Breastfeeding helps to deplete the fat deposited during pregnancy. A woman who breastfeeds expends 600 to 800 more calories than one who doesn't. The woman who nurses her baby also has increased needs for specific nutrients. Further, sodium deprivation may be harmful to the fetus. The sodium intake usually recommended in pregnancy is 2,000 to 8,000 milligrams a day, compared to the normally recommended 1,100 to 3,300 milligrams per day.
Sugar is also an occasional concern in pregnancy.
Diabetic women should be closely monitored to make sure their blood sugar values are at or near normal. If maternal blood sugar rises too high, the increased sugar crossing the placenta can result in a large, overdeveloped fetus with defects and an infant with blood sugar level abnormalities. Diabetic women may also suffer from a greater loss of some nutrients. It is important to maintain tight control of blood sugar before and during pregnancy. Keep meals small, and avoid long period without food.