One of the most important points to talk with the mother is nutrition. Poor nutrition before and during pregnancy can be the cause of poor growth of the baby in the uterus. It can also mean that the mother is unable to store enough fat to produce sufficient milk later. The mother therefore needs, throughout the pregnancy and breastfeeding period, to eat a balanced diet based on a variety of nutrients.<br />What she eats will obviously vary in different communities and depend on the local customs and the types of food available. But she should eat enough food<br />Some mothers, especially undernourished ones, need to eat more food during the last months of pregnancy. The nurse should try to identify the mother who needs supplementary food, extra vitamins and minerals, and may need to find ways and means of providing her with these.<br />The mother should also try to do less heavy work and to be less overloaded during this time. This will help her to conserve energy and is especially important when food is scarce and not available.<br />Traditions and taboos that involve avoiding certain foods can often deprive the mother of valuable nutrients. In general, there are no foods that need to be avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Nurses and health care providers should thus always try to be aware of local customs and beliefs concerning the nutrition of pregnant or breastfeeding women. Customs that are known to be harmful should be tactfully discouraged. <br /><br />Prepared by-<br />Professor. Dr. Muna Abdulwahab Khaleel<br />Nursing College / Al-Mustaqbal University / 2023-2024<br />