Earlier this month, the UK was buzzing with the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are already expecting their first baby, following their marvellous wedding in May.
The royal baby, whose parents are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, is due to be born next Spring. And this week, there was plenty of concern about the four months pregnant mother-to-be’s health after she pulled out of a number of royal engagements in Australia.
It was revealed that Prince Harry has encouraged his wife to get more rest as the effects of their 16-day tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga appeared to be taking their toll.
However, a royal statement suggested that the Duchess was simply tired from a late night surrounding the opening of the Invictus Games the night before – and if her glowing appearance is anything to go by, the 37-year-old Suits star appears to be coping just fine!
Top foods for pregnancy
So, as well as getting plenty of rest, what else can Meghan Markle be doing to help herself feel in the very best health as she moves from the first to second trimester of her pregnancy?
A healthy diet is vital when you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy – this helps the baby to develop and grow in the best possible way.
It’s incredibly important to get all the right vitamins, minerals, protein and fibre from your food and to research the types of food which contain the nutrients you most need during pregnancy.
A major vitamin for pregnant women is folic acid, which is the synthetic form of vitamin B9, also known as folate. It helps prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) – serious birth defects of the spinal cord (such as spina bifida) and the brain (such as anencephaly).
In addition to it being sensible to take a folic acid supplement when pregnant, the vitamin is also found in foods like leafy green vegetables such as kale, brown rice, granary bread, and breakfast cereals fortified with folic acid.
It’s recommended that all women should take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid while they’re trying to get pregnant and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby’s spine is developing. It’s also an excellent idea to eat plenty of foods which contain folic acid throughout your pregnancy.
When pregnant, you don’t need to go on a special diet, per se, but it’s important to eat a variety of different foods every day. So, in addition to plenty of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, folic acid and iron – all of which are in abundance in leafy greens, it’s important to get a good amount of protein, wholegrain carbohydrates and calcium from dairy products too.
In addition, women such as the Duchess of Sussex, whose pregnancy will mainly fall throughout the colder months, when there is less vitamin D rich sunshine, should also ensure they get plenty of this vitamin from foods such as oily fish, eggs and red meat. It’s Vitamin D which helps calcium to be absorbed into the body and contribute towards healthy bones, making it yet another important nutrient to ensure you have plenty of when you’re expecting.