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You can protect your health and your growing
baby with a healthy diet. Keep in mind that
what and how you eat during pregnancy will
affect your child's future health. Pregnancy
is a time of "extras": extra tender
love and care for you and your new life
inside, and extra weight!
In terms of nutrition during pregnancy,
you'll need extra calories, protein, vitamins,
and minerals. All these foods will give
your body the energy and nutritional resources
it needs to support the developing fetus.
How much weight do you need to gain? Put
it this way: pregnancy is not the time to
lose weight or diet. During your pregnancy
you should aim to gain about 20 to 35 lbs
(9.1 to 15.9 kg), although this might vary
depending on your pre-pregnancy weight.
Your weight gain during pregnancy likely
will not be steady at first: most women
typically gain between 2 to 8 lbs (1.0 to
3.5 kg) during the first trimester. A good
rate of gain after the first trimester is
approximately 0.75 lbs (0.4 kg) each week,
and you should aim to gain weight slowly
but steadily during the last half of your
pregnancy.
Keep in mind that these are average figures
for many women, so if your weight gain pattern
is different, it doesn't necessarily mean
anything is wrong.
Whatever your previous weight, now's the
time to adopt a sensible approach to eating
well. Ask your doctor or a registered dietitian
about what is an appropriate weight gain
during pregnancy for you.
Keep in mind the following tips:
- Your weight before pregnancy will determine
what is considered to be a healthy weight
gain during pregnancy. While weight gain
is normal during pregnancy, you should
contact your doctor if you experience
any sudden changes (gains or losses).
- Dieting is strongly not recommended
during pregnancy, as it may be harmful
to the development of the baby.
- You should choose from a variety of
healthy food choices to ensure you are
getting the best nutrition possible.
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