Watching what you eat is very important. You're eating for two, which doesn't mean you're eating more (so skip that second piece of cake), but it does mean you're eating smart. You are the only source of nutrients for your baby, so you need to get the right amount of proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibre, and carbs.
Still, most prenatal dietitians strongly advise against sticking to a strict no-carb diet. If you don't eat enough carbs, your body will make a waste product called ketones that will flow through your blood. Ketones can cause brain damage in your baby.
But what about diets low in carbs? In addition to the risk of mental retardation, some things about low-carb diets can make pregnancy pains worse. For example, low-carb diets tend to be low in dietary fibre, which makes it harder for pregnant women to go to the bathroom because they have to take iron supplements. Also, most prenatal dietitians say to eat a lot of fruit because it has a lot of vitamins, but most of the things in a typical shake are not allowed on the Atkins or South Beach diets because they have too much sugar.
But some doctors may suggest modified low-carb diets, especially for people who are overweight, have gestational diabetes, or have low blood sugar. All three conditions, such as being born too early, having birth defects, or rupturing the membranes too early, have been shown to be bad for the baby, so losing weight or controlling what you eat may be the best thing for your baby.
If you are pregnant and told to go on a low-carb diet, you will probably be told to follow the maintenance phase of the Atkins Diet or the second phase of the South Beach Diet. Here, you are only allowed a certain number of carbohydrates, most of which come from whole grains and fruits. White bread, white rice, and pasta should be eaten less often. That's fine, because you're still giving your baby enough nutrients even though you're not giving him or her any processed foods.
If you can't go on a low-carb diet but still need to watch your weight, you have other options. First, eat often but in small amounts. If you want a snack, take salads, fruits, nuts, and crackers instead of junk food or processed meats, which have a lot of calories but not many nutrients. Choose leaner cuts of meat and cook with less salt and rich sauces. And while you do need carbs, you should only eat them in small amounts. Three plates of pasta covered in white sauce are not as good as one plate of pasta.
But the most important thing to remember is that you should talk to your obstetrician-gynecologist before going on any diet while you are pregnant. She or he can figure out the best way to help you and your baby based on your medical history and the health of your baby. Do not try to lose weight without first talking to your doctor and getting his or her OK. No matter if you follow a low-carb, Zone, or Mediterranean diet, there is a proven link between prenatal nutrition and the health of the baby. Problems can include having a baby with a low birth weight, with birth defects, or who is born too soon.
