healthy probiotic bacteria cultures such as Lactobacillus (5Trusted Source).

Probiotics play a prominent role in digestive health and can benefit young children who experience
tummy troubles such as diarrhea and constipation (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

For example, in a 2019 study of 82,485 Japanese infants, researchers found that eating yogurt at least 3
times weekly significantly lowered the risk of stomach inflammation (8Trusted Source).

Whole milk yogurt comes in a variety of flavors that might be sweetened with added sugars. The Dietary
Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 recommend that children under age 2 avoid added sugars.

The American Heart Association also discourages added sugars in young children because increased
added sugar intake may increase heart disease risks by elevating blood pressure and triglycerides.

Therefore, the better option for infants is unsweetened whole milk yogurt.

3. Eggs
Not only are they affordable and easy to prep, but eggs are also chock-full of nutrients such as protein,
vitamins D and A, and choline. In fact, eggs are one of the top sources of dietary choline, which is
essential for the development of babies’ brains and eyes.

Studies show choline levels are positively aligned with academic achievement in children and
information processing speed in babies.

Keep in mind that it’s critical to offer only fully cooked eggs to babies to reduce the risk of food
poisoning from Salmonella exposure.

Salmonella is a bacteria found in many foods, including eggs, that can cause sickness if the contaminated
food isn’t properly cooked before eating. Babies are at high risk of food poisoning symptoms because of
their naturally weak immune systems.

You can tell that an egg is hard-boiled and safe for your baby if it’s cooked until both the yellow and
white parts of the egg are firm .

6–8-month-olds: Bring water to a boil and hard-boil eggs for 15 minutes. Cut the egg into quarters or
strips.

9–12-month-olds: Bring water to a boil and hard-boil eggs for 15 minutes. Dice the egg. You can also
scramble an egg and cut it into small pieces.

4. Carrots

Carrots come in many colors, including orange, yellow, and purple, with each color offering unique
nutrients.

Carotenoids are a type of nutrient that is converted into vitamin A in the body. As such, carrots offer
babies vitamin A, an essential vitamin for keeping the immune system in good shape.

Specifically, lutein is a carotenoid found in carrots. It helps with vision and may contribute to brain
growth..
6–8-month-olds: Peel and cut carrots into sticks about the width of an adult finger. Steam or boil the
carrot sticks until soft.

9–12-month-olds: Peel and chop carrots. Steam or boil until soft.

5. Tofu

Tofu is a calcium-rich, soft, plant-based food that’s an excellent option for babies.

A single slice of tofu offers 10% of your baby’s Daily Value of calcium. Babies rely on this mineral to
develop and maintain healthy bones

6–8-month-olds: Follow package instructions to squeeze out excess water. Cut into wide sticks your
baby can grip. Warm the sticks by placing them in the microwave for 10 seconds, or lightly pan-fry to
make them lightly crisp for gripping.

9–12-month-olds: Follow package instructions to squeeze out excess water. Cut into bite-size cubes your
baby can pick up. Warm the cubes by placing them in the microwave for 10 seconds, or lightly pan-fry
them.

6. Meat and fish

Some parents worry about giving meat and fish to babies and consider delaying introduction of these
foods. However, rest assured that babies can gain a ton of nutritional benefits from these protein-rich
foods.

Meat and fish are important for babies, offering essential nutrients for growth and development,
including easily absorbable iron, vitamin A, vitamins B6 and B12, and zinc.

Because BLW may lead to lower iron intake, parents using BLW are encouraged to add foods rich in iron
to every meal.

Other iron sources include lentils, spinach, and fortified breakfast cereals (24Trusted Source).
Zinc plays a significant role in brain function, nerve development, and memory. Older babies are at a
higher risk of zinc deficiency because their zinc needs increase as they age .

Meat and fish are primary sources of zinc. If your family follows a vegetarian diet, oatmeal, ground chia
seeds, and brown rice are other sources of zinc for older babies (26Trusted Source).

6–8-month-olds: Offer fully cooked, soft, finely shredded chicken, turkey, beef, salmon, or pork.

9–12-month-olds: Offer fully cooked shredded or ground meat or small pieces of salmon.

Preparation of Weaning

Weaning is a natural stage in your baby’s development. It is the gradual process of giving your baby
other foods while continuing to breastfeed.

Weaning can come with many mixed emotions. You may feel excited at the new independence you and
you baby can both enjoy, as well as some sadness as your baby moves to another stage in their life. This
is completely normal.

Breastfeeding as long as you can is the best thing for your baby. The Canadian Paediatric Society
recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, and continued breastfeeding as long
as it is comfortable for you and your baby, even well into the toddler years.

When should I wean my baby?

At about 6 months, your baby will be ready for other foods. They will also need other foods to meet
their growing nutritional needs. As you introduce your baby to new foods, you are encouraged to
continue to breastfeed.
You’ll know baby is ready to start other foods when they:

seem hungry earlier than usual.

can sit up without support, and have good control of their neck muscles.

hold food in their mouth without pushing it out on their tongue right away.

show interest in food when others are eating.

open their mouth when they see food coming their way.

can let you know they don't want food by leaning back or turning their head away.

Weaning can be either natural (child-led) or planned (parent-led).

Natural weaning or “child-led weaning” happens when your baby starts to accept more—and different
types—of solid foods while still breastfeeding on demand. With this type of weaning, you watch your
baby’s cues and wean at their pace. Babies who are weaned naturally usually stop breastfeeding
completely sometime between 2 and 4 years of age.

Planned weaning or “parent-led weaning” happens when parents decide to start the weaning process.

A “partial wean” means substituting one or more feedings with a cup or bottle and breastfeeding at
other times. This can work well if you are going back to work or school, but still want to breastfeed. Early
morning, evening and night feedings can continue even if you are separated from your baby during the
day.

How to feed a child

Feeding kids doesn’t sound like it should be complicated: You make meals; they eat them. But the reality
can be just a bit different. There’s a lot for new parents to learn—not just what to feed the littles, but
how to feed them (and how not to). In this excerpt from the new Canadian parenting guide Food to
Grow On, registered dietitians and moms Sarah Remmer and Cara Rosenbloom walk you through tips
and tricks for feeding children, from babies to bigger kids.

Power plays: Is your kid eating enough?

The No. 1 most important thing to know about feeding your kids applies to children of all ages, even
babies.

Many parents have trouble believing that a child can choose how much or if they want to eat—we’re
part of a culture that tells kids to “clear your plate” or take “just one more bite.” But our kids are born
intuitive eaters—they know how much they need and when to stop—so we must trust this. By offering
five to six eating opportunities a day (meals and snacks), with lots of variety, we can rest assured that
our little ones will meet their nutrition needs over the period of a week, rather than focusing on any one
specific meal. This makes for a much more pleasant eating experience and nurtures your child’s natural
ability to eat intuitively.

3. Choose iron-rich foods. Baby needs iron-rich foods at least twice a day.

4. Limit rice cereal. Try iron-enriched infant whole grain, barley or oatmeal cereal instead.

5. Be aware that some foods are choking hazards. Take an infant CPR course.

6. Feed with the combo method. Try both spoon-feeding and letting baby self-feed soft finger foods,
even at the same meal.

7. Know that gagging is normal. It’s a natural reflex that prevents choking. Stay calm, and baby will be
calm, too.

8. Don’t delay allergenic foods. Peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy and other possible allergens should be
introduced at six months.

9. Know your role. Let baby be responsible for how much they eat. Don’t force-feed!

10. Introduce a cup. At six months, try a bit of water in a regular cup. It will be messy at first, but baby
will learn quickly.