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Food for You and Your Baby


Having a baby is hard work. Your body needs lots of fuel to help your baby grow. Be sure to eat plenty of foods containing protein, vitamin C, calcium, other vitamins and minerals and iron. Indulge in creative cookery. Stir fry those vegetables (skip the oils, please) in low salt broth, or even a little orange juice. Enjoy a tall, frosty glass of milk. Or, fill a beautiful bowl with sliced seasonal fruit, topped with a dash of whipped cream. Eat up!
 
How can I eat when I'm sick all the time?
Morning, noon, or night, morning sickness doesn't follow any timetable. Some tips: keep plain crackers beside the bed and eat a few before getting up each morning. Eat smaller meals. Some women swear by a glass of cold ginger ale. Still feeling a bit green around the gills? Remember that this stage usually passes after the first trimester.
 
Water, water everywhere. Make sure there's lots to drink.
You and your baby need water. Lots of it. Most physicians want you to drink at least 8 eight-ounce glasses a day! So, carry a filled water bottle around with you and drink from it frequently. Count milk and juice in your fluid count too. Sorry, coffee, tea and soda don't count because of their caffeine. Caffeine use should be minimized during pregnancy.
 
Pickles and ice cream?
Remember when Lucy sent Ricky to the store for pickles and ice cream? Not tempted? Well, how about steak, fruit, pasta or countless other selections? Keep in mind that health of your baby, and substitute healthy food whenever possible. Instead of salted pretzels, eat a few of the unsalted ones. And if milk is a turnoff, turn on to yogurt, cheese or even ice milk. Thankfully, most cravings disappear by the fourth month.
 
Vitamin Regimen
With all this talk about cravings and diet, it's easy to forget your prenatal vitamin. Take it with dinner and you may be less nauseated afterward.

 
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