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Data on supplement usage such as calcium intake in India shows gaps in coverage, highlighting the importance of both diet, supplementation to safeguard maternal and infant health
For women becoming mothers, it’s essential to think beyond calories and focus on foods packed with vital nutrients for optimal health.
For generations, advice for pregnant women was simple: just eat enough. The main idea was to consume sufficient calories for the baby to grow and for the mother to have energy. And yes, getting enough calories is very important. But now, with more research, we understand something deeper: it’s not just how much you eat, but the quality of nutrients in that food that truly makes a difference for both mother and baby. For women becoming mothers, it’s essential to think beyond calories and focus on foods packed with vital nutrients for optimal health.
Dr Amrendranath Das, MS,DGO, Global Nursing Home, Bhubaneshwar shares all you need to know. Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of immense change and high demands on a woman’s body. A growing baby needs a balance of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and healthy fats. Each one plays a crucial role in organ development, brain growth, and strong physical foundations. At the same time, the mother’s body requires high-quality nutrition to support increased blood volume, repair tissues, produce milk, and recover from childbirth. Simply eating enough calories from processed or nutrient-poor foods does not provide the complex building blocks required for these processes.
Enough Calories, Not Enough Nutrition
When a diet provides plenty of calories but lacks nutrient quality, the consequences can be serious. A mother may gain enough weight, but her body and the developing baby can still suffer due to missing vitamins and minerals. This hidden problem is common and often goes unnoticed until more severe complications arise. While iron deficiency (anemia) is widely recognized, other nutrient deficiencies are often overlooked, yet they also pose significant risks to both maternal health and the baby’s development. Addressing this “hidden hunger” requires deliberate and informed food choices.
The Key Role of Vitamin D and Calcium
One major concern is Vitamin D deficiency. A 2023 study revealed that 76% of people in India had low Vitamin D levels, with women making up 75% of this group. Even more concerning is that the highest deficiency rates were among women under 25 (84%)—a prime age for childbearing. This is critical because Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium and building strong bones. Without it, the body struggles to use dietary calcium, affecting both the mother’s bone health and the baby’s bone development. Low maternal Vitamin D has also been linked to complications such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and reduced immune function. For babies, it can result in poor bone growth and an increased risk of rickets.
Calcium deficiency poses an equally serious threat. A rapidly growing baby requires significant calcium for bones, teeth, and the developing nervous system. If the mother’s diet lacks calcium, her body may draw from her own bones to supply the baby. This “calcium drain” during pregnancy and breastfeeding increases the mother’s risk of osteoporosis later in life. Vitamin D and calcium work hand-in-hand, making adequate levels of both essential for the health of mothers and babies alike.
The Power of Good Food
A nutrient-rich diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods: a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. These foods provide not just calories but also the essential vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds necessary for health. For pregnant women, such a diet supports better baby growth, reduces complications, and improves birth outcomes. For new mothers, it aids milk production, speeds recovery, and provides sustained energy to care for a newborn.
The Significance of Supplementation
Even with the best dietary choices, the high nutritional demands of pregnancy and common pre-existing deficiencies often make supplementation essential. Supplements provide a reliable safety net, ensuring consistent access to critical nutrients like Vitamin D and calcium. However, access remains a challenge. Data on supplement usage such as calcium intake in India shows gaps in coverage, highlighting the importance of both diet and supplementation to safeguard maternal and infant health.
We must move beyond the idea of simply “eating enough” and shift towards consciously selecting nutrient-rich foods for expecting and new mothers. Combined with regular, targeted supplementation—particularly for Vitamin D and calcium—this approach is vital for ensuring healthy mothers, strong babies, and ultimately, healthier future generations.
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More
