We all know somebody who has gained a huge amount of weight while pregnant and then seriously regretted it afterwards even though this is entirely preventable. Always remember that losing “baby fat” is not that easy so best not to let the weight sneak up on you in the first place. After all, it’s hard enough having to cope with the demands of a new baby let alone having to carry around a whole lot of extra kilos as well.
You may be surprised to know that a healthy weight gain in pregnancy is actually due to the placenta, and increased blood volume and breast tissue, not from excess body fat. Of course, the baby itself has something to do with your heavier self too, but only 4kg of that at most.
Your pregnancy diet should be as nutritious as possible to ensure both you and your unborn child stay healthy. Of course, we are not telling you anything you don’t already know. But it’s amazing how many sensible people go overboard at this time and make bad food choices. Try to think of pregnancy as a great time to really focus on what you are eating and drinking so that you can continue these good habits for life.
If you can maintain a balanced diet over these important nine months then well done you! However don’t stress about the vagaries of the scales too much and instead simply focus on sticking with wholesome foods like fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and oils, whole grains, lots of dairy for your additional calcium needs and protein to keep your iron levels steady.
All this shouldn’t be too hard as you may be a bit hungrier than usual!
Importantly, try to include extra folate especially in the first trimester of pregnancy or ideally, before you conceive. Most women don’t get enough folate because the vitamin (found in leafy greens) is affected by cooking and storage so it’s a good idea to take a supplement to ensure you’re covered. The reason folate is so important for women of childbearing age is that this B-group vitamin can prevent neural tube defects, including spina bifida.
But the best advice we can give you at this important time of your life is to follow doctor’s orders. It’s as simple as that!
Posted in: Diet
