Want your child to love veggies? Start early. Very early. Research shows that what a woman eats during pregnancy not only nourishes her baby in the womb, but may shape food preferences later in life.The study finds that what a woman eats during her pregnancy shapes the baby's food preferences later in life.
At 21 weeks after conception, a developing baby can taste it, too. Still in the womb, the growing baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid daily. That fluid surrounding the baby is actually flavored by the foods and beverages the mother has eaten in the last few hours."Things like vanilla, carrot, garlic, mint — these are some of the flavors that have been shown to be transmitted to amniotic fluid or mother's milk,"Not only is the amniotic fluid and breast milk in humans flavored by food, but memories of these flavors are formed even before birth. That could result in preferences for these foods or odors for a lifetime.
The babies are feasting on the flavored amniotic fluid, forming memories of these flavors even before birth. These memories result in preferences for these foods or odors for a lifetime.
While in the womb, the baby floats in the amniotic fluid. The amount of amniotic fluid is greatest at about 34 weeks (gestation) into the pregnancy, when it averages 800 mL. Approximately 600 mL of amniotic fluid surrounds the baby at full term (40 weeks gestation).
The amniotic fluid helps:
- The developing baby to move in the womb, which allows for proper bone growth
- The lungs to develop properly
- Keep a relatively constant temperature around the baby, protecting from heat loss
- Protect the baby from outside injury by cushioning sudden blows or movements
In the womb, the baby is surrounded and nourished on the amniotic fluid, which is filled with the flavors of what the mom has eaten.
For example, eating vegetables while pregnant means there's a better chance your baby will like different vegetables more than another baby would, whose mother did not eat vegetables. Very early exposure to flavors, before and after birth, and reinforcement of those flavors make it more likely that children will accept a wide variety of flavors.
Researchers say this helps explain why kids from countries with more adventurous menus enjoy more diverse foods than a child exposed to other country peanut butter and jelly and other foods.
The lesson: If you want your children to eat a healthy diet or more adventurous diet, you should expose them to all the right, healthy flavors early on. Very early on.
Since mothers tend to feed their children what they eat themselves, it is nature's way of introducing babies to the foods and flavors that they are likely to encounter in their family and their culture.
"Each individual baby is having their own unique experience, it's changing from hour to hour, from day to day, from month to month,"
"To what extent can we make a baby eat a healthier diet by exposing it to all the right flavors — broccoli, carrots? Could we do that or not?-my answer is YES.
Mothers might not realize that the tastes and flavors they savor while pregnant can influence their babies' later.
The amniotic fluid begins to fill up the amniotic sac from an estimated 2 weeks of fertilization. Another 10 weeks later, the fluid contains different proteins, carbohydrates, electrolytes, lipids, phospholipids, and urea, which provide nutrition to the fetus. Towards the gravid stages, the fluid begins to contain fetal urine as well. In normal cases, leaking of amniotic fluid is considered one of the prominent signs of an impending labor.
Drink plenty of fluid. Fill your body with at least eight glasses of water per day. This will help to increase your amniotic fluid levels.
Want your child to eat healthy? Recent studies show you need to start early—really early!
Not only is the amniotic fluid and breast milk in humans flavored by food, but memories of these flavors are formed even before birth, that could result in preferences for these foods or odors for a lifetime.
Take care of your unborn baby.
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these blogs is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention or cure of any disease. If you have any serious, acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained doctor/health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained Ayurvedic expert, call us or e mail.
Dr Unnati Chavda
(Promoting pregnancy wellness)
www.ayurvedapanchkarma.in
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