You’re at your most beautiful when you’re pregnant. At Tiny Posers, we capture those special moments as your body transforms with your growing baby. But what happens on the inside? There are so many changes happening to you and your baby during pregnancy that’s it’s really important to keep an eye on healthy eating. A balanced diet is vital for helping your body adjust to what’s happening and giving your baby everything it needs to grow. So, what are the foods that will keep you and your baby strong and healthy, and what should you avoid eating or drinking during pregnancy?
Healthy Eating When You’re Pregnant
Foods that contain calcium, folic acid and protein are high on the list of good foods to eat during pregnancy. Calcium is found in milk and other dairy products and is used by your body to help your baby to develop strong bones and teeth. Folic acid is found in leafy green vegetables, beans and citrus fruits and helps with the development of your baby’s brain and spinal cord. Protein is instrumental in the healthy growth of your baby’s muscles and is most commonly consumed in the form of meat, although, if you’re a vegetarian, some nuts and tofu can be a great alternative source.
While you may do your best, it can sometimes be hard to eat all of the right foods, especially if you suffer from food cravings! It’s no substitute for a healthy diet, but taking supplements designed for pregnant women can help make sure you get a good range of the different vitamins and minerals both you and your baby need.
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Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
Eating well during pregnancy doesn’t just mean consuming healthy foods, it also means avoiding food and drink that could be harmful to your baby.
Soft blue cheeses, partially cooked eggs, raw or undercooked meat and pate are best avoided as they have the potential to pass on some nasty bugs like salmonella, toxoplasmosis and listeria.
We all know that fish is good for us, but shark and swordfish should be off the menu during pregnancy due to mercury levels that could harm your baby’s developing nervous system. Tuna and other oily fish should also be limited to no more than 2 portions a week just to be on the safe side.
A cup or tea or coffee is something most of us enjoy but cutting down or switching to decaffeinated versions of our favourite drinks can help protect a growing baby from high levels of caffeine which have been linked to low birth weight.
Studies have also shown that drinking alcohol during pregnancy has the potential to cause some harm, as it passes directly through your bloodstream to your baby. Although some say the occasional drink won’t do any harm, the general advice from the NHS is to take the safest route and cut out alcohol altogether.
The Myth of Eating for Two
Most of us have heard the expression ‘eating for two’ during pregnancy. While it’s a great excuse to indulge in that tasty snack you’ve been craving, it’s actually a myth that you should significantly increase your food intake when pregnant. During your pregnancy you should only really add around 200-300 calories to your normal daily intake and only in your last two trimesters.
Many women worry about weight gain during pregnancy. While you don’t want to put on an unhealthy amount of weight, pregnancy isn’t a time when you should be restricting what you eat and obsessing about fitting into those jeans. At Tiny Posers, we take enough photos to know that there is nothing more beautiful than a pregnant woman! Sure, you’ll naturally gain a bit of weight but only because your incredible, wonderful body is doing the most amazing thing – creating a new life!
If you’d like stunning, high end portrait photographs of you at your most gorgeously pregnant, why not book a maternity shoot at the Tiny Posers photography studio with renowned photographer Kristina Mack? Just get in touch to find out more!
