Pregnancy and diet
Pregnancy and diet
Good nutrition during pregnancy can help to keep you and your developing baby healthy. Your need for certain nutrients (such as iron, iodine and folate) increases when you are pregnant.
A varied diet that includes the right amount of
healthy foods from the 5 food groups
generally provides our bodies with the
vitamins and minerals
it needs each day. However, pregnant women may need to take
vitamin or mineral supplements
during pregnancy (such as
folate
and
vitamin D
).
Consult your doctor before taking any supplements. They may recommend that you have a
blood test
or see a dietitian to review your need to take a supplement. You shouldn’t need to take a vitamin D supplement other than if you have been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency through a blood test.
Healthy weight gain during pregnancy
Steady weight gain during pregnancy is normal and important for the health of you and your baby. However, it is also important not to gain too much weight.
Excess weight gain during pregnancy can increase your risk of certain health issues including
gestational diabetes
and high blood pressure in pregnancy. Excess weight gain can also make it difficult to lose weight after pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, a good approach is to eat to satisfy your appetite, and continue to monitor your weight throughout pregnancy. You can talk to your
Midwife
,
GP
,
Dietitian
or
Obstetrician
about assisting you with monitoring your weight.
Depending on your
body mass index (BMI)
at the start of your pregnancy, the following weight gain is recommended during pregnancy:
BMI at start of pregnancy (kg/m
2
)
Recommended weight gain during pregnancy (kg)
< 18.5 (underweight)
12.5–18.0
18.5–24.9 (healthy)
11.5–16.0
25.0–29.9 (overweight)
7.0–11.5
30 (overweight)
5.0–9.0
If you are overweight, pregnancy is not the time to start dieting or trying to lose weight. Weight gain within these ranges is important to support the growth and development of your baby.
To maintain an appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, it is important to:
Choose healthy foods from the 5 food groups.
Limit discretionary foods and drinks high in saturated fat, added sugars and added salt (such as cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks).
Remain
active
during your pregnancy.
Healthy eating for pregnant women
What you eat during pregnancy affects not only your own health and wellbeing and the development of your baby, but there is also substantial evidence that it can have a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of your child later in life.
Choose a wide variety of healthy foods from the 5 food groups to make sure your and your baby’s nutritional needs are met to support the health and growth of your baby.
You may find that you need to eat more of some foods to ensure key nutrients are obtained, but there is no need to ‘eat for two’.
What to include in your pregnancy diet:
A variety of
fruits and vegetables
of different types and colours. Ideally 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables every day.
Increase your intake of
grain and cereal foods
to 8½ serves a day. Choose mostly wholegrain and
high fibre
options.
Select
foods high in iron
(such as lean red meat or tofu). Iron-rich foods are important for pregnant women. 3½ serves of meat or meat alternatives are recommended.
Make a habit of drinking milk, eating hard cheese and yoghurt, or calcium-enriched alternatives. Reduced-fat varieties are best. 2½ serves per day are recommended.
Drink plenty of water
Limit your intake of foods and drinks high in saturated fat, added sugar and salt to small amounts.
Australian Dietary Guidelines for pregnancy
The Australian Dietary
Guidelines
External Link
recommend these daily servings for pregnant women from the 5 food groups:
Food group
Serves per day
Example serving size
Vegetables and legumes/beans
18 years or under: 5
19–50 years: 5
½ cup cooked vegetables
½ cup cooked or canned* beans, peas or lentils
1 cup green leafy or raw salad vegetables
½ cup sweet corn
½ medium potato or other starchy vegetables
1 medium tomato
Fruit
18 years or under: 2
19–50 years: 2
1 medium fruit, such as apple, banana, orange
2 small fruits, such as apricots, kiwi fruits or plums
1 cup diced or canned fruit (no added sugar)
Or only occasionally
125 ml (½ cup) fruit juice (no added sugar)
30 g dried fruit (such as 4 apricot halves, 1 ½ tablespoons sultanas)
Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high-fibre varieties
18 years or under: 8
19–50 years: 8½
1 slice bread, ½ medium roll or flat bread (40 g)
½ cup cooked rice, pasta, noodles, barley, buckwheat, semolina, polenta, burghul or quinoa
½ cup cooked porridge, 2/3 cup wheat cereal flakes, ¼ cup muesli
3 crispbreads
1 crumpet, small English muffin or scone
Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes/beans
18 years or under: 3½
19–50 years: 3½
65 g cooked lean meats, such as beef, lamb, veal, pork, goat or kangaroo
(90–100 g raw)
80 g cooked lean poultry, such as chicken, turkey (100 g raw)
100 g cooked fish fillet (115 g raw) or one small can of fish
2 large eggs
1 cup cooked or canned* legumes/beans, such as lentils, chickpeas or split peas
170 g tofu
30 g nuts or seeds, nut/seed paste*
Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat
18 years or under: 3½
19–50 years: 2½
1 cup (250 ml) fresh, UHT long-life, reconstituted powdered milk or buttermilk
½ cup (120 ml) evaporated milk
2 slices (40 g) hard cheese, such as cheddar
¾ cup (200 g) yoghurt
1 cup (250 ml) soy, rice or other cereal drink, with at least 100 mg of added calcium per 100 ml
*Choose canned foods with no added salt.
