Pregnancy diet: Is consuming ghee during pregnancy is safe in ninth month?

=========

Ghee acts as a laxative that helps to induce labor in women who are overdue. Drinking ghee at the time of irritating the bowel, this then extends to the uterus is a common belief during pregnancy. It helps to lubricate the vagina thus aiding in a smooth delivery. If you are eating a well balanced diet, then there is no need to go for added calories by ghee. But, pregnant women need 200 extra calories a day in her last trimester, so most of the doctors recommend to have 300 extra calories a day in the second and third trimesters.

During pregnancy you are sure to get to hear all kinds of myths and suggestions from your family. It might be only because all the people close to you wants the best for you and your child; but at times these suggestions actually carry no scientific background and stand completely meaningless. “Consuming ghee is good for pregnancy” is one such myth that is very popular, particularly in Indian home, but completely lacks evidence or scientific reasoning to support the claim.

The myth regarding consuming ghee during pregnancy

It is believed that ghee, particularly the one made from the cow’s milk, can induce contraction in expecting mothers helping them to go into labor when they are due. Another school of thought about it is that, ghee works as a lubricant and softens the vagina to aid smooth vaginal delivery without any complications. Ghee made from cows’ milk is also considered as a nourishing food that can give energy to the body of the expecting mother and also nutrition to the baby in the womb.

So, if there are any old ladies in your home, you can expect her to go to all the extent to make you drink ghee during your pregnancy and particularly during the trimester of your pregnancy to ensure the best health of your baby and easy normal delivery. There is actually nothing wrong in consuming ghee during pregnancy, it will not harm you or your baby in any way when taken in limited amount; but any scientific explanation on how it can actually help during pregnancy is strictly debatable.

Do you actually need ghee for filling your diet?

During pregnancy eating a well- balanced diet is very important in order to get all the nourishment that you and your baby needs. But you can always have a well-balanced diet without including ghee in it. So, consuming ghee is surely not a must.

According to the latest researches, a pregnant mother needs only 200 calories more than her normal diet during the last trimester of the pregnancy. Generally, doctors suggest an extra of 300 calorie diet for the expecting mother during the second and the third semester of the pregnancy. However, you might need more or less calories during your pregnancy depending on your weight at the time and it is only your doctor who can suggest you the right diet.

Even if you need more calories, it is suggested to fill up that quota with increased balanced diet and not only with fat. Hence drinking ghee, which is majorly loaded with fat, to ensure that you get all the extra calories you need during this time is not certainly a very good idea.

Why drinking ghee during pregnancy might not be a very good

Consuming ghee during pregnancy in limited quantity is safe and it can provide you with the extra energy you need, but if it is actually good for the pregnancy, there is no evidence to support that claim. Rather drinking ghee during pregnancy can lead to high weight gain and obesity, as during this period naturally your physical exercises reduces and the rate of metabolism of your body also slows down somehow. So, if you are planning to get back into shape after your pregnancy, which is most expected and healthy for every new mother, drinking ghee during pregnancy can certainly be a bad option.

In addition to that, consuming high amounts of ghee during pregnancy, without burning much of it through physical activities, can lead to storage of more fat in the abdominal area, which can cause problems in case a C-section is needed. Another problem that might crop up due to consumption of high amounts of ghee during pregnancy is of stomach problems. Ghee, being a fat, is not very easy to digest and it can even cause severe diarrhea when consumed in high quantity. Improper digestion can lead to a number of complications like heart burning, nausea, acidity and others. Diarrhea on the other hand, can cause heavy dehydration, nausea, weakness and other serious symptoms.

So, while consuming a limited amount of ghee during pregnancy is okay, it might not be the best thing to fill your diet needs. Rather opt for a diet that is well balanced and offer the best nutrition and not only loads of fat. To know about the best foods for you during pregnancy that can give you and your baby the best nourishment talk to your doctor and she must be able to suggest you the right diet.

Eating ghee helps for an easy, delivery is a pregnancy myth

Ghee is a traditional Indian cuisine, and this is made from heating unsalted butter by sieving out all the milk solids or foam to produce rich and golden oil. You are advised to eat more ghee with all your foods when you are in last trimester i.e., ninth month of pregnancy. Ghee is a saturated fat that’s bad for health, but according to ancient Ayurvedic medicine, ghee is fantastic and only considered more suitable for cooking than other fats. It is more easily digested than butter and stimulates the digestive fire in the body, and thus the metabolism.

Ghee during pregnancy is believed due to the following effects.

• You should warm and nourish the body
• Ghee induce labor by acting as a laxative
• It helps in the development of the brain of the baby
• Ghee helps with a smooth delivery by lubricating the vagina
• It improves digestion and relieve constipation

Ghee during pregnancy benefits sometimes

• It is often advised  to take a tablespoon of ghee with milk everyday. But sometimes even a small cup of ghee to nourish the baby. This even has positive aspects, if you slightly overweight. So, consume ghee everyday could contribute to an increased risk of obesity.
• Consume a well balanced diet that is enough to get the extra 200 calories that she needs during her pregnancy. It acts as a supplement and avoids it when you’re already overweight.
• Ghee is a healthier choice of fat, so combine with a little or no physical activity, so consumption of unhealthy foods that make you more likely to fall prey to obesity. Obesity during pregnancy is hard to both of you and the unborn child. It could make your weight loss problematic for you after you have delivered the baby.