Maternal Death Rate Up in U.S.

For some reason, unbeknown st to experts, the maternal death rate among woman during childbirth appears to be on the rise in the U.S. according to a recent study issued by the Joint Commission.  Fortunately for American mothers, the tragedy is still a rarity but the study suggests that the number of mothers dying during childbirth or shortly after has increased substantially with the latest statistics being at around 550 deaths out of 4 million annual births across the country.

Experts can only hypothosize at this point as to why more pregnant women seem to be dying, citing that one of the causes could be linked to obesity which has been on the rise for the past four decades. Obesity can also lead to an increased need for a cesarean section which is also cited as another potential cause of the increase in maternal mortality.

Over weight women are more susceptible to health issues to begin with such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and heart disease and obesity can put them at a higher risk for developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy which can be dangerous for her baby as well.  So add obesity to  pregnancy and even more weight gain and you have a lethal combination for potential problems during childbirth including complications and even possible death.    Studies are also concluding that if many of these issues go undetected before or during pregnancy, by the time mom enters the delivery room, it is too late and fatal conditions are harder to control.

The good news here is that women facing issues such as obesity and diabetes before  and during pregnancy can sucessfully deliver a healthy baby and live through it!  Key factors to a happy and healthy pregnancy woud be exercise to reduce the potential of both.  Another factor would be a healthy diet especially during pregnancy.

In conclusion, the best way and most obvious prevention would be to make sure you are in the best possible health before becoming pregnant.  Eat right, exercise regulary and visit your doctor often.  Once pregnant, you want to continue with a healthy life style and visit your obstetrician for personalized care for you and your baby.

Eating Healthy For You and Your Baby

We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat”.  The same applies to your baby; your baby is also what you eat when you are pregnant.

Healthy eating habits are important to take care of yourself  but if you are expecting a new little bundle of joy, it’s doubly important. Now you are responsible for someone else as well so eating right is crucial. Just as important, is that you teach baby good eating habits right from the start so he carries on with it throughout his lifetime but that’s a whole other article.

So let’s talk about why it’s so important that you eat right when you are pregnant.  Good nutrition is important for the proper development and well being of your baby.  What you eat now and how healthy your baby is throughout life depends a lot on what you eat during pregnancy. You should consume about 300 more calories per day now that you are eating for two.

Healthy Eating Guidelines During Pregnancy

Healthy Eating Guidlines Chart

*Dieting during pregnancy is not recommend.  Remember, you need 300 more calories per day if you are pregnant so don’t diet. Try a safe but regular exercise program to help keep you fit and in shape, walking is one of the safest forms of exercise and also aids in quicker deliveries.

Healthy Diet Tips

• You will very likely experience cravings, but eating a balanced diet now is more important than ever. So eat healthy – do not skip meals.
• If you are trying to conceive, take folate supplement now.
• If you are already pregnant, take your daily prenatal vitamin supplement.
• If you do not eat 4 – 6 servings of dairy daily, do some math on your daily calcium intake. Don’t forget the calcium content in your prenatal vitamin. If the total is less than 1000mg, you may need to take a calcium supplement.

Many women experience cravings during pregnancy due to all the changes going on inside her body.  Just know that cravings are a natural part of pregnancy and if you should find yourself craving something,  try to go for something healthy to curb it.  There are numerous recipes online and recipe books for pregnant women available so do search out ones that might target some of your cravings, cooking is also a fun and great passtime to help minimize the long nine month wait.

Some women crave nonfood items such as clay, ice, laundry starch, or cornstarch, this is not a natural part of pregnancy. A desire to eat nonfood items is called pica (PYE-KUH). Eating nonfood items can be harmful to your pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you have these urges

Healthy Chocolate Pudding

Got A Sweet Craving…Try this recipe for Chocolate Pudding!

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

½ c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Hass avocado, flesh only

8 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped

1 c. + 2 tbsp. evaporated skim milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Combine cocoa, avocado, dates, and vanilla in food processor and blend until smooth.
2. Add evaporated milk until desired consistency.
3. Chill before serving, if desired.

Note: The amount of evaporated skim milk needed may vary, depending on the size of the avocado used.

Makes: 4 servings

Serving size: about 1/3 c.

Nutritional analysis (per serving):
288 calories
7 g protein
8 g fat
1 g sat. fat
47 g carbohydrate
9 g fiber
2 mg cholesterol
50 mg sodium
152 mg calcium
4 mg iron
51 mcg folic acid

Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.

Why this recipe is good for pregnant or breastfeeding women:

This no-guilt, no-cook, high-fiber, low-fat dessert is an excellent source of iron and fiber, and a good source of protein, calcium, vitamin K, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and folic acid, all of which are important nutrients during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Weight Gain

The amount of weight you should gain during pregnancy depends on your body mass index (BMI) before you became pregnant. The Institute of Medicine provides these guidelines:

• If you were at a normal weight before pregnancy, you should gain about 25 to 30 pounds.
• If you were underweight before pregnancy, you should gain between 28 and 40 pounds.
• If you were overweight before pregnancy, you should gain between 15 and 25 pounds.
• If you were obese before pregnancy, you should gain between 11 and 20 pounds.

Check with your doctor to find out how much weight gain during pregnancy is healthy for you.

You should gain weight gradually during your pregnancy, with most of the weight gained in the last trimester. Generally, doctors suggest women gain weight at the following rate:

• 2 to 4 pounds total during the first trimester
• 3 to 4 pounds per month for the second and third trimesters

*Remember eating for 2 means eating healthy, it should not mean over-eating just because your eating for two!  Many women actually gain too much weight and have a harder time losing the “baby fat” afterwards. Studies have shown that women who gain too much weight during pregnancy and fail to lose it within a six month period are at a greater risk for being obese 10 years after the pregnancy. Findings from another large study suggest that gaining more weight than the recommended amount during pregnancy may raise your child’s odds of being overweight in the future

*Try to avoid large amounts of caffeine found in coffee, teas and soda pops.  Some studies suggest that too much caffeine can be linked to miscarriages, always check with your doctor if you should have any questions.

*Stay clear totally of Alcohol as no amount is safe for pregnant women.  The alcohol is absorbed through your blood stream and into the umbilical cord and into baby’s bloodsteam. Alcohol can slow down the baby’s growth, affect the baby’s brain, and cause birth defects.

Resources for Healthy Eating During Pregnancy

• Pregnancy Diet written by Dietitians
• Eating Right When Pregnant
• Pregnancy: Eating Right While Pregnant

Books on Amazon about Healthy Eating During Pregnancy