The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating During Pregnancy

by Walker, W. Allan

• ISBN13: 9780071443326
• ISBN10: 0071443320
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-20
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education

Summary

No strict diets, no scary guidelines--just the essential nutrition expectant moms need to start their babies on the road to lifelong health All parents know that kids need nutritious foods as they grow. But new research confirms that what you eat during pregnancy can also profoundly affect the health of your baby when that baby becomes an adult--for better or for worse.Endorsed by the Harvard Medical School and written by one of the world's leading experts in nutrition for pregnant women and babies, this guide offers more solid information and medically sound advice on prenatal nutrition than any other book on the market. Key features Dr. Walker is a Harvard Medical School professor, a pioneer in the field of paediatric nutrition, and author of Eat, Play, and Be Healthy Includes foods to eat, foods to avoid, exercise routines, and information on how to eat while nursing Offers safe and easy-to-follow guidelines for a greater variety of foods to eat so moms can get the nutrition they need without adhering to a strict or limited diet

Author Biography

W. Allan Walker, M.D., is a professor of pediatrics and the director of the Division of Nutrition at Harvard Medical School. He is a recipient of the prestigious Murray Davidson Award for Excellence in Pediatric Nutrition from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Courtney Humphries is a professional writer specializing in health topics.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Acknowledgments	xvii
Introduction: Good Nutrition Begins Before Birth	xix
How to Prepare for Pregnancy	1	(18)
Reach a Healthy Weight Before Pregnancy	3	(3)
Take a Folic Acid Supplement Every Day	6	(1)
Iron Up	7	(1)
Begin to Improve Your Diet	8	(2)
Reach a Healthy Activity Level	10	(1)
Address Unhealthy Habits	11	(1)
Get Any Medical Conditions Under Control	12	(1)
Improve Your Fertility with Nutrition	12	(5)
Planning for Pregnancy: The Bottom Line	17	(2)
How Pregnancy Works	19	(12)
What It Takes to Make a Baby	19	(2)
The First Trimester: Laying the Foundation	21	(5)
The Second Trimester: Growing and Growing	26	(1)
The Third Trimester: Preparing for Life Outside	27	(1)
Understanding Fetal Nutrition	27	(2)
Your Health in Pregnancy: The Bottom Line	29	(2)
Why Fetal Health Lasts a Lifetime	31	(14)
Metabolism and Health	32	(1)
The Origins of Fetal Programming	33	(4)
Disease Can Be a Result of Incorrect Planning	37	(1)
How Programming Works	38	(2)
Putting the Hypothesis to the Test	40	(1)
What Does Fetal Programming Mean for You?	41	(1)
Is Fetal Programming a Threat to Mothers?	42	(1)
Fetal Programming: The Bottom Line	43	(2)
Eating Well for Your Baby-to-Be	45	(26)
Special Needs in Pregnancy	47	(7)
Make Food Choices That Maximize Nutrients	54	(8)
The Beauty of Balance	62	(2)
How to Bring Your Diet into Balance	64	(1)
Managing Food Cravings	65	(3)
Nausea and Vomiting	68	(1)
Diet and Gestational Diabetes	69	(1)
Eating Well During Pregnancy: The Bottom Line	70	(1)
What to Avoid While Pregnant	71	(20)
Alcohol	72	(1)
Smoking	73	(1)
Caffeine	74	(1)
Recreational Drugs	75	(1)
Medications	76	(4)
Artificial Sweeteners	80	(2)
Fish, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Mercury---a Double-Edged Sword?	82	(3)
Infections: Listeriosis and Toxoplasmosis	85	(4)
Keeping Your Environment Healthy During Pregnancy	89	(1)
What to Avoid While Pregnant: The Bottom Line	90	(1)
Dietary Supplements---What's Good and What's Not	91	(12)
Prenatal Vitamins	92	(4)
Fish Oil/DHA Supplements	96	(2)
Herbal Supplements	98	(2)
Other Nutritional Supplements	100	(2)
Supplements in Pregnancy: The Bottom Line	102	(1)
Why Weight Matters	103	(12)
A Mother's Weight Gain Influences Her Baby's Health	105	(1)
Your Target Weight Gain	106	(2)
The Timing of Weight Gain	108	(1)
Should You Limit Excessive Weight Gain?	109	(2)
Being Overweight in Pregnancy	111	(1)
How Can You Improve Poor Weight Gain?	112	(1)
Weight Gain in Pregnancy: The Bottom Line	113	(2)
How to Stay Active, Safely	115	(14)
What Is Exercise?	116	(1)
Why Exercise in Pregnancy Is Different	117	(1)
The Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy	118	(1)
Cardiovascular Exercise	119	(1)
Stretches for Pregnancy	120	(1)
Muscle Rx	121	(4)
Exercises and Activities to Avoid	125	(1)
How to Exercise Safely	126	(1)
Physical Activity During Pregnancy: The Bottom Line	127	(2)
Recipes and Meal Planning	129	(44)
Power Snacks	129	(1)
The Ins and Outs of Eating Out	130	(3)
Recipes	133	(40)
Eating Well After Pregnancy	173	(20)
Choosing to Breast-Feed or Bottle-Feed	174	(3)
How Lactation Works	177	(1)
Tips for Breast-Feeding	177	(1)
The Working Mom	178	(2)
Nutrition During Lactation	180	(5)
Can a Nursing Mother's Diet Cause Allergies or Intestinal Problems in Her Baby?	185	(1)
Losing Weight After Pregnancy	185	(2)
Exercising After Pregnancy	187	(1)
Recovering After Cesarean Section	188	(1)
Good Nutrition for the Long Term	189	(2)
Nutrition After Pregnancy: The Bottom Line	191	(2)
References	193	(8)
Index	201