Prenatal Nutrition Information

For those pregnant or will-be-pregnant ladies reading this (or their thoughtful spouses), I've read a few articles about prenatal nutrition that I wanted to share:

Article 1: Fish Oil Aids Newborn Health

Synopsis: 400mg of DHA (an Omega-3 Fatty Acid found in Fish Oil capsules) a day during pregnancy can lead to improved cold resistance in newborns for their first six months of life.

Thoughts: After I found out I was pregnant (both times) I bought the prenatal vitamin that included a separate DHA pill.  In addition, Pat insisted (and continues to insist) that I eat at least one sardine each week during pregnancy, and I need to have fish 2-3 times a week.  While this did not always appeal to me, I usually did.  Why?  Well beside the fish oil, there are probably all kinds of benefits from eating those small, stinky fish - benefits we don't even know yet -- similar to the differences in breast milk and formula. And Clara?  Well she has been the healthiest child I could ask for - maybe she would have been without the fish oil, but honestly, it's the cheapest health insurance you can buy.

 

Article 2: Baby's Palate and Food Memory Shaped Before Birth

Synopsis: What moms eat while pregnant (especially at 21 weeks and beyond) can help shape the foods their children "like" after they are born because the tastes and smells of these foods are present in the amniotic fluid that the baby drinks.

Thoughts: In general, I eat a wide range of foods (note the sardines from a few paragraphs above).  While this study isn't conclusive, I will say that my own daughter has an inclination to eat most ANYTHING.  And when I say anything, I mean it: sardines and blue cheese are two examples that come to mind.  Lately, I've seen her ask for almonds and dates over animal crackers, and she stopped eating her steak once I put some zucchini on the table.  As a mom, I feel like I'm living in a dream.  Is this child REALLY mine?  I'm not trying to tout that I ate like a health nut throughout my pregnancy so I have a health nut child, because I had more than my fair share of ice cream and desserts while pregnant (Clara likes all those things too!).  I'm just saying that in my own experience, I see the correlation.  Like the previous article, I only see good things that will arise from eating a variety of healthy foods while pregnant - both for momma and baby.

What's the best brand of sardines, you ask?  Crown Prince is our favorite.  Mmmm...