Avoid Dieting While Pregnant

There is nothing wrong with dieting, as long as you don’t do so while pregnant as after all your child should be your priority

- Pallavi Bhattacharya

THE book Pregnancy Dos and Don’ts by Dr Elisabeth Aron defines ‘dieting’ as ‘the restriction of calories and food groups with the goal of losing weight’. The book strongly advises against dieting while you are expecting. Because a woman needs additional calories and nutrients while carrying, dieting is not really advisable.

DIETING HARMS

The author feels that a mum requires an additional 300 calories per day while pregnant. It is hence recommended that 25 to 35 pounds is gained in the process. Poor weight gain has been linked with low birth weight of the infant and premature delivery. Aron cautions that if a mum diets, especially in the early stages of pregnancy, her baby has the possibility of being born with neural tube defects as she has consumed less vitamins and nutrients. To avoid the risk of birth defects, a pregnant lady should not diet. Instead, she should have a healthy diet with extra protein, calcium, fruits and vegetables.

The bestseller Pregnancy for Dummies by Joanne Stone, Keith Eddleman and Mary Duenwald; recommends that you avoid weight obsession while pregnant. It advises that you consult a nutritionist regarding what and how much to eat. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Food Guide Pyramid sketched in the book states that during pregnancy fats, oils and sweets should be used sparingly; there should be two to three servings of food in the milk, yoghurt and cheese group and meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nut group; three to five servings of the vegetable group and two to four servings of fruits and six to 11 servings of the bread, cereal, rice and pasta group.