PLANNING YOUR PREGNANCY
- Good nutrition should be a priority, especially in pre-pregnancy
HEALTHY DIET
A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time, but even more so if you are planning a pregnancy.
A healthy balance of foods provides the energy and nourishment that everyone needs to survive and to enjoy life. Eating too little soon leads to illness, but eating too much or eating the wrong balance of foods can lead to problems in the long term.
Good nutrition should be a priority, especially during pre-pregnancy, as food consumed at this time will nourish mother in preparation for nourishing your infant.
Therefore, it is important to follow a healthy balanced diet and pay attention to changes in appetite at this time.
- A healthy and balanced diet is important when planning your pregnancy
IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY DIET
Eating healthily when planning your pregnancy will ultimately help your baby develop properly and will help keep you fit and well.
Eating healthily often means introducing a wider variety of foods into your diet, rather than cutting out all of your favourite foods. It is important to get the balance right, both in the amount and in the type of foods eaten. A healthy and balanced diet is important for both short and long term health.
For example, in childhood, a healthy balanced diet can reduce the risk of anaemia or dental decay. Longer term, it can help reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, stroke and some cancers.
Link to our Wellbeing section for more information on Eating Healthier.
MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WEIGHT AND BMI WHILST TRYING TO CONCEIVE
Enjoying a variety of foods is the key to healthy eating when maintaining a healthy weight whilst trying to conceive is conducive to a healthy pregnancy.
Women who are underweight often find it harder to conceive. Seek advice from a GP or state registered dietitian on how to gain an appropriate amount of weight.
A normal pre-pregnancy weight is associated with the lowest risks of complications throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Follow a balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight.
Women who are overweight are at a greater risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Seek advise from a GP or state registered dietitian on how to lose weight.
BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)
The BMI is a common method of evaluating individual people to see if they are under or overweight. It involves comparing their weight to their height by dividing the weight measurement (expressed in kilograms) by the square of the height (expressed in metres).
To work out your BMI, download our chart from the top right hand of the screen, or link to the online BMI calculator in our Wellbeing section.
