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Barbara Rohrs
Defiance County Extension Agent
Family and Consumer Sciences
Teen mothers-to-be are more at risk of pregnancy complications than older pregnant women. Premature or prolonged labor, anemia, and high blood pressure are the more common risks that young mothers-to-be face. These risks are even greater for teens under 15 years old.
Children of teen mothers are also at risk. Low birth weight babies are more common among teen mothers, and low birth weight babies are more likely to die within their first month of life.
It is very important to stay healthy before getting pregnant. Everything a mother deals with, a baby will also deal with. Many women think when they are pregnant they can eat anything they want, since they are "eating for two." This is not true.
Many women think their baby will take the nutrients it needs from the mother first, even at the expense of the mother's health. This is not true, either. There would be no small or poorly nourished newborns if this were true.
Good eating habits are important because your baby depends on it. Energy and every nutrient baby needs for growth and development, are supplied by the foods or supplements recommended by doctors. A baby grows and develops in a series of critical periods. If the nutrients needed for developing tissue or organs to grow are not adequate at the time the baby needs it, he/she may not develop normally. Since tissues and organs develop only at certain weeks of pregnancy, it is important to eat the necessary foods every day. Skipping meals today, hoping to make up missed meals later, will not help your baby.
Use the Food Guide Pyramid for Pregnant Teens to make healthy food choices. A pregnant teenager needs to increase calories, but only by 300 calories each day. That does not leave room for "empty calories" or "junk food." Make sure the food fits into the Pyramid.
Fat adds calories without giving many necessary minerals and nutrients. Limit fat to no more than 30% of daily calorie intake. Before eating ask, "Is it good for me and my baby?"' If the answer is "yes," go ahead and eat it. If the answer is "no," think of something else that satisfies you and is healthier.
Alcohol is absolutely off limits. Drinking even small amounts of any alcohol, including beer, can lead to mental retardation and facial deformities. It is also a major factor of low birth weight and delayed growth. Low birth weight babies often have major health problems.
No one can guarantee that a baby will be born healthy and strong. However, these are steps to take to make the best baby possible. Nothing offers greater benefits for mother and baby, than eating right.
Brown, J.E. 1995. "Nutrition Now." University of Minnesota, West Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.
Christian, J.L. and J.L. Greger. 1994. "Nutrition for Living." The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc, Redwood City, CA.
Reviewed by: Alma M. Saddam, PhD, RD, Extension Specialist, Nutrition.
| Food Guide Pyramid A Guide to Daily Food Choices for Pregnant Teens |
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