Therapeutic diet
Pregnancy nutrition plan
Support a healthy pregnancy alongside an existing medical condition.
Gestational diabetesPre-existing diabetesHypertension in pregnancyAnaemia
Principles
- Folate, iron, iodine, calcium and vitamin D are the priority nutrients
- Spread carbohydrate across meals and snacks in gestational diabetes
- Food safety to avoid listeria, toxoplasma and high mercury
- Appropriate weight gain for your starting BMI, not 'eating for two'
Include
- Iron-rich foods with vitamin C
- Dairy or fortified alternatives daily
- Two portions of fish weekly, one oily
- Wholegrain carbohydrate in measured portions
Avoid or limit
- Alcohol; caffeine above about 200 mg daily
- Unpasteurised dairy, soft mould-ripened cheese, pâté, raw egg and meat
- Shark, swordfish, marlin; limit tuna
- Liver and vitamin A supplements
A sample day
- BreakfastEggs on wholegrain toast, milk
- SnackYoghurt with berries
- LunchLentil salad with greens, wholegrain bread
- SnackApple with peanut butter
- DinnerSalmon, sweet potato, broccoli
- BedtimeMilk and an oatcake
Cautions
- · Pre-existing diabetes needs specialist preconception care and much tighter targets.
- · Severe vomiting needs medical treatment, not dietary advice alone.
Afya Companion offers education and self-help support. It does not diagnose, treat or replace care from your doctor, nurse, psychologist or dietitian. If something in your health changes, speak to your care team.