Eating a well balanced diet is extremely important during pregnancy. While most foods are safe to have during your pregnancy, there are a few restrictions to keep in mind.
What Not to Eat When Pregnant
- Unpasteurized cheeses, milk or juices
- Raw fish, shellfish, meat and eggs
- Fish high in mercury, such as shark, ahi tuna, swordfish, mackerel, tilefish, marlin, and chilean sea bass.
- Unwashed fruits and vegetables
- High amounts of caffeine
- Alcohol
- Cold deli meats or lox
Dietary Tips and Tricks
- Ensure that deli meat is heated prior to consumption. Use a microwave to heat meat to a steaming temperature.
- Most soft cheese is made with pasteurized milk. Be sure to check the label or ask your server with queso, brie, gorgonzola, feta or goat cheeses.
- Make sure to always wash fresh fruit and vegetables prior to consumption.
- Limit caffeine consumption to 200mg per day. A typical 8-ounce cup of coffee has 95mg of caffeine. As a general rule, limit to 1-2 servings of caffeinated beverages per day.
- Fish oils are safe to consume and extremely good for you. 2-3 servings per week are recommended.
- Fish such as freshwater salmon, tilapia, shrimp and scallops are safe for consumption in reasonable quantities. Local fish information can be accessed on the FDA website.
Weight Gain
- Weigh will be taken and updated at each office visit.
- Recommended weight gain is based off of your starting BMI prior to pregnancy. For normal weight: 23-35 pounds; for overweight: 15-25 pounds; for obese: 11-20 pounds is recommended.
- Screening for gestational diabetes occurs at 24-28 weeks. If you are at an increased risk for diabetes, you may require earlier testing.