Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine: What to eat and avoid in pregnancy?

While you are pregnant, there are many things you can do to ensure your baby's health and intelligence. You shouldn't be eating just any food, you should be eating a diet of foods that will benefit both you and your baby. In this blog we are covering 11 best foods to eat during pregnancy to give birth to a smart and intelligent baby.

1.     Eggs are an excellent source of nutrients for pregnant women. Eggs are among the healthiest foods you can eat during pregnancy. They are a good source of protein and various vitamins and nutrients that can help you keep your baby healthy while it's developing in the womb, but keep in mind that always use pasteurized eggs.

2.     Fatty Fish - Doctors recommend that pregnant women should increase their intake of omega-3 fatty acids to ensure the development of the baby's brain and nervous system. Most common sources of these fatty acids are fatty fish. Pregnant women should consume at least two servings of fatty fish per week to ensure that their baby gets enough DHA in their early development.

3.     Almonds - Eating almonds during pregnancy is one of the best things you can do to ensure your baby is born with a healthy, intelligent brain. Almonds are an amazing food to eat during pregnancy thanks to their high protein, fiber, vitamin E, and iron content. All of these nutrients are essential for the development of the baby.

4.     Milk - Pregnant women need lots of nutrients for themselves and the baby. The most important nutrients for pregnant women are protein and calcium. For this, milk is best to drink during pregnancy for the healthy development of the baby. When you drink plenty of milk, it can improve your baby's intelligence. But always consume pasteurized milk. Leafy Green Vegetables The best food during pregnancy is leafy green vegetables.

5.     Some of the leafy green vegetables are spinach, lentils, and broccoli. These vegetables have high nutritional value and help in the proper development of the fetus. The leafy green vegetables that are a great source of folic acid are beneficial for the baby as they help in eliminating many heart diseases.

6.     Blueberries- Pregnant women can get the best health benefits by eating blueberries during their pregnancy. The beneficial health properties of the berries help to improve the overall health of the mother and the baby. Blueberries contain antioxidants and vitamin C that has a significant impact on the intelligence of the baby.

7.     Oranges- It is a well-known fact that oranges are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C in oranges prevents morning sickness and maintains good skin health.

8.     Cheese - Cheese is a great food for babies as they develop in the womb. Cheese contains zinc that helps in the development of a baby's brain, bones, and eyes.

9.     It contains high-quality protein, calcium, and other nutritional minerals that are essential to the baby's growth. Keep it in mind that always use pasteurized cheese. Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes not only taste delicious, they're also packed with nutrients that are essential for a healthy pregnancy.

10.  Sweet potatoes contain more vitamin B6 than white potatoes and also contain vitamin C and beta carotene. Thus, they are the best food for baby growth during pregnancy.

11.  Pumpkin Seeds- Pregnant women who want to have a smart child should eat pumpkin seeds during pregnancy. Because the seeds have essential omega-6, protein, vitamin E, zinc, iron, and other nutrients that help the development of the brain and eyes of babies.

12.  Yogurt is one of the delicious foods that you can eat during pregnancy for an intelligent baby. It is a healthy and nutritious food that can boost your health and energy level. Yogurt contains essential nutrients that are required for the proper development of an unborn child. It is also good for the bone development of the baby.

You wonder what to eat during pregnancy to make a baby intelligent, the most important things to consume are folic acid, iron, protein, and calcium. Moreover, do not forget to add the foods shown earlier to your diet during pregnancy for an intelligent baby. You can also consult your doctor to suggest you a diet plan for your baby's healthy brain development.

What food to be avoided during pregnancy?

It's well known that a mother's diet during pregnancy is very important to the health of her baby. Expecting mothers need to consume more vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are helpful for a fetus' growth and development. However, there are also some foods pregnant women should avoid.

If precautions are not taken while consuming them, they can cause vaginal bleeding and in worst cases, miscarriage as well. So, let's have a look, what are the list of foods that should be avoided during pregnancy?

1.     The first food that comes in our food list that should be avoided during pregnancy is raw papaya or unripe papaya. It tops the list for obvious reasons. Raw or semi-ripe papaya contains latex which can induce premature contractions and that can be dangerous for your baby. However, ripe papaya is rich in vitamins and iron. Consuming it in controlled quantity will possess no harm but totally avoid eating an unripe papaya during pregnancy.

