Pregnancy is a crucial phase in every woman's life. One needs to be extremely careful of her diet and lifestyle as minutest of dietary slip-ups can cause complications. Antibiotics have recently been a topic of hot debate among medical experts and health enthusiasts. With a rise in the trend of antibiotic resistance, more and more studies are coming forward stating the ill-effects of the prolonged use of antibiotics. Experts at the University of Chicago carried out experiments on mice to conclude that use of antibiotics in later stages of pregnancy may expose the offspring to risk of developing bowel issues. The study, therefore, suggests that the timing of antibiotic exposure is crucial, especially during the early developmental period after birth when the immune system is undergoing maturation.
"When antibiotics are used during pregnancy or early childhood, they can disturb the development of a normal gut microbiome which would otherwise be essential for proper immune development. Antibiotics should absolutely be used judiciously when they're indicated," Eugene B. Chang, MD, Professor at the University of Chicago was quoted by IANS.
A host of myths and suggestions are tied around pregnancy and the diet or practices a woman should follow while she is expecting. One of the biggest misconceptions is the need for a woman to eat twice as much she is supposed to.
"A pregnant woman can safely put on around 10-12 kgs. A healthy birth weight for a baby is 3kgs. You need not eat for two to achieve this. Additional requirements of the body have to be met," Dr. Rupali Datta, Consultant Nutritionist, Fortis Escorts, New Delhi.
Some of the simplest things that must be kept in mind are enumerated below as per the recommendations made by the National Institute of Hyderabad:
- The first trimester doesn't require you to gain any weight.
- You can easily increase close 350 calories with the onset of second term and gradually move on to consuming not more than 500 additional calories over your regular diet.
- Steer clear of junk food, processed and refined food items.
- Ensure that your diet is rich in folic acid, calcium, iron and protein.
Inputs from IANS