During Pregnancy: Blueberries (as well as strawberries, blackberries and raspberries) are high in vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, potassium and folate. Grab a handful for a snack, top off your oatmeal or granola, add to a salad or blend into a smoothie. If berries are out of season, try frozen blueberries.
Safety. According to Medline Plus, blueberries are safe during pregnancy when consumed in quantities usually eaten as food. Pregnant women should avoid consuming excessive amounts of blueberries because the consumption of large amounts has not been studied during pregnancy.
An overconsumption of blueberries can cause either diarrhoea or constipation in most people. In babies, if they have a clinically proven allergy to blueberries, it can cause constipation as well. Another reason blueberries could potentially cause constipation is if they have an extremely sensitive digestive tract.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency: G6PD is a genetic disorder. People with this disorder have problems breaking down some chemicals in food and drugs. One or more of these chemicals are found in blueberries. If you have G6PD, check with your healthcare provider before eating blueberries.
Are Blueberries Good for Babies? Blueberries are a great early solid food for babies to try. They're packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, they're naturally sweet, and they're unlikely to produce an allergic reaction.
Munch on Fruits and Veggies
"Antioxidants protect the baby's brain tissue from damage," says nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy. Choose deep-colored produce—like dark leafy greens, papaya, blueberries, and tomatoes—for the biggest antioxidant punch.
Dairy products are the best source of calcium. Other sources of calcium are dark, leafy greens, fortified cereal, breads, fish, fortified orange juices, almonds and sesame seeds. Folic acid: Folic acid is used to make the extra blood your body needs during pregnancy.
Blueberries provide traditional nutrients-carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, folic acid, iron and potassium.
Blueberries are also rich in folate, which is important for fetal development. Folate is also important for preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Blueberries also contain a lot of fiber, which is great for keeping things moving along smoothly.
Protein — Promote growth
Protein is crucial for your baby's growth throughout pregnancy. Good sources: Lean meat, poultry, seafood and eggs are great sources of protein. Other options include beans and peas, nuts, seeds, and soy products.
Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and protein foods. Choose foods and drinks with less added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium (salt). Limit refined grains and starches, which are in foods like cookies, white bread, and some snack foods.
Eat fresh fruits
If you want to give birth to a beautiful baby, plan your meals to include nourishing food. Fruits like mangoes, papaya, oranges, bananas, and African cherries should be in your diet. There are many other seasonal fruits, and you'll do well to eat them if you want beautiful babies.
Egg yolks are full of choline, (a recommended vitamin for pregnant women) which has been shown to improve learning and memory in babies when taken during pregnancy. Some studies have even shown that choline changes the structure of brain cells, making them more supportive for cognitive development.
How many blueberries a day? Blueberries are something that can be enjoyed every day, and two handfuls of blueberries, which is the equivalent of 4 heaped teaspoons, counts towards one of your five-a-day portions. Research has found that eating a cup of blueberries a day reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Since blueberries are a natural source of carbs, they make an excellent choice for something sweet for baby without added sugar.
Three small, but balanced, meals and three light snacks throughout the day are a good rule of thumb to ensure you and your baby's nutritional needs are met. Want to Know More?
Lanugo is soft, fine hair covering a fetus while inside the uterus. It helps protect them and keeps them warm while they grow. Some newborns have lanugo covering their bodies at birth, especially if they're born prematurely. Lanugo can develop in people with eating disorders or certain tumors.
Eight participants provided detailed descriptions of increased activity around meals, with seven (37% 7 of 19) of these specifying increased fetal activity prior to meals or in the context of their own hunger. These movements were interpreted as a fetal demand for food often prompting the mother to eat.