In this Article

• Introduction to Eating Right during Pregnancy
• Healthy Eating Goals while Pregnant
• Foods to Avoid while Pregnant
• Dieting during Pregnancy?
• Why do I Need More Calcium while Pregnant?
• Why do I Need More Iron during Pregnancy?
• Food Cravings during Pregnancy
• Pregnancy: Your Guide to Eating Right Glossary
• Pregnancy: Your Guide to Eating Right Index

Are There Foods I Should Avoid?

• Avoid alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol has been linked to premature delivery and low birth weight babies.
• Limit caffeine to no more than 300 mg. per day (two five-ounce cups of coffee, three five-ounce cups of tea or two 12-ounce glasses of caffeinated soda). Remember, chocolate contains caffeine -- the amount of caffeine in a chocolate bar is equal to 1/4 cup of coffee.
• The use of saccharin is strongly discouraged during pregnancy because it can cross the placenta and may remain in fetal tissues. But, the use of non-nutritive or artificial sweeteners approved by the FDA is acceptable during pregnancy. These FDA-approved sweeteners include aspartame and acesulfame-K. Talk with your health care provider about how much non-nutritive sweetener is acceptable during pregnancy.
• Decrease the total amount of fat you eat to 30% or less of your total daily calories. For a person eating 2000 calories a day, this would be 65 grams of fat or less per day.
• Limit cholesterol intake to 300 milligrams (mg) or less per day.
• Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish, because they contain high levels of mercury.
• Avoid soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined, and Mexican-style cheese. These cheeses are often unpasteurized and may cause Listeria infection. Hard cheese, processed cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese, or yogurt need not be avoided.

What Should I Eat When I Don't Feel Well?

During pregnancy you may have morning sickness, diarrhea or constipation. You may find it hard to keep foods down, or you may feel too sick to even eat at all. Here are some suggestions:

• Morning Sickness. Eat crackers, cereal or pretzels before getting out of bed; eat small, frequent meals throughout the day; avoid fatty, fried and greasy foods.
• Constipation. Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. Also drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.
• Diarrhea. Eat more foods that contain pectin and gums (two types of dietary fiber) to help absorb excess water. Examples of these foods are: applesauce, bananas, white rice, oatmeal, refined wheat bread and smooth peanut butter.
• Heartburn. Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day; try drinking milk before eating; and limit caffeinated foods and beverages.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Labor and Delivery - Pregnancy, labor, and delivery questions answered about pregnancy.
• Hemorrhoids - In-depth article on hemorrhoids: symptoms, causes, and treatments including exactly what haemorrhoids (also known as piles) are. Read details about internal and external hemmorrhoids, and the different types of over-the-counter treatments.
• Pregnancy: Third Trimester Tests During Pregnancy - Learn about tests performed during the third trimester of pregnancy. These tests include group B strep screening, nonstress test, contraction stress test, electronic fetal heart monitoring, and a biophysical profile.

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