Calories during pregnancy

Most people feel better and work better when they eat a well-balanced diet. Planning and following a good diet and knowing how many calories during pregnancy you need before pregnancy ensures that your developing fetus receives good nutrition during the first few weeks or months of pregnancy. Usually a woman takes good care of herself once she knows she is pregnant.

By planning ahead, you will guarantee that your baby has a healthy environment for the entire 9 months of pregnancy, not for just the 6 or 7 months after you discover you truly are pregnant. When you make your nutrition plan, you are preparing the environment in which your baby will be conceived and will develop and grow.

Weight Management
Before trying to get pregnant, pay attention to your weight; you don't want to be too overweight or too underweight. Either condition can make pregnancy more difficult for you. Do nor diet during pregnancy or while you are trying to conceive! Don't take diet pills unless you're using reliable contraception. Consult your doctor do not diet during pregnancy before you get Pregnant
or while you are trying if you are considering a special to conceive! djet for weight reduction or weight gain. Dieting may cause temporary deficiencies in vitamins and minerals that both you and your developing baby need.

Be Careful with Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs
Don't self-medicate with large amounts or unusual combinations of vitamins, minerals or herbs. You can overdo it. Certain vitamins, such as vitamin A, can cause birth defects if used in excessive amounts.

As a general rule, stop all extra supplementation at least The key to good nutrition 3 months before pregnancy. Eat a well-balanced diet and take one multivitamin or one prenatal vitamin a day. Most doctors are happy to prescribe prenatal vitamins if you are planning a pregnancy.

Folic Acid
Folic acid is a B vitamin (B9) that can contribute to a healthy pregnancy. If a mother-to-be takes 0.4mg (400 micrograms) of folic acid each day, starting 3 or 4 months before pregnancy begins, it may protect her developing baby against various birth defects of the spine and brain, called neural-tube defects.

One of these defects, spina bifida, afflicts nearly 4,000 babies born in the United States every year. It develops in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Studies have shown that about 75% of all cases can be prevented if a mother-to-be takes folic acid. As you plan your pregnancy, ask your physician about supplementation.

In 1998, the U.S. government ordered that some grain products, such as flour, breakfast cereals and pasta, be fortified with folic acid. It is found in many other foods, too. A varied diet can help you reach your goal. Many common foods contain folic acid:

asparagus • avocados • bananas • black beans • broccoli • citrus fruits and juices • egg yolks • fortified breads and cereals • green beans • leafy green vegetables • lentils • liver • peas • plantains • spinach • strawberries • tuna • wheat germ • yogurt

Begin Good Eating Habits
Often, a woman carries her prepregnancy eating habits into her pregnancy. Many women eat on the run and pay little attention to what they eat most of the day. Before pregnancy, you may be able to get away with this. However, because of the increased demands on you and the requirements of your developing baby, this won't work when you do become pregnant.

The key to good nutrition is balance. Eat a balanced diet. Going to extremes with vitamins or fad diets can be harmful to you and your developing baby. It could even make you feel run-down during pregnancy.

Specific Considerations
Specific factors to consider before getting pregnant include whether you follow a vegetarian diet, the amount of exercise you do, whether you skip meals, your diet plan (are you trying to lose or gain weight?) and any special dietary needs you might have. If you eat a special diet because of medical problems, consult your doctor about it. Much information is available through your doctor or your local hospital about good diets and healthful nutrition.

Many diets go to extremes that you may be able to tolerate, but these extremes can be harmful to a developing baby. It is important to discuss dieting with your doctor ahead of time.
You don't want to find out when you are 8 weeks pregnant that you are malnourished because of dieting.