Nutrients

Why do you need?

Protein accumulation by the baby is required for its growth and development

Tips and Sources:

• Incorporate your protein foods in all the meals.

Why do you need?

Formation & Development of baby’s bones

Sources:

Milk and milk products, Ragi, Kabuli chana, Soya beans, Amaranth, Til seeds and Sunflower seeds

Why do you need?

Formation of blood, iron stores in the baby and to take care of blood loss during delivery.

Tips:

• Iron bio-availability is poor from plant foods. To help your body absorb iron from plant foods consume amla, guava and citrus fruits which are rich in Vitamin C
• Limit intake of beverages like tea & coffee during meal, it can hinder iron absorption
• Iron & folic acid supplementation is required to fulfil addtional requirement & to prevent anemia

Sources:

Red meat, Liver, Amaranth, Cauliflower greens, Colocasia leaves, Shepu, Garden cress seeds, Til seeds, Lotus stem, Dates (Dried), Roasted Bengal gram, Lentils, Bajra and Ragi.

Why do you need?

Supports baby’s growth and mental development

Sources:

Why do you need?

Optimal health, baby’s brain & vision development.

Tips and Sources:

Sources include cold water fish such as salmon

If you are a vegetarian talk to your doctor on Omega 3 supplementation.

Why do you need?

Baby’s skeletal growth

Tips and Sources:

Known as sunshine vitamin. Exposure to sunlight helps in synthesis of Vitamin D in body.

Why do you need?

Deficiency can lead to neural tube defects in the baby. Particularly important during a few months before you conceive and during the first trimester (12 weeks).

Sources:

Why do you need?

Vision, baby’s growth and development and immune function.

Sources:

Why do you need?

Inadequate intake of Vitamin B12 increases the risk of Neural tube defects in babies and anemia in mothers.

Sources: