“It is important to have a varied and balanced diet to meet the nutritional requirements of the mother and the baby, meeting the demands of fetal growth, preparing the mother´s body for childbirth and ensuring fat reserves for milk production during future lactation, in addition to avoiding premature births or the baby being born with a low weight,” explains Dr. María Teresa Zumarán, a nutritionist at our clinic.

Do the nutritional requirements of the unborn baby change each trimester?

At the beginning of pregnancy, energy needs are not different from those of a non-pregnant woman. In the second trimester, placental and fetal growth is greater, which is why an increase in energy intake between 300 and 500 kcal, approximately, is recommended. In the third trimester this increase in calories is maintained, but ensuring the consumption of foods rich in protein, which are necessary for the structural development of the fetus.

How many kilos can a woman gain during pregnancy?

It depends a lot on the body mass index (BMI) of the mother, prior to pregnancy. The average is 9 to 12 kg in total.

Foods to avoid during pregnancy and why:

• Unpasteurized foods. Like milk or cheese, because they could cause foodborne illness.
• Undercooked meat, fish and raw eggs. For example, mayonnaise or eggnog, etc.), as they could cause toxoplasmosis, an infection that spreads to the fetus through the placenta and can put the baby at risk.
• Big fish. Like pike or swordfish, shark, etc., because they contain a high amount of mercury and heavy metals.
• Liver, in the first trimester. Well, it has a high content of vitamin A, and if its consumption is exceeded, it could cause problems in the development of the baby.
• Coffee. It should be reduced to a minimum and is even better to avoid it. A maximum of 2 cups a day could be consumed and away from main meals, as it interferes with the absorption of calcium and iron, so important for the mother and the unborn baby.

María Teresa Zumarán
Nutricionista de la Clínica Ricardo Palma