Pregnancy And Nutrition

Steve Mululu, head trainer and coach at Dream Body Fitness looks at what should pregnant women eat and how much is enough

The information explosion in the science of nutrition very often creates the impression that available information is contradictory. Consequently, it is no longer easy to distinguish between fact, misinformation and fiction. Dream Body Fitness (DBF) was established to act as a reliable and independent source of nutrition information.

For the little one, the very first menu has a lifelong effect! Many factors influence the outcome of pregnancy, but it is widely accepted that the correct diet in pregnant women, plays a major role in the health of the unborn baby and the mother. A healthy diet also plays an important role especially in the baby’s weight at birth. It can furthermore prevent your child from developing obesity and heart disease in their later life. Maintaining a healthy diet, drinking plenty of fluids, and being active are all important for the health of the expectant mother and her unborn baby.

HOW MUCH WEIGHT SHOULD YOU GAIN DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?

“A mother should follow a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy to gain the correct amount of weight and to ensure the health of her baby”, says Steve Mululu, head trainer and coach at dream body fitness, adding the following:

• Women, who are overweight before their pregnancy, should not gain more than 7 to about 11 kilograms during their pregnancy.

• Women, who are underweight before their pregnancy, should gain about 12 to 18 kilograms.

• If you have a normal body weight, you can aim for a weight increase of about 11 to 16 kilograms.

Energy requirements increase during pregnancy, largely as a result of foetal growth and increased maternal body weight. This additional energy requirement is also dependent on the level of physical activity of the expecting mother.

FIRST 3 MONTHS: