Pregnancy and Postpartum Support
The right diet is the key to managing many diseases and to improving general quality of life. For this condition, scientific research has found benefit in the following healthy eating tips.
Dietary Caffeine
To reduce your chances of miscarriage, avoid drinking coffee and consuming other caffeine-containing foods and beverages.Dietary CaffeineConsumption of moderate to large amounts of caffeine while pregnant has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage.67,68,69,70 Although some studies suggest that only very large amounts of caffeine increase the risk of miscarriage,71 an analysis of clinical trials found that women who consumed more than 150 mg of caffeine (roughly one to two cups of coffee) per day while pregnant had an increased risk of miscarriage or delivering a baby with a low birth weight.72 The FDA has advised women to avoid drinking coffee and consuming other caffeine-containing foods and beverages during pregnancy.73
Eating Healthy
A well-balanced and varied diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fish will provide the nutrients you and your baby need.Eating HealthyNearly all pregnant women can benefit from good nutritional habits prior to and during pregnancy. The increased number of birth defects during times of famine attest to the adverse effects of poor nutrition during pregnancy.74 For example, in a dietary survey of pregnant women, higher dietary intake of niacin (a form of vitamin B3) during the first trimester was correlated with higher birth weights, longer length, and larger head circumference (all signs of healthier infants).75
Women who consume a standard Western diet (high in fat and sugar and low in complex carbohydrates) during pregnancy and breast-feeding may not get adequate amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, which can result in health problems for the newborn.76 Pregnant women should choose a well-balanced and varied diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fish. Refined sugars, white flour, fried foods, processed foods, and chemical additives should be avoided. In one study, women who consumed a healthful diet (consisting mainly of fish, low-fat meats and dairy products, oils, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes) had a 90% reduction in the incidence of preterm deliveries, compared with those who consumed their usual diet.77