Pregnancy nutrition

During pregnancy, most mums-to-be are interested in good nutrition more than ever but nutrition guidelines can sometimes be confusing or overwhelming. Eat intuitively, do what is right for you and your baby under the guidance of your LMC and don’t be afraid to seek help if you need clarification on anything.

You might find you feel and eat differently between the trimesters. You definitely don’t need to “eat for two” but your body does have increased nutritional needs during pregnancy. Where you can; eat clean, healthy food to nourish your body and provide nutrients for the baby – but understand that this isn’t always easy to do and that it is just as important to be kind to yourself and do what’s right for you and your baby throughout the pregnancy.

A few top tips through the trimesters;

With many Mums-to-be hit by nausea, fatigue and uncontrollable cravings in the first trimester, these first few months can feel very much like survival mode. Eat small and regular meals to help with morning sickness and don’t worry too much about carb cravings - it will pass and when you start feeling better in the second /third trimesters; you can shift your attention to a more varied ingredient list. Evidence suggests that the more varied a mother’s diet and the more she exposes the baby to as a result of her food choices the less chance of them having allergies and the more chance of them eating a varied diet as they get older also.

There are definitely certain foods that shouldn’t be eaten while pregnant (refer to local government health guidelines for a comprehensive list) and while it is common for pregnant women to experience aversions to some foods as well as cravings for others, trying to maintain balanced nutritious meals where possible is recommended.   Sometimes it’s just a matter of eating something and getting through a tough patch and that’s ok too!

For more in-depth pregnancy nutrition tips from one of my favourite nutritionists; Chantal Cuthers from Nutrition by Chantal, or you can refer to our Pregnancy Fitness Guide.