Nutrition During Pregnancy
Good nutrition during pregnancy helps give your baby a strong start in life. It promotes the health of the fetus and can lessen complications. But there is no one diet plan for everyone. People have different bodies, eating patterns, lifestyles, and pregnancy experiences. All of this can affect your nutritional needs, whether you are having a normal or a high-risk pregnancy. At Mount Sinai, we offer professional, individualized nutrition counseling to all our pregnant patients. We can discuss what to eat—and what not to eat—as well as any supplements that might be helpful.
A healthy diet during pregnancy can:
- Boost your energy
- Improve your sleep
- Help you avoid illnesses and pregnancy complications
- Assist in managing your weight during and after pregnancy
In addition, our registered dietitian can answer any general nutrition questions you may have. We can discuss supplemental vitamins and minerals, provide dietary analysis, and address any nutrition-related concerns. If you are interested in working with our registered dietitian, please speak with your obstetrician for a referral.
Health Concerns We Treat
Our dietitian can help with a variety of health issues that may arise with pregnancy. These can include:
- Nausea/vomiting
- Morning sickness
- Constipation
- Weight gain management for those who are underweight or overweight
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes
- Eating disorder management during pregnancy
In addition, we can help with any nutrition-related referrals you may receive during pregnancy. These can include:
- Celiac disease
- Food allergies
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Weight loss surgery
We can help whether you’re having one baby or more. If you need, we can also provide nutritional support after perinatal loss, through our Rainbow Clinic.
Special Programs
We offer two programs designed to address specific concerns:
Gestational Diabetes Program: Women who are diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes before their pregnancy or gestational diabetes during pregnancy can benefit from education and careful monitoring. The Gestational Diabetes Program provides diabetes counseling and education, as well as glucose monitoring. We work with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine team to provide fetal surveillance.
Rainbow Clinic: If you have had a stillborn child, multiple miscarriages, or a neonatal loss, you may be concerned about becoming pregnant again. Our Rainbow Clinic can give you the emotional and medical attention you need.
Recipes for a Healthy Pregnancy
Our Mount Sinai dietitian can provide you with recipes to address your specific concerns or conditions. Here are a few examples:
Recipes to help with gestational diabetes
Recipes to help with nausea