Birth Mother Nutrition

Making sure to eat the right foods and receive the proper vitamins and minerals will help both you and your baby.

The food you eat every day, even before you are pregnant, is important for your health.  Once you become pregnant it is even more important to eat right since you are eating for both you and your baby. Your diet before pregnancy and while you are pregnant should contain the vitamins and nutrients that your body will need to help your baby develop and grow the way he or she should.

Practice healthy eating and take multivitamins and or prenatal vitamins every day. If you are eating a healthy diet before you become pregnant, you may only need to make a few changes to meet the nutritional needs of pregnancy. You will probably need to increase your usual servings of a variety of foods from the four basic food groups. This Pregnancy, Health, Nutrition, and Weight Gain government website is a good place to help you get started.

You may be eligible for free or low-cost programs offered through the U.S. government and your state government.  The website link Government Assistance Programs and the information and links below will help you get in contact with these programs.

Child Nutrition Programs give you the link to the government programs including the National School Lunch Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Special Milk Program.

The Department of Education can provide you with information about nutrition, pregnancy, insurance and other programs.

Food Banks provide a nationwide network of food warehouses that offer free food to fight hunger. 

Food Stamp Programs help low-income people and families buy the food they need.

Health Departments in can help you find out about health, nutrition, insurance, and school programs.

WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides nutritious foods, nutrition counseling, and referrals to health and other social services to participants at no charge.