Sophie, 29, has just learned of her pregnancy. In order to best guide her during this very special event in the life of a woman, Dr Patrick Serog will provide her with valuable nutritional advice for her and her baby.
During the pregnancy, the mother-to-be must pay special attention to her diet. She will therefore have to ensure that she is consuming all the nutrients that the baby needs in order to develop properly. For Sophie, 29, this first pregnancy is synonymous with the unknown. Dr Patrick Serog will then guide her as best as possible on the diet to adopt during this very special period in a woman’s life.
Dr Patrick Serog’s answers, nutritionist doctor in Paris
Should I eat for two during my pregnancy?
I am overweight, should I eat differently?
Do you have to control your weight gain?
Are there nutrients to focus on during pregnancy?
Do I have to avoid certain foods?
The typical day of a nutritionally typical pregnant woman?
Do I have to give in to all my food urges?
Should I take any food supplements?
why-doctor: Should I eat for two during my pregnancy?
Dr Patrick Serog: No, during a pregnancy, you should not eat for two. The energy expenditure of a pregnant woman increases a little bit, in the order of 200 calories, no more. You should therefore not increase your food consumption.
I am overweight, should I eat differently?
Dr Patrick Serog: An overweight pregnant woman will need to gain less pounds than a thin woman. Normally, the weight gain during pregnancy is around 11 to 12 kilograms. For a strong woman, this can vary between 5 and 9 kilos, so there is still a big difference. The diet of the overweight woman during this period should therefore take this into account, that is to say, she should not increase her caloric consumption. It will thus be able to live (from an energy point of view) on its already constituted reserves.
Do you have to control your weight gain?
Dr Patrick Serog: It is necessary to control your weight, because beyond 15-16 kilos of weight gain, there is a risk of eclampsia, such as high blood pressure. But, above all, we can see the risk of gestational diabetes that involves insulin treatment during pregnancy. We may also sometimes notice some complications during childbirth, with a child who will have more difficulty leaving. In this case, a caesarean section will be considered. As a result, we have every interest in controlling our weight during pregnancy and obstetricians are generally very vigilant on this point.
Are there nutrients to focus on during pregnancy?
Dr Patrick Serog: Oui, there are nutrients to focus on. We will first of all talk about calcium, which is certainly one of the essential nutrients during pregnancy, because it helps the baby to build and grow bones. It is therefore advisable to consume at least 4 per day, in the form of yogurt, cheese, or milk. And for calcium to bind to the bones, you need a second intake, vitamin D. It can be found by consuming fatty fish or enriched oils. On the other hand, if the diet does not allow a sufficient intake of vitamin D, it will require drug supplementation. Finally, omega 3s are very important. We do not know how to make them even though they play an essential role in the proper development of the baby’s brain and vision. They can also be obtained by eating fatty fish and thanks to the precursors which are contained in certain oils (rapeseed, nuts). Then there is vitamin C, also necessary for pregnant women who consume more during pregnancy.
Do I have to avoid certain foods?
Dr Patrick Serog: If, for example, you are not immune to toxoplasmosis, yes, there will be a number of foods that you should avoid. Among them, raw vegetables and dairy products that have not been pasteurized. But in general, there is no specific food to advise against for a woman who does not have these problems. The only advice we can give her is that she must have a diet that is well regulated, especially during the first 3 months. Indeed, this period is a time of pregnancy when weight gain can be significant. And thereafter, it will be very difficult to reduce this progression. Pregnant women are advised not to gain more than 3 kilos during the first 3 months to finally reach 12 kilos at the end of pregnancy.
The typical day of upregnant woman nutritionally?
Dr Patrick Serog: We will start at breakfast with, for example, a latte. But it will also be necessary that you consume an extra milk and do not forget the cereals and the bread which will bring you complex carbohydrates. To complete, take a fruit, why not in the form of juice in order to have the necessary vitamin C. You privilegedEat margarine because it is also rich in omega 3. Then, for lunch and dinner, you will start with a raw vegetable that will provide you with a certain number of vitamins and minerals. You can season it with an oil rich in omega 3. Finally, for your main course, eat red meat because iron is important, with vegetables and starches alternately. You will end these meals with a fruit or a dessert
Do I have to give in to all my food urges?
Dr Patrick Serog: Sometimes a pregnant woman has a desire to eat between meals, especially from the second trimester. In fact, everything must be done to avoid cravings and snacking during pregnancy. The latter will indeed provide the pregnant woman with too high a food quantity. I therefore advise you to organize a snack during the afternoon, with for example, a yogurt, a piece of fruit, or even a small sandwich. Finally, you should first of all remember to drink water throughout the day, at least 1.5 liters per day.
Should I take food compliments?
Dr Patrick Serog: Except in cases of insufficient intake (vegetables or fruits) or deficiency, there is no reason for a pregnant woman who eats in a balanced way to take food supplements. But if the person really does not eat any fruit, never vegetables, in this case it will certainly be necessary to add vitamin C. Finally, everyone knows folic acid (vitamin B9) which is a usual prescription of doctors before and after early pregnancy. It is very important, because it allows the construction of the nervous system of the child.
Interview by Bruno Martrette
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