DIET DURING PREGNANCY
Dr. Sharda Jain
Director :-
Sec General : Delhi Gynae Forum
PREGNANCY: that period of
your life cycle when you must
eat a “healthy balanced diet”.
Direct implication of eating a bad diet
during pregnancy :
•Still born
•Low birth weight baby
•Premature baby
•Baby with brain damage or less intelligence
•Baby with poor immunity
Importance of diet
Complications due to bad diet during
pregnancy:
•Anemia
•Pregnancy induced hypertension
•Toxic abruption of the placenta
•Severe infection of lungs, kidneys and liver.
•Miscarriage or abortion
“It is not healthy for you and
your unborn baby to go even
24 hours without good food.”
Pregnancy: an opportunity to
gain weight
Components of weight gain :
•Average baby weight-3.4 kg
•Extra stored protein, fat and nutrients-3.18 kg
•Breast enlargement-0.9 kg
•Enlargement of uterus-0.9 kg
•Amniotic fluid surrounding- 0.9 kg
•Extra blood- 1.8 kg
•Extra body fluids-1.8 kg
Individual weight gain targets
Pre-pregnancy weight for height status/ Body mass index (BMI) is the key
Step 1.Calculation of body Mass Index (BMI):
BMI=weight(in Kg)/height square ( in mt.)
For example: Height=1.57
Weight=53 Kg
BMI=53/2.46=21.5
Use your BMI to find your target
weight gain:
BMI Weight for
height status
Recommended
weight gain
Under 19.8Low 12.7-18 kg.
19.8 to 26Average 11.0-15.0 kg.
26 to 29 High 6.8-11.3 kg.
Over 29 Very high0.7 kg.
Never plan on dieting while
you are pregnant
Energy requirement during
pregnancy
An additional 300 calories to the pre-
pregnant requirement.
Sources of calories:
•Carbohydrates- 4 k.cal/gm.
- 55-60% of total calories.
- Food sources-wheat, rice, oats, maize,
bread, etc.
Protein Requirement
20 % increase(15 gm + normal requirement)
•Food sources :
- Good quality / complete protein -milk,
egg,cheese, meat or non vegetarian food.
- Incomplete protein-pulses, legumes, soya
products etc.
Vitamins
•All the vitamins, i.e. A,B,C,D,E,K to be
taken in appropriate amount
•B vitamins: Food sources- meat, poultry, fish,
organ meats, legumes, pulses, milk, green leafy
vegetables, nuts, fruits.
•Folic acid: Food source- organ meats, dark green
leafy vegetables, muscle meats, poultry, fish, eggs,
whole grain cereals.
Minerals
•Calcium-milk & products, pulses and legumes,
egg, green leafy veg.,sea food
•Iron-liver, organ meat, meat, poultry,egg
yolk,whole grains, legumes, green leafy vegetables,
nuts and dry fruits
•Iodine- iodized salt, sea food
•Zinc-sea foods, organ meat, meat and poultry,
wheat germ, yeast
Fibre
30 - 40 g of fibre per day
Dietary sources - Whole grain and cereals like
,wheat, jowar, bajra, ragi,whole pulses, legumes,
fenugreek, vegetables and fruits.
Healthy balanced diet consists
of
•Milk or milk products-about 3-4 glasses
•Pulses and legumes-60 g and atleast one serving
in the form of sprouts
•Non-veg./paneer-50-100 g
•Cereals-150-200 g. Whole grains and unrefined
•Vegetables-2-3 servings of green leafy veg and
seasonal vegetables, 2-3 servings of salad
•Fruits -3-4 fruits with atleast one
citrus fruit
•Sugar -5-6 tsp. (in moderation)
•Fat and oil- 5-6 tsp. (in moderation)
Pattern of eating
•Take small, frequent meals
•No skipping of meals
•Go for healthy “in-between snacking”
•Take early dinners
•Avoid taking junk food
Concerns during pregnancy
1. Morning sickness - Suggestions to combat the
problem :
•Follow a healthy eating pattern
•Avoid greasy or fried foods, as they take longer to
digest
•Don’t lie down right after you eat
•Before getting out of your bed, eat a snack like
biscuit or rusk
•Be sure to drink juices, if you cant eat solid food
2. Constipation-due to increasing pressure of the growing
uterus, hormonal changes, iron and calcium supplements.
To avoid it or to deal with it :
•Have lots of salad
•Have plenty of green leafy vegetables
•Try having whole grains and pulses
•Have whole fruits rather than juices devoid of fibers
•Drink plenty of liquids
•Go for a regular walk
•Heartburn-feeling of fullness. Gastric
reflux of some of the food in the stomach,
now a liquid food mass mixed with
stomach acid may occur in the lower
esophagus, causing an irritation and
burning sensation.
Something about Smoking
Implication of smoking-abortion,
preterm deliveries, perinatal mortality
and low birth weight babies.
How does smoking interfere-
-10% reduction in oxygen carrying capacity.
-Vascular constriction
-lower serum levels of vit. C, carotene, vit. B
12
and
zinc.
Alcohol
Implication- fetal alcohol syndrome
Must avoid drinking alcohol
Caffeine
Moderate caffeine- less than 300 mg/day.
Caffeine content of some food and beverages:
•Coffee-50-100 mg
•Brewed tea-20-110 mg
•Cola-30- 56 mg
•Sprite and 7 up-0 mg
•Chocolate-10- 50 mg
•Pain relievers- 30 mg and up
Follow the healthy way of living to
prepare for your bundle of joy
•A= Avoid bad habits
•B=Build good habits like exercising regularly
and eating nutritious diet
•C=Consistent medical checkups and
nutritional guidance
ADDRESS
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Marg , Delhi – 110092
CONTACT US
011-22414049, 42401339
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