However, the IOM panel found insufficient evidence to recommend that all women take supplements containing folate, which can be found in liver, kidneys, leafy green vegetables, and dried beans and peas. While research continues, the IOM recommends supplements only for pregnant women who are smokers , drug users , alcohol drinkers , or strict vegetarians. Obstetricians will continue to make the decision to recommend supplements based on individual requirements and will not recommend multivitamin supplements without a specific medical reason. 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. For more detialed information on diabetes in pregnancy, go here . If a woman's calorie intake is restricted in pregnancy, she may not get enough protein, vitamins and minerals to adequately nourish her unborn child. Low-calorie intake can result in a breakdown of stored fat in the mother, leading to the production of substances called ketones in her blood and urine. The production of ketones is a sign of starvation of a starvation-like state.