NUTRITION DURING PREGNANCY

Condition

In order to have a healthy baby, you should consume about 300 calories more each day than before you became pregnant. Many women are worried about gaining too much weight when they are pregnant, but this is not the time to diet or try to lose weight.

• It is important to eat a healthful, balanced diet while you are pregnant in order to meet the nutritional needs of your body and those of your developing baby. In fact, whenever possible, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about nutrition before getting pregnant. That way, you can begin eating the kind of diet that will give your baby the best possible start in life and taking vitamin supplements (including folic acid) that have been shown to help prevent certain birth defects, such as spina bifida.
• If your weight was normal before you became pregnant, you should gain between 25 and 35 pounds.
• If you were underweight, try to gain 5 to 10 pounds more than that.
• If you were somewhat overweight, try to limit your gain to between 15 and 25 pounds.
• If you were very overweight, try to gain less than 15 pounds.

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy may increase your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and large babies that may need to be delivered by cesarean section.

BASIC DIET

A healthy diet should include a variety of foods including:

• Protein: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, tofu, soy products, nuts, seeds, low-fat dairy products
• Carbohydrates: breads, cereals, rice, pasta, fruits, vegetables
• Fats: butter, margarine, salad dressings, vegetable oils

It is also important to take a prenatal multivitamin daily to be sure you get the needed vitamins and minerals. These include:

• Vitamins: A, C, D, B6, B12, folic acid
• Minerals: calcium, iron, zinc

All packaged foods have labels that indicate the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of nutrients you need a day. During pregnancy, these are higher by about one-third. Pregnant women who eat a vegetarian diet need to be sure they get enough of the essential nutrients. If you are pregnant and have a medical illness such as diabetes or liver or kidney problems, discuss your diet with your doctor and/or a dietician or nutritionist to be sure you are getting what you need for you and your baby.

FOODS TO AVOID OR LIMIT WHILE PREGNANT

• Don't eat shark, swordfish, mackerel and tilefish. High levels of mercury in these fish can be harmful to the baby. Do not eat more than 12 ounces of any kind of fish or more than six ounces of albacore tuna or tuna steak in a week to avoid ingesting harmful amounts of mercury.
• Don't eat soft cheeses like brie, feta, goat cheese and others. Bacteria in these cheeses can make you very ill and can be harmful to the baby.
• Don't eat raw and undercooked fish, shellfish, meat or poultry. They may contain bacteria or viruses that can make you very ill.
• Don't drink unpasteurized milk. It may contain harmful bacteria.
• Lunch meats, hot dogs and deli meats should be cooked until steaming hot to kill any harmful bacteria.
• Cut down on caffeine intake. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa and some soft drinks. Limit your daily consumption to no more than what is found in a couple cups of coffee. Too much caffeine can increase heart rate, both yours and your baby’s, and some studies link excess caffeine with low birth weight.
• Don't drink alcoholic beverages. Alcohol consumption while pregnant can cause physical and mental birth defects. Because nobody knows how much you can drink without harming your baby, the safest course is to avoid alcohol altogether.
• Sometimes a pregnant woman will crave something that is not food, like corn starch, laundry starch or clay. Do not eat anything that is not food.

---

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR NUTRITION DURING PREGNANCY

Call Your Doctor Right Away (day or night) If

• You become very ill following a meal and are vomiting, whether or not you also have diarrhea.
• You notice your skin and/or eyes look yellow.
• You develop a red and itching or irritating rash after a meal.

Call Your Doctor During Regular Office Hours If

• You need advice about your diet.
• You need a referral to a dietician or nutritionist.
• You feel you are gaining too much weight or are gaining weight too fast (like five pounds in one week).

---

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR NUTRITION DURING PREGNANCY

1. Eat breakfast every day. It really is the most important meal of the day, especially when you are pregnant.
2. Eat at least three meals a day. If you have heartburn or nausea, eat four or more small meals a day.
3. If you have morning sickness, eat dry toast or crackers before getting out of bed.
4. Eat high-fiber foods like whole-grain breads and cereals, vegetables and fruits.
5. Drink a lot of water to help prevent constipation.
6. Keep healthful foods around for snacks like fresh fruits such as apples, oranges, grapes or bananas.
7. Avoid salty foods and extra salt in your diet, especially if you live in an area with high humidity. Salt makes you retain fluid that can be uncomfortable and even harmful.
8. Limit saturated fats and trans fats, such as those found in butter, lard and solid shortenings. Use liquid vegetable oils high in unsaturated fats (canola, olive, peanut, soybean and safflower) and soft tub margarine made with unsaturated vegetable oils instead.

---

For More Information Click on the Links Below

• Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet Nutritional Needs of Pregnancy
• The Cleveland Clinic Information Center Nutrition During Pregnancy for Vegetarians
• KidsHealth for parents Eating During Pregnancy
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration Mercury in Fish and Shellfish
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration Pregnancy Nutrition: Mercury in Fish and Shellfish
• National Women's Health Information Center What to Eat While Pregnant

References

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG Patient Education, AP001, 2002, Nutrition During Pregnancy.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG Precis V, An Update in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Antepartum Care, Page 124, 1994.

View Anatomic Index of Topics

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new healthcare information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional

SelfCareNet, Inc. Copyright @ 2006 - 2007. All Rights Reserved.

Revised 1/2007

Reviewed 1/2007