Folic acid (folate) and pregnancy
Folate
(known as folic acid when added to foods) is a B-group vitamin found in a variety of foods. Folic acid helps protect against neural tube defects in the developing foetus. It is important for pregnant women to make sure they are receiving enough of this important vitamin.
For women who are planning a pregnancy, and during the first 3 months of pregnancy, a daily folic acid supplement of 500 micrograms is recommended, as well as eating foods that are naturally rich in folate or are fortified with folic acid.
Folate in your diet
Excellent food sources of folate include:
asparagus
bran flakes
broccoli
Brussels sprouts
chickpeas
dried beans
lentils
spinach.
Very good food sources of folate include:
cabbage
cauliflower
leeks
oranges
orange juice
parsley
peas
wheat germ
wholegrain bread.
Good food sources of folate include:
hazelnuts
vegemite
parsnips
potato
salmon
strawberries
tomato
unsalted peanuts
walnuts.
Although liver is high in folate, it is
not
recommended for women who are, or could be pregnant, because of its high vitamin A content.
Iron and pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman’s requirement for
iron
increases. This is because the developing foetus draws iron from the mother to last it through the first 5 or 6 months after birth.
Iron losses are reduced during pregnancy, because the woman is no longer menstruating. However, this is not enough to offset the needs of the developing foetus. It is important for pregnant women to eat iron-rich foods every day, such as meat, chicken, seafood, dried beans and lentils, and green leafy vegetables.
Animal sources of iron are readily absorbed by the body. Iron from plant sources is not absorbed as easily, but absorption is helped when these foods are eaten together with foods that contain vitamin C (such as oranges). This is important for women who follow a vegetarian diet.
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of iron during pregnancy is 27 mg a day (9 mg a day more than for non-pregnant women).
Iron deficiency
during pregnancy is common in Australia, and iron supplements may be needed by some women. It is important to discuss your need for supplements with your doctor, as iron can be toxic (poisonous) in large amounts.
Iodine and pregnancy
Iodine is an important mineral needed for the production of thyroid hormone, which is important for growth and development. If you don’t have enough iodine intake during pregnancy, it increases your baby’s risk of mental impairment and
congenital
hypothyroidism
External Link
(previously known as cretinism).
Foods that are good sources of iodine include:
seafood
seaweed (including nori and kelp)
eggs
meat
dairy products.
Iodised salt also includes iodine. It is important to avoid adding salt at the table or in cooking, but if you do, make sure it is labelled iodised.
Due to the re-emergence of iodine deficiency in Australia, iodised salt is now added to all commercially sold bread in Australia and New Zealand, with the exception of organic and unleavened bread.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women have increased iodine requirements. Iodine supplementation of 150 micrograms per day is recommended for women planning a pregnancy, throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Vitamin D and pregnancy
Vitamin D
is essential for your baby’s growth and development and your own health during pregnancy. Vitamin D is important for bone health and for optimal pregnancy outcomes for you and your baby.
We get most of our vitamin D from the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun produces vitamin D in the skin and is the best natural source of vitamin D. Only a small amount of our vitamin D intake comes from our diet – from foods such as eggs, oily fish, margarine and milks fortified with vitamin D.
Women who are at most risk of vitamin D deficiency:
have dark coloured skin
wear covering or concealing clothing for religious or other reasons
spend much time indoors.
You may need a
blood test
at the beginning of your pregnancy to assess your vitamin D levels. If so, your doctor (GP) will arrange this. Depending on your results, you might need to take vitamin D supplements. During the winter months, it can be more difficult to obtain enough vitamin D. Consider talking to your GP about your vitamin D levels before pregnancy or early in your pregnancy to make sure you begin pregnancy with optimal vitamin D.
If you are considering taking vitamin D or any other supplements during pregnancy, always discuss it with your GP first. It is not beneficial to take vitamin D supplements if you do not need them.
Multivitamin supplements and pregnancy
Multivitamin supplements
may be recommended for some groups of pregnant women, including:
vegans and vegetarians
teenagers who may have an inadequate food intake
substance misusers (of drugs, tobacco and alcohol)
pregnant women who are already very overweight and who are trying to prevent excessive weight gain.
Always be advised by your GP before taking vitamin or mineral supplements.
No need for extra calcium during pregnancy
Until 2006, Australian dietary recommendations advised increased
calcium
intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This advice has since been revised. Although the baby has a high requirement for calcium during the third trimester of pregnancy (as it starts to develop and strengthen its bones), the mother’s increased capacity to absorb dietary calcium means that there is no need for extra intake.
The recommended dietary intake for non-pregnant women (1,000 mg a day for women aged 19 to 50 years and 1,300 mg a day for adolescents or those aged over 51) remains unchanged during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Dairy foods (such as milk, cheese and yoghurt) and calcium-fortified soy milk are excellent dietary sources of calcium.
The dangers of dieting while pregnant
Some women fear the extra weight gain of pregnancy and may decide to eat sparingly to avoid putting on body fat. Restricted eating or crash dieting in any form while pregnant can seriously compromise your health and that of your baby, and is not recommended during pregnancy.
