The medical team has developed a nutritional plan that helps expectant mothers to be healthy. “There are women who think they have to eat for two. That's completely wrong”

Nutrition during pregnancy and the period immediately after birth profoundly influences the health of the mother and the child. Food that contains all the nutrients a pregnant woman needs supports the normal development of the fetus, reduces the risk of complications at birth, helps postnatal recovery and ensures healthy lactation. Starting from these realities, a nutritional project dedicated to pregnant women and pregnant women, coordinated by Dr. Anca DumitracheObstetrics-gynecology primary physician and nutritionist Sergiu Cojanu. “In the last two months, we started to implement this nutritional plan, after during the years of medical practice in the obstetric field we understood how important balanced nutrition is,” Dr. Anca Dumitrache told us.

Nutritional deficiencies and low birth weight

Each year, worldwide, more than 20 million infants are born with low birth weight, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition. Deficiencies of micronutrients such as folate, iron and zinc and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, E and riboflavin are very common and may co-occur among pregnant women.

“The pregnant woman is in a period of stress on the whole body. All the organs and systems are overworked. Obviously, even during the pregnancy period, after the woman has given birth, those demands are maintained, considering that she has to breastfeed naturally, to feed her child in the first months. So, her nutrition is very important for her and the child's health,” emphasized Dr. Anca Dumitrache.

Micronutrient deficiencies result from inadequate intake of meat, fruits, and vegetables, and infections can also be a cause.

“A deficient intake of protein, iron, folate, or essential fatty acids can directly affect fetal weight, neurological development, or even gestational length. A balanced diet, combined with hydration and medical monitoring, reduces the risk of anemia, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and promotes optimal baby growth,” she told us. Sergiu Cojanu, nutritionist at Regina Maria Brașov (photo).

In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends iron and folic acid supplementation to reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women.

What dietary mistakes pregnant women make

Scientists concerned with maternal nutritional status during pregnancy analyzed in a study the diet of 150 pregnant women in the first trimester through a food frequency questionnaire. The researchers identified three major dietary patterns: the first was high in carbohydrates and low in fat, the second, high in carbohydrates and high in fat, and the third, high in fiber. They observed a higher number of macrosomic (high birth weight) babies in mothers who followed the second and third dietary patterns. High-carbohydrate, low-fat dietary pattern has been associated with gestational diabetes (DG).

Although patients in the private system are generally well-informed and have a good level of medical education, doctor Dr. Anca Dumitrache noticed that pregnant women often make dietary mistakes: “There are women who think they have to eat a lot because they have two bodies to feed, which is completely wrong. In each trimester, there are other needs — not the quantity, but the quality. Others, on the contrary, are dieting, which is extremely dangerous for them and the baby.” The obstetrician believes that nutrition should be adapted quantitatively and qualitatively progressively in each trimester of pregnancy.

“They must not eat too much or too many sweets, on the contrary, they must have a balanced diet, with fresh food, with a lot of protein, vegetables, grains, fiber. It is most important to take vitamins from food, in addition to what we obstetricians supplement from tablets,” explained the obstetrician.

“Nutrition during pregnancy is not about eating for two”

Sergiu Cojanu, nutritionist at the hospital, explained the basic principles of the nutritional program he designed, within the project, together with Dr. Dumitrache.

“Nutrition during pregnancy is not about eating for two, but about eating more balanced and more consciously. The basis is fresh, unprocessed, varied food: colorful vegetables and fruits, lean proteins – fish, eggs, poultry, legumes -, whole grains and healthy fats, such as avocados, olive oil and nuts. The goal is to ensure a sufficient intake of vitamins, minerals and fiber, without excess calories.”

The nutritionist emphasized the importance of key nutrients: folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, Omega-3 fatty acids, choline and iodine. “All these nutrients can be obtained through food, but sometimes controlled medical supplementation is needed,” stated Cojanu.

Another common mistake found among pregnant women is dietary restriction, for fear of gaining too many extra pounds during pregnancy.

“It is not advisable to think that she will gain weight and that she will no longer have that figure as before and to abstain, to take weight loss treatments or to apply food restrictions because then the pregnant woman will not be healthier and will also get a product of conception at birth, which is anemic, sensitive to infections, which will catch cold more easily, cause allergies more easily and will not develop harmoniously”, specified Dr. Dumitrache.

A clear nutritional guide, for every stage: pregnancy and postpartum

The team at Regina Maria Brașov has developed the nutritional guide for the trimesters of pregnancy and the breastfeeding period, including simple explanations, examples of balanced meals and warnings about foods to avoid.

“The guide is offered to pregnant women from the first consultation, and the version for the lactation period is handed out at discharge, together with the medical documents. It is a reliable source of medical information, which comes directly from specialists, not from social networks or from hearsay. Our goal is to have healthy patients and children who develop harmoniously. If they follow the instructions in the guide, our role becomes easier, because women already understand the essential principles of a correct diet,” said Dr. Dumitrache.

This nutritional plan is a team project and a real support for patients. The collaboration between the doctor and the nutritionist is the key to the success of the program. “We consult each other constantly, so that patients receive coherent and safe recommendations, in a multidisciplinary setting. The goal is for each woman to know exactly what she has to do at each stage — pregnancy, breastfeeding, getting back in shape,” testified Sergiu Cojanu.

What food mistakes do louzes make?

Nutrition in the period immediately after birth is as important for the mother as it is during pregnancy. An analysis of the nutritional status (fatty acids and micronutrients) of lactating mothers and the influence that diet and nutritional supplementation have on the composition of breast milk was made by Spanish researchers, who noted that women during breastfeeding tend to have a lower quality dietary pattern compared to pregnancy, even though their nutrient requirements are mostly higher.

Scientists have observed a positive association between nutritional supplementation in nursing mothers and the concentration of nutrients in breast milk. Vitamin and/or mineral supplements containing fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12) and vitamin C, as well as some minerals (selenium, zinc, iodine and magnesium) have the greatest effect on the composition of breast milk. In addition, positive results were also obtained with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation.

Sergiu Cojanu stated that he often finds in women who have just given birth that they start restrictive diets too early, that they do not consume enough water. Other mistakes they make are: “skipping meals due to lack of time and excessive coffee or sweets for energy. Breastfeeding and postnatal recovery require patience and balance, not aggressive diets,” Cojanu emphasized.

“A common myth is that they need to eat a lot and consistently to have milk. In reality, it's the quality, not the quantity. The caloric need increases by about 450-500 kcal/day, but it's important that the diet is varied, rich in protein, calcium, iron, omega-3 and fiber. There is no universal list of forbidden foods — reactions can be individual. It's best to observe how the baby reacts and avoid only the foods that cause discomfort”, the nutritionist confessed.

“Food is the first language of love between mother and child”

The nutritional project for pregnant and lactating women at Regina Maria Brașov Hospital is part of the wider initiative of the Regina Maria network, which “does everything for patients to return home healthy.” This could be deployed throughout the private network.

For Sergiu Cojanu, maternal nutrition also has an emotional dimension: “Each conscious choice — a balanced lunch, a glass of water drunk on time, a colorful plate — is a form of care. Food is, in fact, the first language of love between mother and child.”

Dr. Anca Dumitrache sends a clear message to pregnant women and new mothers: “A healthy and balanced diet is the first step towards an uncomplicated pregnancy, an easy recovery and a child with good immunity, harmonious and happy. With the support of the Regina Maria team, women can arrive home healthy, together with their healthy children — and that is the greatest joy for us.”

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