Program Your Baby's Health: The Pregnancy Diet for Your Child's Lifelong Well-Being

By Tamara Eberlein, Barbara Luke, Barbara Luke ScD. M.P.H. R.D.

The most important period of your child's health is the nine months before birth. Cutting edge research in a new field known as "metabolic programming" reveals a startling new fact: what a mother eats during pregnancy has a far greater effect on her child's future development, overall health, and resistance to disease than was previously thought. In fact, adult chronic illnesses long blamed on an unhealthy lifestyle or genetic influences are now believed to be a direct result of the uterine environment during pregnancy. Now, thanks to this pioneering new book, you can "program" your baby's future health by eating right, gaining the appropriate amount of weight, and avoiding toxins--starting even before conceiving. Dr. Barbara Luke, a nationally recognized expert in the field of public-health nutrition, provides a complete, practical nutrition and lifestyle program that covers your entire pregnancy, month by month--and the first two years of your baby's life. Here is everything you need to know to raise the healthiest baby possible, including: - What to eat when you're trying to conceive and when you are pregnant - Practical strategies that protect your child against hypertension, diabetes, and obesity - Special dietary needs for women in every age group, from under 25 to over 40 - Quick, easy menus, helpful charts, and checklists - Replenishing fluids: how much do you need to drink? - The nutritional needs of mothers carrying twins or "super-twins" - New strategies for overcoming morning sickness - Helping your growing child eat right and stay healthy Pregnancy is your window of opportunity to boost your baby's health at birth, through childhood, and beyond. Let this book help you take the most advanced, scientific approach to preventing disease and optimizing health

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345441990
• ISBN13: 9780345441997
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.6" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Actually based on pregnancies, not just general nutrition

I learned I was gluten intolerant shortly before becoming pregnant. Since I had suffered from years of pain due to malabsorption, I was really concerned about getting the best possible nutrition for my baby. I looked at a lot of pregnancy nutrition books, and settled on this one. Other books seemed to mostly recommend what's generally good nutrition for everyone (plus an extra 300 calories), which I'm sure is a good start. This one is based both on population studies and on a lot of work with moms-to-be carrying multiples, helping them deliver healthy, good sized babies. Two of the differences between this book and others: 1) This one points out that healthy fats are very important for brain development, and recommends that 30-35% of the mother's calories come from fats. (I think those are the right figures, but I lent my copy out so I can't check) 2) This book points out that eggs have lots of great nutrients, and recommends eating an egg a day during the 2nd & 3rd trimesters. My baby was born weighing 9 lbs, 4 oz, and he has continued to be tall, happy and smart. My biggest complaint about this book: most of the recipes make a LOT of servings (like 10), and I thought freezing leftovers would be great, but one of my biggest pregnancy aversions was leftovers.

from a registered dietitian

This book has solid information based on well-established research. I recommend it. I decided to write this review because another reviewer didn't understand the concept of metabolic profiling. The scientific data for malnourished mothers and babies comes only from times of war and famine and other natural disaster times because it is simply not ethical to malnourish a human fetus or pregnant mother to see what results. The concept of metabolic programming is forward thinking, but the concept of giving a baby what it needs from day one is common sense. Under different circumstances and in different environments humans adapt based on what is available- so why not start that thinking in utero?? I think this book treats mothers with respect, instead of over simplifying nutrition concepts. Good Stuff!

A must have for expectant moms, especially high risk pregnan

Dr Luke has written a highly superior pregnancy nutrition book,it is the best on the market right now. The recommendations on how to eat in this book are easy to follow and understand. Dr Luke doesnt talk down to women and her book even has some great recipes in the back. I had preeclampsia and hellp in my first pregnancy and and my daughter was born at 25 weeks and left us after 20 days in NICU. I followed the diet in this book and had no preeclampsia or hellp with my son. He was a 36 weeker but weighed a robust 6 pounds 15 oz. I attribute superior eating to my sons healthy size and to not getting hellp/severe PE again. She also has good advice on infant and toddler nutrition which I have found to come in handy with a picky 1 yr old!After losing my daughter I did a lot of research on how to have a good pregnancy. Good nutrition is imperative to a baby not only in utero but well into adulthood. The advice on how to eat in this book is similar to the Bradley method but in my opinion Superior to the Bradley method as it is more updated. This book covers ALL the bases of pregnancy nutrition.

Invaluable Reference Book

I found myself referring back to this book time and time again, since I am a big believer in proper nutrition during pregnancy. This book was an excellent reference on what to eat, what not to eat, and how various nutrients affect your unborn baby. Other nutritional books I've found tend to be more superficial, just giving you the basics you probably already know like vegetables are good for you, and folic acid is important.

Baby development before birth

This is a very informative book for women who want to give their unborn child the very best chance for excellent health. This book explains the developmental processes of the growing baby in the womb and it's nutritional needs during each phase of that process. According to this book, a mother can ""program" her baby's future health by eating right, gaining the appropriate amount of weight, and avoiding toxins."