When you fall pregnant, you may need to make some adjustments to your diet. Certain foods and drinks are strictly off-limits. And you may need to experiment slightly to battle your morning sickness. If you're confused about making dietary changes, discuss them with your obstetrician. Until then, there are some dos and don'ts you should follow.
Don't: Actually Eat for Two
One of the biggest myths surrounding your diet when pregnant is that you should eat for two. Although you need to increase your calories slightly in your second and third trimesters, actually doubling them isn't recommended. Eating twice your normal calories may leave you feeling uncomfortably stuffed. It can also result in unnecessary weight gain. How many extra calories you need to eat can vary according to your activity levels and the type of pregnancy you have. As such, you should discuss this with your obstetrician.
Do: Find Safe Alternatives
There are some foods you need to avoid during pregnancy. For example, blue cheeses and undercooked meat. If you're usually a fan of such foods, start looking towards alternatives to keep your baby safe. For example, blue cheeses carry a risk of you and your baby developing listeriosis. But, you can replace the strong punchy flavour they deliver with mature cheddar instead. Similarly, if you like rare steaks, switch to well done for the time being.
Don't: Give in to All Cravings
Having a craving isn't a green light for you to exist on junk food. Instead, focus on treating yourself a little but also try to tune into what your craving is telling you. For example, if you want chips, try to find a savoury snack that isn't so salty. Or, if you're dreaming about chocolate then turn to fruits that can satisfy your sugar cravings. In doing so, you'll fill your body with the nutrients you need to enjoy a healthy pregnancy.
Do: Find Ways to Soothe Sickness
Morning sickness can technically occur at any time of the day. It's especially common in the first three months of your pregnancy. You can tweak your diet to make morning sickness less severe. Try eating smaller meals and focus on hydration. You might also find that peppermint tea and ginger-based products help you keep queasy sensations at bay. If nothing seems to help your morning sickness or you're finding it unbearable, discuss it with your obstetrician. They may be able to offer a medical intervention that helps you stay comfortable.
In a lot of cases, when people talk about health risks, they focus on them in terms of life or death. For example, people often say if you smoke that you're more likely to have a heart attack or get lung cancer, and that is true. However, those aren't the only things you should focus on. You should also focus on how that habit impacts your life. To continue with the smoking example, it can also be embarrassing and expensive. It can make it harder to do physical activities, and it makes your clothing smell. This blog looks at health in that vein. Rather than narrowly focusing on life and death, these posts look at what you can do to make your life more enjoyable through being healthy.