Pregnancy in adolescence
Pregnant adolescents need more of some nutrients than adult women, because they are still growing themselves. Adolescents may give birth to smaller infants, because they are competing with the growing foetus for nutrients.
It is important for pregnant adolescents to make sure they are getting enough iron.
Calcium intake is also important, because young women have not yet reached their peak bone mass, and inadequate calcium intake may increase the risk of osteoporosis developing later in life.
Pregnant adolescents should eat around 3½ serves of milk, yoghurt, cheese or calcium-fortified alternatives each day to make sure they are meeting their calcium needs.
Constipation during pregnancy
Constipation
is a common occurrence during pregnancy. To help with constipation, enjoy a wide variety of foods that are high in
fibre
, such as vegetables, legumes, fruit and wholegrains and drink plenty of water. Being physically active can also help with reducing constipation.
Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
Nausea and vomiting, especially ‘
morning sickness
’, are common during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester.
Some suggestions that may help include:
Eat some dry bread, biscuits or cereal before getting up in the morning. Get up slowly, avoiding sudden movements.
Drink liquids between, rather than with, meals to avoid bloating, as this can trigger vomiting.
Avoid large meals and greasy, highly spiced foods.
Suck on something sour like a lemon.
Relax, rest and get into the fresh air as much as possible. Keep rooms well-ventilated and odour free.
Try food and drinks containing ginger, such as ginger tea, as these sometimes relieve nausea.
Heartburn and pregnancy
Heartburn
is common in pregnancy because, as the baby grows, there is more pressure on the abdomen. Small, frequent meals may help, compared to larger meals.
Try to avoid:
eating late at night
bending, lifting or lying down after meals
excessive consumption of tea or coffee.
You may also like to try sleeping with your bedhead raised a little. You can do this by putting a folded blanket or pillow under your mattress.
Alcohol during pregnancy
There is no known safe level of
alcohol consumption for women who are pregnant
. Consuming alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of
miscarriage
, low birth weight, congenital deformities and effects on the baby’s intelligence.
The
Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking
alcohol
External Link
recommend that the safest option for pregnant women is not to drink alcohol at all.
If you find it difficult to decrease or stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy talk to:
your doctor or midwife
your local community health service
an alcohol and other drug helpline in your state or territory.
The
Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking
alcohol
External Link
provide more information.
Listeria infection and pregnancy
Listeria infection, or listeriosis
, is an illness usually caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria known as Listeria monocytogenes. Healthy people may experience no ill-effects from listeria infection at all, but the risks are substantial for pregnant women. The greatest danger is to the unborn baby, with increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or premature labour. A listeria infection is easily treated with antibiotics, but prevention is best.
Some foods are more prone to contamination with listeria than others and should be avoided if you are pregnant. They include:
soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert and ricotta
– these are safe if served cooked and hot
precooked or pre-prepared cold foods that will not be reheated – for example, pre-prepared salads, pâté, quiches and delicatessen meats like ham and salami
undercooked meat
, chilled pre-cooked meats, pâté, meat spread
raw seafood, such as oysters and sashimi or smoked seafood, such as salmon (canned varieties are safe)
unpasteurised foods
pre-prepared or pre-packaged cut fruit and vegetables
soft-serve ice cream.
The organism that causes listeria infection is destroyed by heat, so properly cooked foods are not a risk.
Salmonella and pregnancy
Salmonella
is a cause of food poisoning that can trigger miscarriage. The most likely sources of salmonella are raw eggs and undercooked meat and poultry.
Good food hygiene reduces the risk of infection
Good
food hygiene
is the best way to reduce the risk of salmonella and listeria infections. Suggestions include:
Always wash your hands before and after preparing food.
Keep your kitchen surfaces clean.
Do not let uncooked food contaminate cooked food.
Wash fruit, vegetables and salad before eating.
Cook food thoroughly.
Keep pets away from kitchen surfaces.
Wear rubber gloves when handling cat litter trays or gardening.
Store food at correct temperatures.
Mercury in fish
It is suggested that pregnant women eat 2 to 3 serves of fish every week for their own good health and that of their developing baby. However, pregnant women or women intending to become pregnant within the next 6 months should be careful about which fish they eat. Some types of fish contain high levels of
mercury
, which can be harmful to the developing foetus.
When choosing
fish
, pregnant women should:
limit to one serve (150 g) per fortnight
– billfish (swordfish, broadbill and marlin) and shark (flake), with no other fish eaten in that fortnight
OR
limit to one serve (150 g) per week
– orange roughy (deep sea perch) or catfish, with no other fish eaten that week
OR
eat 2 to 3 serves per week
– of any other fish or seafood (for example, salmon or tuna).
Note: 150 g is equivalent to approximately 2 frozen crumbed fish portions.
Don’t worry if you’ve had the occasional meal of fish with high levels of mercury. Mercury build-up in the mother’s blood is only a potential problem when that type of fish is eaten regularly.
Where to get help
Your
GP (doctor)
Midwife
Obstetrician-gynaecologist
Dietitians
Australia
External Link
Tel.
1800 812 942