Learning that you are pregnant is a life changing piece of news to receive, but many women dread the effects of pregnancy and are especially concerned about packing on that extra weight that pregnancy brings with it. Gaining pregnancy pounds can be even more of a concern for women who are overweight when they get pregnant and are worried about the consequences this may have for the pregnancy or the complications it may bring for the baby. It is essential that during your pregnancy you maintain a healthy and balanced diet so that your baby can benefit from vital nutrients that come from eating different types of food.
It can be difficult to know which diet plan you should try to follow while you are pregnant, and whether they can have any effects on your baby. Sometimes you may already be following a weight loss plan when you get the news of your pregnancy and are not sure if it is safe for you to continue that plan. So here is a look at whether the low carb diet is a safe weight loss plan during pregnancy.
What could the effects be?
Medical professionals have suggested that a low-carb diet isn’t the best mode of weight loss plan to follow while you are pregnant. While it is important that you do watch what you eat while you are pregnant, it is recommended that you don’t follow a rigid or restrictive weight loss plan. This is because whatever you eat, your baby eats, and low carb diets can often restrict the amount of fruit and vegetables that you will eat, which can affect the important vitamins and minerals that your baby will get. Low carb diets are known for being low in folic acid and a B vitamin that has been found to help reduce risks of neural tube defects.
The Case for a Low-Carb Diet During Pregnancy
Despite much of the research you can find online that points to the argument that a low carb diet is not a safe diet plan to follow during your pregnancy, there have been studies that suggest that it can be completely safe for pregnant women to eat a low-carb diet without feeling any adverse effects. A study by Dr. Michael Fox who undertook research at the Jacksonville Center for Reproductive Medicine found that low-carb diets often decreased rates of miscarriage, preeclampsia and could even improve morning sickness.
Dr Fox also found that women who were already following a low carb diet when they found out they were pregnant could face severe nausea from the sudden change in their diet. The dramatic increase in insulin caused a hormone reaction and made the women feel sick. The suggestion of a low carb diet can often get a strong reaction from any medical professionals when you suggest it, but once you explain the types of foods you would be eating as part of a low carb diet, your doctor can often agree.
Studies have also suggested that a low carb diet can be effective for your weight loss after you have given birth and can help your body to return to its pre-pregnancy weight. It is natural for you to want to maintain your health and weight during pregnancy and often taking the “eating for two” suggestion can be extremely dangerous to you and your baby. All medical professionals would advise for you to be mindful of the food choices you are making while pregnant and if you feel like a low carb diet works for you then it could be recommended for you to continue with it. The carb counter here is a useful tool which can help you keep a track of how many carbs you have eaten. It may be an idea to limit your carb intake but to eat them when you feel it necessary.
What Should You Eat?
Dieticians recommend that while you are pregnant you should try to base your meals around starchy foods, and this should include round a third of your plate being made of carbohydrates. However, if you are concerned about the effects that eating carbohydrates may have on your weight you could switch to wholegrain carbohydrates which are a good source of calcium, vitamin B and fiber which are all essential during your pregnancy. The use of high-fiber foods can be helpful to ease constipation which can be very common for pregnant women and can keep you feeling fuller for longer which can stabilise your energy levels throughout the day.
Your health and wellbeing during your pregnancy can be something that keeps you awake at night worrying, but there is no need for that to be the case. If you follow what you feel is right for you and whatever makes you feel good, then you are doing the best by you and your baby. Follow any diet that you feel is useful to you as every pregnancy is different, and no two are the same.
