The pregnancy and nursing period is characterized by a series of fundamental structural and functional changes of the maternal body: uterus enlargement, placenta formation,  mammary  glands increase, endocrine gland modification, blood volume increase, metabolism intensification etc.

All these changes impose the decisions taking about how to help  the maternal body to go through this period without health damages for the mother or child. The alimentation plays an important role in the structure of these measures.

Research concerning a pregnant woman’s metabolism showed that the nutritive needs increase in comparison to the needs of an adult woman who is not pregnant, especially during the second period of the pregnancy and during nursing.

The caloric needs increase in the  first period  of pregnancy with 5-10% and in the second part the caloric needs are up to 15-20% higher. During nursing, the increase may be of 30% or of 1000 calories more than at a non-pregnant adult-woman. 

The proteins need of the  pregnant woman  is of 1,5- 2 g/kg/day or 100g/day during the first part of pregnancy, increasing to 120g in the last pregnancy trimester and 125 g during nursing. That is why 2/3 or at least half of them will have a high biological value, first of all out of milk, dairies above all, eggs, meat and fish.

A poor proteins quota can lead to pregnancy  complications : anemia,  eclampsia edemas  or some fetus deficiencies, premature birth, malformations as well as different deficient states of the fetus, a greater receptivity to diseases after birth and diminished callousness. Latter on, it can also influence the quality and the quantity of the milky secretion.

Vegetal proteins from the dry vegetables (bean, pea and lentil) should be avoided as they usually contain a high degree of cellulose which renders their digestion difficult and possible postprandial distention, endured with difficulty by the pregnant woman. 

The quantity of the lipids should be low as they overtax the liver’s functions and favor the acidity. That is why a small quantity, of 90 g/day, should be consumed in the first period of the pregnancy and 110g/day during nursing. Half of them will be consumed by eating

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