Throughout the entire pregnancy, family members are busy supplementing the expectant mother's nutrition, hoping the fetus can grow healthily. However, there are misconceptions about nutritional supplementation during pregnancy: what should expectant mothers pay attention to? Let's find out together, expectant mothers and family members!
Misconception 1: The more nutritional supplements, the better
Through pre-pregnancy education, more and more expectant mothers know what neural tube defects are and which nutrients, when deficient, can increase the risk of their occurrence. They also know that severe osteoporosis many years after childbirth is largely due to severe calcium loss during pregnancy that was not replenished in a timely and effective manner.
It is clear that replenishing deficient nutrients in a timely manner is something every expectant mother must take seriously. Supplementing with iron when anemia is detected, supplementing with Vitamin A when eyes become increasingly dry, supplementing with folic acid from 3 months before conception to the first 3 months of pregnancy, and paying attention to calcium supplementation in the third trimester—these are common sense facts every expectant mother should know.
However, it needs to be reminded that everyone's physical condition is different. The nutrients needed and the required dosages vary from person to person. The intake of any nutrient must be balanced; more is not always better and there is no upper limit. While supplementing, it is crucial to prevent excessive intake, as excessive iron can affect kidney function, an accumulation of excess Vitamin A can lead to bone pain, excess folic acid may interfere with zinc absorption, and excessive calcium intake can disrupt the calcium-phosphorus balance.
Misconception 2: Large appetite equals good nutrition
Nowadays, an increasing number of newborns are overweight at birth. A fetus that is too heavy can also lead to difficult labor, and an important cause of these phenomena is the expectant mother's overeating during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, family members often tell the expectant mother: "You're not eating for just yourself, but for the two of you, so you must eat for two." However, they don't realize that a person's need for types and quantities of nutrients differs at various stages of growth. If eating more meant better nutrition and a healthier baby, then there would be no need for so many parenting books.
Misconception 3: The more expensive the ingredient, the better the supplement
For rare and expensive ingredients like sea cucumbers, shark fin, and bird's nest, people often assume they have higher nutritional content, but this is not necessarily true. Take shark fin, for example. It was once a delicacy that people flocked to, not only for its delicious taste but also for its supposed beauty-enhancing and even curative properties. The truth, however, is that many shark fins contain excessive levels of heavy metals.