Research suggests that babies' taste buds are not fully functioning until around 20 weeks gestation, so that's when the pressure is on...I don't want to make my baby addicted to cookies and cake! They are going to be more apt to like the taste of healthy foods, such as vegetables and diverse types of food, if they get some exposure in utero. Not that I'm going to start eating lima beans just for the baby, but I am trying to incorporate unique vegetable varieties such as cauliflower, eggplant, broccoli, leafy greens, etc. in order to help her development. Since, of course not only does the food I eat affect her taste preferences, but the nutrients are important for her cognitive and physical growth and development. Lots of junk food don't leave room in my stomach for healthy foods, and food with less nutritional value put her at a greater risk for obesity and cognitive deficits, etc.
Interestingly, the baby tastes what the mom has eaten by swallowing the amniotic fluid. As the baby is floating around in the amniotic sac, filled with amniotic fluid, the baby is practicing her swallowing and digestive system by drinking the amniotic fluid. This liquid reflects what the mother has eaten through its flavor and smell, so the baby is smelling and tasting what the mother has been eating. Delivery room doctors report smelling coffee and Indian food when a woman's water breaks during labor and delivery, based on what she had eaten earlier that day! I think of the amniotic sac almost like a toilet bowl (except much cleaner and prettier) because the liquid actually cycles in and out approximately every three hours. It is unclear how long it takes for what a mom consumes to reach her little baby fetus, but it must be pretty quick since a suggestion to instigate some fetal movement is to drink something cold and sugary and then lie on your left side.
Recently, I've been thinking especially about what I'm eating because my doctor strongly suggested I slow down on the weight gain! At 28 weeks, I've gained close to 30 pounds, so I need to slow down and cap the weight gain at 40 lbs, meaning I can gain 10 pounds over the next 12 weeks. Easier said than done is all I can say, but we'll see how it goes. A few too many fast food treats may be the culprit since we've been traveling a lot on weekends, including a trip to a wedding (who doesn't love eating wedding cake and all the other food that you find at a wedding weekend??). Of course, it doesn't help when your husband and relatives are bringing you anything you want from the food buffet, plus double helpings of cake and punch, and not to mention hotel breakfast food, like waffles with syrup, every morning. Now, I find out that my iron is a tad low, which means I need to incorporate more iron-rich foods and maybe cut down on things containing caffeine (I love the occasional vanilla coke and oreo java shake), so what happened to eating for two and letting loose during pregnancy? I thought you got to indulge a bit! Well, looks like moderation in everything, even pregnancy :)
