And pregnant women's caloric intake should increase as they progress in their pregnancies, said Tammy Mize, registered dietitian and outpatient dietitian at Northwest Texas Healthcare System. Generally, a woman having one baby should have 60 grams of protein with 60 percent of that coming from the meat group, Mize said. Teen mothers, who often have improper eating habits to begin with, are most at-risk of problems because of diets too high in fat and too low in nutrients during pregnancy, Smith said. The ones who have gotten pregnant because they want to get pregnant tend to want to eat a healthier diet,'' Smith said. That philosophy applies to all women of child-bearing age, who should make sure that they consume 400 micrograms of folic acid per day to help prevent neural tube defects, said Sona Solano Wolff, marketing director for the March of Dimes.
Nutrients are vital to both the health of the baby and the mother during pregnancy.
Dunlap started on a prenatal vitamin when she found out that she was pregnant. She also has to make sure to consume adequate amounts of calcium, which isn't always easy since she hates milk. She opts for calcium-fortified juices, cereals or breads, or ice cream, cheese or frozen yogurt. On days when she hasn't consumed much calcium, she takes a Viactive chew, which is a candy-type product that contains calcium. Daily intake of folic acid also is important because the nutrient is needed for the baby in early stages, frequently before women realize that they are pregnant.