A recent article on CNN.com reported that “taste isn’t just about the way food hits your tongue; there’s a whole science behind how we perceive flavor and develop preferences for certain foods.” One of the topics was: “You like what your mother ate,” claiming that food you eat while pregnant can transfer to the amniotic fluid and flavor it, which the fetus then remembers after birth.
Here’s what we think…
The article claims the same is true with breast milk, and when babies are old enough to eat solid food, they prefer foods with similar flavors to those they received in the womb and is particularly effective with enhancing a child’s liking for healthy foods like vegetables if the mother consumes them while pregnant. The claims do not have an effect on salty foods, as the amount of salt consumed does not affect the salinity of amniotic fluid or breast milk.
One of the most common myths during pregnancy is that spicy food is bad for your baby and can cause miscarriage or early labor. Not true! While spicy foods may cause some heartburn, they are safe for you and your baby. As far as whether or not what we eat during pregnancy has a lasting affect on our babies, there is not enough information to make a critical analysis based on thorough, sound science. The goal for nutrition and physical fitness during pregnancy is simple: to be healthy. Not gaining enough weight can be problematic and lead to growth problems, just as gaining too much weight can be dangerous during the delivery and can lead to obesity or diabetes as the child gets older. That being said, listen to your body’s cravings. Try to eat a variety of foods that give you a good variety of vitamins, minerals, proteins, vegetables, and fruits, and work with your doctor to make sure you are getting what you need for yourself and your baby. In our experience, more than half of our expecting patients start to crave different types of foods around the second trimester. With their increased appetite comes the increased desire to consume. Remember that you need only about 300 extra healthy calories a day to provide the nutrients your growing baby needs. This doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in your favorite treat once in a while, but use your common sense and remind yourself to eat healthy.
