After you have completed your reading and browsing simply close this window or click the button on the bottom of this page and you will return to the previous page.

Fifty percent of birth defects can be eliminated if women take prenatal vitamins before pregnancy. The amount of folic acid required to grow a healthy baby cannot be obtained by diet alone. Preparing for pregnancy is no longer a luxury but a necessity to help insure the healthiest mother and baby possible. Many women are already 4-6 weeks pregnant before they realize they have started a new life. By taking vitamins beginning three months before beginning attempts to get pregnant you assure your baby a healthy start in life. Proper nutrition is also important both before and during the pregnancy.

Many claims have been made about nutrition, caffeine and pregnancy. Multiple studies have been done that document caffeine intake, in moderation, during pregnancy is NOT harmful to the growing fetus. Caffeine intake, when kept to 2-3 cups of coffee per day, does not have any deleterious effect. It does become bad for Mom and Baby when caffeine is used as a substitute for food. A growing baby needs to have a certain number of calories to grow into a healthy baby. Complete dietary details are available in the office and we will be happy to go over them with you. You can also find a healthy pregnancy diet in the book The Family Pregnancy, available at bookstores everywhere. If the book is not on the shelves, please ask the store to order it for you.      The use of caffeine has NOT been associated with birth defects of any kind.  What may pose a problem is drinking caffeine drinks and not eating.  Because caffeine is a stimulant that can affect the baby, Mom may want to limit caffeine use to 3-4 cups/glasses a day.  Otherwise the baby may be break dancing all night when you are trying to sleep.  If you are a heavy caffeine user, it takes time to decrease your use.  The best time to begin is before pregnancy.

To Return to the Previous Pregnancy Menu, Click the Button and this Window Will Close OR Visit Other Areas of this Site by Clicking the Icons Women's Health Index Physician Page Spirituality Published Articles Home Page Site Index

© 1996-99: MJ Bovo.  All rights reserved under US Copyright Law.

Excerpts from: The Family Pregnancy © 1995: MJ Bovo, The Family Pregnancy, Second Edition, currently in production, and Do You Have Any Questions?  © 1995: MJ Bovo, are contained within this page. Reprints are not permitted under any circumstances.  Please see Terms of Use for full expanation.  Violations of the Copyright Code are taken seriously and appropriate action IS TAKEN AGAINST VIOLATERS.