Role of Diet in IUGR (Intra Uterine Growth Retardation)

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) refers to a condition when the baby in the womb does not grow as expected. It means the baby is not growing at a normal rate inside the womb and is not as big as it is expected to be during each stage of the mother’s pregnancy.

The two types of intrauterine growth restriction or (IUGR) are:

• Symmetrical IUGR: a condition when all parts of the baby’s body are collectively small in size
• Asymmetrical IUGR: a condition when the baby’s head and brain have grown in the expected size, whereas the rest of the baby’s body is still small.

IUGR Causes

IUGR has many possible causes. It can happen if:-

• There is a problem with the placenta – the tissue that joins the mother and fetus.
• There is a problem with the blood flow in the umbilical cord, which connects the baby to the placenta.

Studies also reveal that under nutrition, over nutrition, and improper diet composition impact the growth of the fetus. Conversely, the increased prevalence of processed food/junk food/ alcohol that results in overweight and obesity are considered additional factors for IUGR.

What’s more? The risk of IUGR is higher if the mother has certain health problems such as:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Lung disease etc

Diet in IUGR (Intra Uterine Growth Retardation)

Nutrition plays an important role in the first few months of pregnancy. And eating a balanced diet can go a long way in preventing IUGR. Sometimes when IUGR is due to an inherent problem with the uterus, a proper guided diet plan can help in the following:

• baby’s birth weight can be brought as near normal as possible even though the baby may need to be delivered prematurely
• shorter NICU stay of the infant

For healthy growth and development of the baby, you can follow the below pregnancy nutrition plan.

• All fresh fruits and juices. Ensure you include at least one citrus fruit
Daily Serving: 3-4 (approx)

• Freshly cooked vegetables
Daily Serving: 3-5 (approx)

• Dairy Products: Milk, yogurt, cheese
Daily Serving: 3 (approx)

• Whole grain bread and flour, cereals, crackers
Daily Serving: 3 (approx)

• Lean meat, chicken, fish with low mercury content
Daily Serving: 1 (approx)

• Water: Drink atleast 7-8 glasses of water daily.

In addition, ensure you maintain a moderate weight. If you are too thin or skinny, gaining as little as 4-5 pounds can sometimes be enough to jumpstart your pregnancy phase.

However, if you are wondering how to put all these to good use – contact Kanupriya Khanna. She has had a lot of experience with IUGR babies, not just during gestation but also post-delivery. She will not only help you create innovative food recipes but will also help you maintain the right balance of nutrients in your daily diet during pregnancy.

You can also visit the website https://kanupriyakhanna.in for nutrition tips and healthy diet plans