What is the difference between the nutritional needs of pregnant women and nursing mothers?

Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers both have great nutritional needs. The reason is, you don't only have to meet your own needs. Pregnant women must meet the needs of the fetus, while busui needs to maintain adequate milk production.

However, are there differences in nutritional requirements between the two?

Nutritional needs of pregnant women and nursing mothers

Adequacy of nutrients plays a very important role, both for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Without adequate nutritional intake, fetal development can be hampered and experience other health problems that have an impact on its future.

Meanwhile, the nutrition of newborns up to the first 6 months depends entirely on the breast milk they are given.

By consuming nutritious foods, breastfeeding mothers not only produce quality breast milk but also increase milk production.

The following is a comparison of the nutritional needs that must be met by pregnant women and nursing mothers:

1. Protein

Protein is very necessary in the growth and development of the fetus. These nutrients also play an important role in helping the development of breast and uterine tissue during pregnancy, as well as increasing blood supply from mother to fetus.

Pregnant women need to meet the protein needs of 75-100 grams per day. This amount is not different from the protein requirements that breastfeeding mothers must also meet.

Sources of protein can be beef, chicken, fish, tofu, tempeh, eggs, and nuts.

2. Carbohydrates

Nutritional needs in the form of carbohydrates also increase in pregnant and lactating women. This nutrient is able to provide energy for the mother during fetal development, childbirth, until the baby is born and begins to breastfeed.

Pregnant women need a carbohydrate intake of 330-350 grams per day. During the first 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding mothers must also meet their carbohydrate needs of 350-360 grams per day.

This amount is slightly higher than the nutritional needs of pregnant women.

Carbohydrate-rich foods that are recommended for pregnant and lactating women include wheat, brown rice, fruits, tubers, and fiber-rich nuts.

3. Calcium

Apart from maintaining healthy bones and teeth, calcium is also important for the function of the circulatory system, muscles and nerves.

If calcium intake is inadequate, the fetus will take calcium from the mother's body so that the mother has the potential to experience calcium deficiency.

Calcium requirements for pregnant women range from 1,100-1,300 milligrams a day. This number of needs is the same as for breastfeeding mothers.

You can get calcium from milk, cheese, yogurt, and food and drink products that have been fortified with calcium.

4. Iron

Iron is one of the nutritional needs that increases considerably while the mother is pregnant and breastfeeding.

These nutrients play an important role in supplying blood to the fetus and preventing anemia during pregnancy and lactation.

During the first and second trimesters, iron requirements increase to 27-35 milligrams. In the final trimester, iron requirements increase to 39 milligrams per day.

New iron requirements decreased to 32 milligrams after the first 6 months of breastfeeding.

To fulfill this, pregnant women and nursing mothers can eat red meat, chicken, peas, and iron-fortified products.

5. Various vitamins

Just like other nutrients, pregnant women also need vitamins. Following are the daily vitamin requirements for pregnant women and nursing mothers:

Vitamin A: as much as 900 IU during the first and second trimesters, then increased to 950 IU during the third trimester until breastfeeding.
Vitamin B6: as much as 1.6 milligrams during pregnancy and 1.7 milligrams during breastfeeding.
Vitamin B12: as much as 2.6 micrograms during pregnancy and 2.8 grams during breastfeeding.
Vitamin D: as much as 15 micrograms during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Vitamin C: as much as 85 milligrams during pregnancy and 100 milligrams during breastfeeding.

In general, breastfeeding mothers experience a greater increase in nutritional needs than pregnant women. However, the difference between the two was not that great.

Both pregnant and breastfeeding, the most important thing is to keep fulfilling nutritional needs during the golden period of child development.

The nutritious food that you consume today is determinant of their health in the future.