Show WHAT W H AT to EAT and WHY W C houston goudiss discusses the diet of expectant mother some general rules for wise eating at this important time by C HOUSTON GOUDISS distinguished writers and sociologists both here and labroad Da distinguished abroad broad have concerned themselves in recent years with the writing of a ChIl childrens drent charter ana ana a babas bill of rights these efforts are commendable because they demonstrate on a forward looking attitude a genuine attempt to better the lot of the next gene generation ratio n indeed they re represent presen t a concerted effort to do for children in general what mothers have always tried to do individually for their own children before a baby Is born but not every mother realizes w what bat all nutritionists know that to a not inconsiderable degree the very foundations of good health for the child are laid down before he is born for it has been well said that good nutrition for the infant begins with good nutrition for the mother unfortunately many people even in this enlightened age still cling to superstition and old wives tales when it comes to choosing the proper foods for those important months before a baby is born some common fallacies As a result so some me expectant mothers overeat frequently of the wrong kinds of food others do n not ot take enough of the foods that are required to maintain top health for the mother and build the babas body soundly while still another group believes such antiquated notions as the idea that a woman may eat whatever she arav craves es during this period in view of the fact that recent nutrition work has given us more knowledge than ever before of how bow and what the expectant mother should eat dietetic errors during this period are particularly deplorable Buil building dung better babies every expectant mother should be under the care of a physician and usually he gives specific advice concerning the foods that may be eaten and those that might better be avoided but every woman will be a better mother if she understands something of the functions and fate of foods with particular reference to this period dont overeat generally speaking the same foods that are required for a well balanced diet under ordinary circumstances cum stances are the ones that will best serve the needs of mother and child during the months before a baby Is born there are however certain modifications of the diet that may well be taken into consideration first a word about the amount of food consumed it is not necessary to eat more than is required to satisfy the normal appetite in the belief that large quantities of additional food are needed nutritionists have demonstrated that the energy requirements of the elpe expectant chant mother increase only during the last three months of gestation thus it is not necessary to increase the caloric intake for the first few months though toward the end of the period a gradual increase in caloric intake may be made under the direction of the physician it is advisable however to emphasize that the character of the additional food consumed as well as the amount should always be taken into consideration building materials it is important to pay special attention to the amount and kind of protein that Is eaten since over the entire period the baby grows tremendously even though almost almos half of the weight of the newborn new born child Is added during the final two months before birth recent investigations also indicate that the prospective mother Is best able to maintain her nutritional reserve if the amount of protein in her diet is carefully calculated it is desirable likewise that the protein be of the highest quality milk is even more important in the diet of the expectant mother than in that of other adults not only for its protein but because of its minerals and vitamins As a rule the expectant mother should take a quart of a day whereas the usual diet for adults calls for a pint of milk daily minerals Min erali and Vifa vitamins mins in addition to requiring protein to help build tissue for her baby the expectant mother must have a generous amount ol of minerals calcium and phosphorus are required especially for the formation of the babas bones and teeth construction begins on an all the teeth before birth and at birth I 1 a all u 20 of the first set are comple completely completed tel Y calcified within the jaw besides providing the necessary minerals to help construct bones an and d teeth t t I 1 it Is also important toa to include in the prospective mothers diet an adequate supply of vitamins vitamin D is essential if the calcium and phosphorus are to be utilized properly and it has t also been bean indicated that vitamins A and C are likewise most imbor tant at this time the mineral iron is also required in significant amounts and this may well be obtained from eggs dried fruits I 1 whole grain cereals and green leafy vegetables it has been found that the thyroid H gland is unusually active in the U expectant mother and in those sections of the country where the drinking water and soil are deficient in iodine laate physicians frequently recommend the use of 1 I some some food such as iodized ionized salt adequate bulk or cellulose it is most desirable that enough bulky bay foods be included in the diet to help hell maintain regular health habits this requirement should be taken care of automatically it if gener w ous amounts of fruits vegetables ot 0 and whole grain cereals are con X fumed for in addition to their minerals and vitamins all these foods likewise supply bulk which aids in promoting regularity rego larity the wide use of fruats and vegetables te will also help to build up a liberal alkaline reserve which helps to safeguard health during I 1 the period of gestation it 1 if all these factors are taken 0 o into consideration the expectant mother will not only help to pre to serve her bet own health but will take constructive measures to give her le baby the blessie blessings ys of a sound s tart start a in life then is agthe the be healthy althy contented t infant grows grow S into the ie heal healthy thyr happy act active toddler r iva and later becomes the healthy well adjusted school b boy oy the mother can indeed be proud of d her handiwork 0 houston gondles 1939 44 rit |