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Pregnancy Nutrition and Exercise
Jan 20, 2018
Pregnancy is a time of great promise: new life, new beginnings, a focus on health unmatched with the rest of your life.
Optimising your nutrition and continuing a balanced exercise program is essential to the health of your growing baby. There are some simple guidelines to follow:
Exercise
After discussing your current level of fitness, and any specific issues during your current pregnancy, with you doctor or midwife, most women are recommended to continue regular exercise during pregnancy. A good guide is to aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day, at a level that allows you to continue to hold a conversation.
Better Health Channel provides comprehensive guidelines for more detailed advice.
The types of food you eat are also important. Alcohol avoidance is important in pregnancy due to the effects on your baby. Food contaminants mean that some types of food are best limited or avoided. Good general advice for food hygiene is:
Gestational Diabetes
An increasing number of women in our society are developing Gestational Diabetes. This is a condition similar to Type II Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, resulting in high blood sugar levels. The can cause a number of effects on your baby both during the pregnancy and after birth.
All women are recommended for screening for raised sugar levels at the commencement of pregnancy, as well as testing for gestational diabetes at the end of the second trimester.
If you are planning a pregnancy, the best time to adopt a healthy lifestyle is now. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and exercising regularly can both help you get pregnant, and stay healthy throughout.
Our team of GPs, midwives, dietitians and more can help you make the most of this precious time. Start the conversation by booking with one of our GPs today.
Exercise
After discussing your current level of fitness, and any specific issues during your current pregnancy, with you doctor or midwife, most women are recommended to continue regular exercise during pregnancy. A good guide is to aim for 30 minutes of exercise per day, at a level that allows you to continue to hold a conversation.
Better Health Channel provides comprehensive guidelines for more detailed advice.
Nutrition
Pregnancy means your body and your growing baby have an increased requirement for a range of nutrients. In particular, increased folate is important before pregnancy and during the first trimester. Vitamin D, B12 and Iron are commonly encountered deficiencies and should be discussed with your doctor if you are heavily sun avoidant, have darker skin or a vegetarian diet.The types of food you eat are also important. Alcohol avoidance is important in pregnancy due to the effects on your baby. Food contaminants mean that some types of food are best limited or avoided. Good general advice for food hygiene is:
"Wash your hands well prior to cooking and eating
Wash your food well prior to cooking
Cook your food well (avoid undercooking)
Avoid left-overs and cabinet-style takeaway
Wash your food well prior to cooking
Cook your food well (avoid undercooking)
Avoid left-overs and cabinet-style takeaway
Avoid top-of-the-food-chain fish"
Better Health Channel
is a good source of further information on this topic.
An increasing number of women in our society are developing Gestational Diabetes. This is a condition similar to Type II Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, resulting in high blood sugar levels. The can cause a number of effects on your baby both during the pregnancy and after birth.
All women are recommended for screening for raised sugar levels at the commencement of pregnancy, as well as testing for gestational diabetes at the end of the second trimester.
Good nutrition and adequate exercise before and during pregnancy may help prevent gestational diabetes, or reduce the impact upon your baby. Careful treatment though a combination of lifestyle measures and medication can mitigate the effects of gestational diabetes.
If you are planning a pregnancy, the best time to adopt a healthy lifestyle is now. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and exercising regularly can both help you get pregnant, and stay healthy throughout.
Our team of GPs, midwives, dietitians and more can help you make the most of this precious time. Start the conversation by booking with one of our GPs today.