Dieting Mothers Can Influence Their Fetuses

A fetus is exposed to the smells and flavors of its mother’s diet. Have you ever wondered if a fetus tastes what its mother eats?

Studies have shown that food preferences and experiences start in the womb through the amniotic fluid which surrounds it, according to The Boston Globe. In the last three months the fetus inhales and swallows large amounts of amniotic fluid. Also, by that time the sensory systems is developed, it can smell and taste too.

This means a mother can influence the smells and flavors of the amniotic fluid through her diet. The same “mechanism” is on their milk.

Researcher Julie Mennella, at the Monell Chemical Senses Center from Philadelphia, has proved in one of her studies that while fetus is in the womb, it learns which foods are safe, desirable, and available to eat. So it’s important for the mother to eat lots of vegetables and fruits during pregnancy.

Also, pregnant women who gain too much weight develop a risk to give birth to babies who will be overweight during their early childhood. The risk is four times greater than that of women with adequate weight gain during pregnancy, according to Emily Oken, from the Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention.

Children whose mothers gained too much weight during pregnancy faced cardiovascular risk connected to weight in young childhood, and high systolic blood pressure. The study proved a strong connection between having an overweight child and excessive weight during pregnancy, said Oken.

Eat healthy so both you and your child would live better. Remember that kids tend to emulate the behavior of their parents.