The Sunday Mail
During pregnancy and lactation (breast feeding) good nutrition is essential for both the mother and the unborn baby.
When a pregnant mother and or lactating mother is HIV positive, they have extra nutritional demands because of the virus, the growing unborn baby and breastfeeding, which places them at a higher risk of malnutrition.
Nutritional needs of pregnant women increase as pregnancy advances. As HIV clinical stages also advance the nutritional needs also increase. During pregnancy and lactation there are increased needs for energy giving food, protein and vitamins and mineral salts. Poor nutrition in pregnant and lactating mothers can increase the chances of mother to child transmission of HIV to the baby.
Why should pregnant and lactating mothers maintain good nutrition? For a pregnant HIV positive mother good nutrition ensures a healthy mother and a positive birth outcome.
The mother’s immune system will be stronger and able to fight infections
A strong mother will be able to take care of herself and her family
A nutritious and healthy mother will be able to take their medications confidently which results in reduced viral loads and delay in progression to Aids
The mother will give birth to a healthy baby who has adequate weight for gestation and is more likely to grow into a healthy adult
What should a pregnant and lactating mother eat? As is encouraged in everyone’s daily life the pregnant and lactating mother should eat a variety of foods made up of the following food groups on a daily basis
Energy giving foods (carbohydrates)
Body Building Foods (Proteins)
Protective Foods(Vitamins & Mineral salts)
Fats, Oils, Sugar and Sugary foods
Energy Giving Foods
These are the main source of energy for day to day activities
They should be eaten with every meal
Unrefined cereals that are high in fibre are the preferred choice
Examples of energy giving foods are maize, rice, rapoko, millet and roots and tubers of such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava and madhumbe/amadhumbe,
Body building Foods
These foods are essential in growth and repairing of worn out tissues. There are also essential in formation of blood, building up muscles and strengthening and maintenance of the immune system
These sources of foods should be eaten at least four to five times a week
There are two types of body building foods:
Animals Protein: Examples beef, chicken and eggs
Plant Protein: Soya beans, sugar beans, peas and pumpkin seeds
Protective Foods
These essential foods are made up of vegetables and fruits both wild, indigenous and exotic and are there to maintain a balance in the diet
These foods supply vitamins and mineral salts that keep the immune system strong and keep the body functioning well
These should be eaten every day
Examples of these: Wild fruits: Mazhanje, hacha, nhunguru
Other fruits: Orange, bananas, apples
Vegetables tsunga, rape, muboora, cabbage, lettuce, covo, tomatoes, green beans
Fortified maize meal, fortified flour
Fats, Oils, Sugar & Sugary Foods
The pregnant and lactating mother should eat these in moderation. These foods aid in the absorption of vitamins and also provide extra energy which is often needed in HIV.
Examples of these foods include cooking oil, margarine, butter, cream, honey, biscuits, sugar cane
How Much should be eaten
The standard nutritious plate as shown below (courtesy of Nutrition Department MOHCC) made up of foods from the four different food groups should be eaten.
It is essential to note that ½ of the plate should be made up of vegetables and a ¼ each from the energy giving foods and body building foods.
During pregnancy, one should have one extra meal in comparison to what is usually eaten. The pregnant mother is encouraged to take snacks in between meals
During lactation and the mother find that she is losing weight, she needs to eat a bit extra
In general for pregnant and lactating mothers it is good to eat 4 meals and 4 snacks between meals
Examples of a Meal
One and half cups of sadza/rice
A cup of cooked vegetables or 2 cups of salad
A cup of beans/a piece of chicken/3 matchbox sizes of meat
Examples of snacks
One or two slices of bread with one teaspoon of peanut butter or one egg
A cup of Mahewu
A cup of samp and beans/mutakura/ inkobe zendumba
150ml/one cup of yoghurt
One fruit/glass of fruit juice
It is essential that one drinks at least two litres of water per day and other fluids
Acknowledgements: Ministry Of Health & Child Care and Unicef
