Pregnancy: The Basics

Pregnancy is surely the most astounding process that the human body can undergo. That a woman’s body can support the development of another human being from a single cell to a newborn is truly a marvel. We still do not understand all the intricacies of pregnancy, in terms of both fetal development and a mother’s ability to adapt to and provide for a fetus.

What it takes to make a baby

During pregnancy, a single cell grows and transforms to become a human baby. All of the complex actions that must be performed to carry out this feat are programmed right into the baby’s genetic material—her DNA contains the basic instructions to divide her cells; to form different kinds of tissues and then different organs; to orient body parts in the correct position; to form complex networks to carry blood, air, nerve impulses, and hormones throughout the body; and to grow a brain that will be able to quickly sense her environment and learn new information when she is born.

But the instructions are no use without the physical ingredients needed to build a human body. Though genetics play an enormous role in development, genes are not the only factor at play. Building a baby from a single cell requires marshaling an enormous amount of energy, nutrients, and resources, all of which must be provided by the mother’s body. It also requires the right conditions—a protected environment, free from toxic substances or injury. At every stage of pregnancy, a baby depends on her mother’s good health and proper nutrition. 

Why what you eat matters

Your body provides a steady supply of nutrients—carbohydrates in the form of glucose for energy, proteins and fats to build the structures of the body, and vitamins and minerals to carry out key processes in cells. All of the components needed to build a baby come from the mother’s body. Some of these nutrients might come from stores your body keeps, reserves of energy or other elements that are tucked inside your tissues. But most of the nutrients you pass on to your baby come from what is circulating right in your blood. And the contents of your blood vary according to what you eat every day. That’s why many women find they must make significant changes in their diets while they are pregnant. You’re no longer choosing foods just to fill you up, stay healthy, or provide pleasure for yourself. You’re also choosing the raw materials that will nourish your baby into life.

The baby’s growth

During the early part of a baby’s development in the womb, his cells are rapidly dividing and laying a blueprint for later growth, a basic outline for all the organ systems of the body. Later, the cells that form these organs begin to swell, increasing the overall size of the fetus. Growth reaches its briskest pace in the second and third trimesters, as the blueprint gets fleshed out into a more developed body. Information about pregnancy often focuses on either the mother or the child. It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that pregnancy is essentially a relationship between two beings: a woman and her growing baby. A woman’s body is not simply a passive receptacle for a fetus. At every stage, pregnancy is a series of complex interactions between a woman’s body and her baby.

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All parents know that kids need nutritious foods as they grow.  New research confirms that what a woman eats during pregnancy can also profoundly affect the health of her baby when that baby becomes an adult – for better or for worse.  HEALTHY EATING DURING PREGNANCY by W. Allan Walker, M.D. offers solid information and medically sound advice for pregnant and nursing women by one of the world’s leading experts in nutrition.

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