Diet During Pregnancy and Lactation
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in the quality. Her system required changes, a variety and quality of
food that was more nourishing. Her children were born with feeble
digestive powers and impoverished blood. From the food the mother
was compelled to receive, she could not furnish a good quality of
blood, and therefore gave birth to children filled with humors.
Testimonies for the Church 2:381-384
It is an error generally committed to make no difference in the life
of a woman previous to the birth of her children. At this important
period the labor of the mother should be lightened. Great changes are
going on in her system. It requires a greater amount of blood, and
therefore an increase of food of the most nourishing quality to convert
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into blood. Unless she has an abundant supply of nutritious food,
she cannot retain her physical strength, and her offspring is robbed of
vitality. Her clothing also demands attention. Care should be taken
to protect the body from a sense of chilliness. She should not call
vitality unnecessarily to the surface to supply the want of sufficient
clothing. If the mother is deprived of an abundance of wholesome,
nutritious food, she will lack in the quantity and quality of blood. Her
circulation will be poor and her child will lack in the very same things.
There will be an inability in the offspring to appropriate food which
it can convert into good blood to nourish the system. The prosperity
of mother and child depends much upon good, warm clothing, and
a supply of nourishing food. The extra draft upon the vitality of the
mother must be considered and provided for.
But, on the other hand, the idea that women, because of their
special condition, may let the appetite run riot, is a mistake based
on custom, but not on sound sense. The appetite of women in this
condition may be variable, fitful, and difficult to gratify, and custom
allows her to have anything she may fancy, without consulting reason
as to whether such food can supply nutrition for her body and for the
growth of her child. The food should be nutritious, but should not
be of an exciting quality. Custom says that if she wants flesh-meats,
pickles, spiced food, or mince pies, let her have them; appetite alone
is to be consulted. This is a great mistake, and does much harm. The
harm cannot be estimated. If ever there is need of simplicity of diet