Carefully watching your food choices will be necessary to get the protein, vitamins, and minerals you and your baby need, without adding excess pounds. Avoid foods that are low in nutrients but high in calories, such as cookies, doughnuts, chips, soft drinks, cakes, and pie. Instead, choose fresh fruits, vegetables, and skim milk. Some women do not gain enough weight. Many studies have shown that mother's weight gain during pregnancy is important to the birth weight of the infant.
Birth weight helps determine a child's potential for survival and future health.
Pregnancy is not the time to lose weight or severely restrict food intake. Unfortunately, this is not true. Although the unborn baby can use mineral and proteins from the mother's body, it cannot get enough that way. The mother's body reserves cannot always protect the fetus from dietary deficiencies. An adequate supply of nutrients in the diet is essential.