Pregnant women undergo a lot of hormone changes. Throughout their nine-month journey, they are advised of many routine checkups and visits to doctors. Among these, they also require a nutrition plan and a diet chart. Today couples and families in India are ready to go to any extent to provide the best facilities to the pregnant lady in their house. During pregnancy, as we all know, two lives are involved. The intake of the mother has a significant effect on a child’s health and fetal development. Researches have proved that certain food nutrients and eating habits can profoundly affect your baby’s different characteristics.

Top nutritionists in India have commented that there’s a rise in couples visiting or hiring them during the mother-to-be maternity leave. They are excited and anxious at the same time. Our society has both types of people; one who understands the impacts of what they eat, and the other to whom nutritionists and dieticians in India are spreading awareness too. Many of them have also partnered with private and independent yoga, and fitness classes, from their pregnant ladies, to get easy excess to reach them. With the rise of exercise and food conscious in pregnant couples, they have also started sharing this knowledge and awareness with other expectant couples.

Nutritionist and Dietician

Dietitians plan, monitor, and supervise the diet across hospitals, clinics, health centers, sports centers, or their private clinics. In contrast, nutritionists help people achieve better health by advising on health and food choices. Dietitians are responsible for recommending proper as well as corrective food and eating habits. They take a patient's health, lifestyle, age, potential allergies, and food preferences into account. However, a nutritionist’s expertise lies in public health nutrition, community health, and tertiary education related to nutrition. They can go into research as well as work as nutrition consultants and advisors, public health and health promotion officers, quality and nutrition coordinators, etc.

Another significant difference is that all dieticians can be nutritionists, but not all nutritionists will be dieticians. A dietician is a regulated professional who is accountable and answerable to the Indian Dietetics Association. In contrast, nutritionists are knowledgeable but not a regulated certificate course professional. A dietician will give you a plan to eat what and when, but nutritionists can only advise and guide regarding what you should have, add, or subtract.

What should I eat during pregnancy?

  • Dairy Products: During pregnancy, you need to consume extra protein and calcium to meet the needs of the growing fetus. So dairy products will ensure that you have two types of high-quality protein: casein and whey. Dairy is also a rich source of calcium and provides high amounts of phosphorus, various B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc. Yogurt is an excellent choice for women during pregnancy.
     
  • Legumes: This group of food includes lentils, peas, beans, chickpeas, soybeans, and peanuts, basically everything that you either don’t like or like the most. They all are excellent plant-based sources of fiber, protein, iron, folate (B9), and calcium. Pregnant women need to folate more than usual during the first trimester.
     
  • Sweet Potatoes: They are very rich in beta-carotene. It is a plant compound that gets converted into vitamin A during digestion. For the growth and differentiation of cells, Vitamin A is essential. Moreover, they also contain fiber, which increases fullness, helps in checking the blood sugar and improves digestive health and mobility.
     
  • Salmon: If you don’t know, it’s fish (so nonveg alert), it is very rich in essential omega-3 fatty acids. They are necessary during pregnancy because they help to build the brain and eyes of the fetus. They can be found in other seafood as well. Yet, pregnant women are advised to limit their seafood intake to twice a week, as it increases the levels of mercury and other contaminants that are generally found in them.
     
  • Eggs: They are the ultimate health food, as they contain a little bit of almost every nutrient a human body needs. Apart from that, they are a great source of choline. It is essential for many processes in your body, including brain development. Low choline intake during pregnancy can cause a serious risk of neural tube defects that possibly can lead to decreased brain function in the fetus.
     
  • Broccoli and Dark, Leafy Greens:  Broccoli, kale, and spinach, contain many of the nutrients that a pregnant woman generally needs. These are fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, calcium, iron, folate, and potassium. They also have plant compounds that streghten the immune system and eases digestion.Due to high fiber content, these vegetables also help in preventing constipation.
     
  • Berries: They contain water, healthy carbs, vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. They provide high amounts of vitamin C, which helps the body in absorbing iron, other than this, it is also essential for skin health and immune function. Berries have a relatively low glycemic index value. They won’t cause significant spikes in blood sugar. Due to water and fiber, they also make a great morning or evening time snack.
     
  • Avocados: They are an unusual fruit as they contain a high amount of monounsaturated fatty acids. They are rich in fiber, vitamin B, vitamin K, potassium, copper, vitamin E, and vitamin C. They are termed as a must-have for pregnant women. They help in building the skin, brain, and tissues of the fetus. Leg cramps are a side effect of pregnancy for some women. They provide relief from them as they are a source of potassium.

Some tips and advice on healthy eating habits during pregnancy:

  • Never skip morning breakfast.
  • Consume foods and drinks with less added sugars, caffeine, saturated fats, and sodium.
  • For between meals, have healthy snacks shelved at home.
  • Keeping drinking water, especially between meals and snacks. 
  • Keep a variety of different foods in your meals.

All the above diet tips and habits are taken from among the best nutritionists and dieticians in India. At Femicure, you can find several nutritionists and dieticians, waiting to make pregnancy a smooth experience for you. At our platform, you can browse different options, check the profiles (experience, patient reviews, and more), contact them, and make an appointment with the best dietician/nutritionist for you. If you are traveling from a different country or a different state/city in India, then we also extend our services by taking care of your travel, accommodation, and other treatment & visit related needs.