2.     Next food is pineapple. These are also not recommended to the pregnant women as they contain certain enzymes that alters the texture of cervix, which could induce premature contractions. This can result in miscarriage. Apart from inducing such effect, it is also notorious for causing diarrhea and that can be very uncomfortable during pregnancy.

3.     Grapes in pregnancy. Grapes aren't recommended for consumption during the final trimester. They are known to generate heat in the body which is not good for both mother and the child. Avoid consuming too much grapes during pregnancy to stay clear of any complications.

4.     Next food that should be avoided during pregnancy is eggplant, also known as brinjal. According to Ayurveda, expecting women should avoid eggplant. It has been found that they contain large amounts of phytohormones and help in treating premenstrual syndrome and amenorrhea. Thus, eggplants work as diuretics. It has been observed that when expecting women consume eggplants daily, it can stimulate menstruation, which is not a good sign for a pregnant lady.

5.     Next is, seafood and fish that contain high level of mercury. Do you eat non-veg? Then you must know that large fishes contain a high level of mercury. Mercury is very harmful to infants or young children since it can cause brain damage and harm to the nervous system. Seafood such as swordfish, some types of tuna, shark, mackerel and tilefish are high in levels of mercury and should be avoided during pregnancy. If you consume high mercury fish regularly, mercury can build up in your bloodstream and can be passed to your baby, which can cause damage to their developing brain and nervous system. Raw or undercooked seafood should also be avoided because it can contain bacteria and viruses, such as listeria, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirths and preterm births and deaths. If you want to enjoy sushi, make sure the seafood is cooked.

6.     The next one is sesame seed. You will be astonished to know that dry sesame seeds were used as a medicine in the early period to stimulate abortion. Sesame seeds stimulate the uterine muscles, causing the ejection of the fertilized ovum. Experts suggest that all pregnant women must avoid the intake of sesame seeds during the first three to four months of pregnancy. They can consume other dry fruit nuts including raisins, almonds, groundnut, walnut, etc.

7.     Also you should avoid consuming beverages such as alcohol, caffeine and herbal teas. In high quantities, caffeine has been shown to affect fetal growth and increase the risk of low birth weight at delivery. Pregnant women can have 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. Alcohol can affect your baby's development and other important body parts as it passes through your blood to your baby. It can even have a long-lasting impact on your child's life after they're born, causing physical and developmental disabilities. It is advised to totally avoid alcohol during pregnancy.

8.     You should also avoid meats such as raw meats, deli meats, hot dogs, refrigerated pates and undercooked bacon or sausage. So, as yet these all were the list of foods that should avoid during pregnancy.

Now have a look at some food list that should be consumed in a right way to stay out of any complications.

·       In dairy products always eat pasteurized dairy products such as pasteurized milk, pasteurized cheese. Do not eat unpasteurized dairy products like unpasteurized milk and unpasteurized cheese.

·       And in eggs always eat fully cooked eggs. Do not consume homemade mayonnaise, raw eggs, boiled or half cooked eggs. Also do not consume raw sprouts such as alfalfa, clover, radish and mung beans.

·       And if such sprouts are fully cooked then they are safe to consume during pregnancy. Remember a healthy diet during pregnancy is crucial for well-being of both you and your baby. Avoiding certain food can help in prevent potential risks and complications.

Always consult with your health care provider if you have any doubt or concerns about your diet. Stay informed, make mindful choices and enjoy the special journey in your motherhood.

So, this was an informative blog for all my readers. However, if you are interested to dive deep, I will recommend you to join the Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine in India, which covers the deepest aspects of thew medical theories related to nutrition and infertility. India, today needs trained professionals who can take of high-risk pregnancies and for that we need better education facilities. However, due to time constraint, Doctors find it difficult for continued medical education. Medline Academics, offers hybrid as well as full time program for the Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine.

This institution, also gives a unique opportunity to work and observe cases under Padma Shri Prof. Dr. Kamini A Rao, in Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals. Working at the best IVF centre in Bangalore under the supervision of the pioneer herself and many other expert professionals is what you want right now!

Learn and earn with us. Enrol today.