Dark green leafy vegetables are excellent sources of folic acid, a nutrient that can help prevent some birth defects. Other good sources of folic acid include oranges, peas and melons. Women who use mineral and vitamin supplements during the first or second trimester of their pregnancy reduce the risk of having a preterm birth and a low birth weight baby. Most American women of childbearing age lack sufficient amounts of vitamin and mineral substances in their diets. Teenage mothers, who are less likely to eat correctly during pregnancy, frequently bear low birth weight babies.
Pregnant women are often concerned about gaining too much weight.
Especially in the third trimester, poor weight gain is associated with low birth weight and neurological defects in the baby. Overwhelming evidence indicates that prenatal care reduces the incidence of low birth weight. Women who did not receive all of the recommended advice seemed to have an increased risk of bearing very low birth weight infants. All health care professionals do not always completely cover these topics with expectant mothers. Inquire about all areas of prenatal health.