Diet and Lifestyle Approaches That Benefit You During Pregnancy

Pregnancy gives many women a new perspective on their body and what it can do. It’s also a time where how you live and what you eat can make a real difference in your health and the development of your baby.

At Raveco Medical, our skilled OB/GYN team specializes in patient-centered pregnancy care. From conception to childbirth, we work with you to optimize your health. We can recommend a range of diet and lifestyle approaches that you should consider throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

6 diet and lifestyle changes that support pregnancy

While every woman has unique health needs, especially during pregnancy, there are some general lifestyle and diet changes that benefit most expectant mothers. Here are a few approaches we recommend:

1. Understand safe weight gain

Pregnancy isn’t an excuse to eat as much as you want because you’re “eating for two.” Gaining too much weight can actually complicate your pregnancy and delivery. Likewise – you shouldn’t be losing any weight to avoid complications.

During your prenatal care visits, we can determine how much weight you can safely gain in each month of your pregnancy and monitor your weight changes as your pregnancy progresses.

2. Don’t skip meals

Missing out on meals, especially breakfast, during pregnancy can increase your risk for preterm labor and delivery.

When you fast for long periods of time, such as during sleep, your body releases hormones that play a role in preterm birth.

3. Enhance your diet

When you’re pregnant, you need sufficient amounts of certain vitamins and minerals to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Some of the essentials include iron, calcium, and folate. We can recommend prenatal supplements that support your diet.

Incorporating high-fiber foods into your diet is beneficial whether or not you’re pregnant. Eating foods high in fiber and drinking plenty of water each day prevent constipation

4. Know what to avoid

There are foods that pregnant women should avoid during pregnancy, such as undercooked or raw shellfish, fish, and meats. Certain fish may also contain higher levels of mercury that aren’t safe for a pregnancy that include swordfish and orange roughy.

Pregnant women should also avoid alcohol.

5. Work in workouts

Moderate aerobic workouts are a great way for pregnant women to stay fit. Aim for at least 150 minutes of workouts a week.

If you have underlying health issues, or if you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy and can’t move as easily, our Raveco Medical team can recommend other ways to stay active.

6. Stay ahead of stress

Stress can wear you down when you’re already feeling tired and overwhelmed. It can also increase your blood pressure during pregnancy and put you at risk for complications like preeclampsia, premature delivery, and low birth weight.

During your prenatal visit, we can discuss any concerns you have about stress in your life. We can also teach you stress management techniques that help you relax and decompress from stressful situations.

For personalized guidance on the lifestyle and diet approaches you can make to support a healthy pregnancy, call the Raveco Medical office near you or book an appointment online today.