Are Weight Loss Diets Safe During Pregnancy?

Many women during pregnancy are weight conscious, but then any weight they do gain they pretty well accept as being part of the pregnancy. Other women fall under the illusion that they are eating for two, which can be a big mistake. Just because a woman is pregnant doesn't mean she can throw good eating habits out of the window. In fact she needs to be more conscious about eating healthy not only during her pregnancy but after the child's birth as well.

Diet Promoters Opinion

Some major diet promoters feel that if a weight loss diet is modified then it should be ok. In most circumstances remaining on a low carb diet during pregnancy is like walking on a fine line. Sometimes pregnant women are asked by their doctors to stop their low carb diets during their pregnancy. Those who believe the low carb diet is okay during pregnancy, at least in some form stipulate that as long as the dieter is eating enough carbs to keep both the baby and mom healthy, then they should be ok. So this would actually be a modified version of the actual low carb diet. It is recognized that carbohydrates are important because they combine with fat fragments and are then used for energy.

Another potential problem with low carb diets is perhaps not getting enough fiber in the diet, which is another important factor in pregnancy. Constipation can be a side effect of a low carb diet, and this is not a healthy state to be in during pregnancy. Although there may be medical conditions during a pregnancy where the doctor will actually ask the woman to cut back on her carbs, this really should be suggested by her doctor.

Focus On Diet Not Weight Loss

Naturally it is important to focus on your diet during pregnancy but not in context to weight loss. Your doctor is not going to want you to gain excessive weight as this is not a healthy situation either. So instead of thinking of how to lose weight, concentrate on the healthy foods that you can eat that will help to keep your weight within the normal weight gain during pregnancy. The normal gain should be somewhere between 25-35 pounds. In the case where a woman was overweight to begin with before she became pregnant then ideally the weight gain should try to be kept at 12 to 25 pounds. In general a woman only needs about an extra 300 calories per day, which is really not a large amount.

Follow Expert Advice

The safest method to follow regarding your diet during your pregnancy is to follow the advice of your gynecologist and dietitian. She will take into account your weight status before your pregnancy and guide you accordingly.

Even if you had been on a low carb diet for example before your pregnancy, you still need to reconsider staying on those during your expecting time. We have already mentioned this but it is important to state again that carbs play an important part in your health and the baby's health too during pregnancy. Although there is a controversy as to whether staying on a modified low carb diet is safe, the problem is on what to eat. Very few people have enough knowledge to be able to know for certain that they are getting enough carbs for the health of both mother and child. It basically comes down to guesswork and is not really what you want to be doing during your pregnancy. By following a balanced and healthy diet during pregnancy you are assured of getting the necessary amount of carbs and other nutrients that you need.

Stay Away From Supplements

One very important thing to bear in mind is that most certainly it is not advisable to take any type of weight loss supplements during your pregnancy. It really doesn't matter whether you were taking it prior to your pregnancy or not. Your body is going through changes in preparation for your carrying period and birth. There is not enough research available to show what kind of effects these supplements will have on you or the baby. Taking anything wrong during pregnancy can cause serious effects on your child. If you were taking them and didn't know you were pregnant discuss this with your doctor. In all likeliness, he will ask you to refrain from taking them during your pregnancy.

Some individuals are curious as to whether it's OK to be on a vegetarian diet during their pregnancy. Their argument is that they have been on this diet for a long period of time, and they themselves are healthy, so what detrimental effect could it have on the baby. This is something that should be discussed with your doctor. They may decide to make some modification in your diet but overall allow it to continue as normal.

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