Pregnancy increases your risk of developing gallstones, or solid masses formed by the digestive juices produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Symptoms of gallstones include pain just below your rib cage on the right side, nausea, vomiting, gas, belching, bloating and indigestion. Dietary changes may help prevent gallstone symptoms. Consult your physician if your gallstones cause pain, because untreated gallstones can become life threatening.
Dietary Fiber
A high-fiber diet may help protect you from further gallstone formation, according to MayoClinic.com. Pregnant women need to consume between 25 and 30 g of fiber each day. Include a variety of high-fiber foods in your diet, such as products with a whole grain listed as the first ingredient, vegetables, legumes, fruits, seeds and nuts. Food labels can help you track your fiber intake, because they list the amount of fiber in each food. Gradually increase your fiber intake to avoid the bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort associated with rapid increases in fiber intake. Keep your fiber intake within the recommended level to prevent the fiber from interfering with the absorption of minerals important to your pregnancy, such as zinc, calcium and magnesium.
Hydration
An increase in dietary fiber intake requires an increase in your fluid intake. Water helps your body process the fiber. Pregnant women need 10 to 12 glasses of water each day. However, your need for water increases in hot or humid weather and when you exercise. Avoid high-calorie drinks if you have to monitor your calorie intake.
Dietary Fat
High-fat meals often precede gallstone attacks, because fat intake stimulates your gallbladder to contract and release bile into your small intestines. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that adults need to limit total fat intake to less than 20 to 35 percent of their total calories each day, saturated fat intake to less than 10 percent of their total daily calories and trans fat intake as low as possible. Dr. Abaz Sosic, an obstetrician at Bradford Regional Medical Center in Pennsylvania, recommends following these same guidelines during pregnancy to ensure you get adequate amounts of fat without consuming too much. Lower your fat intake by limiting your intake of fried foods, full-fat dairy products, butter, pastries, chips, fatty cuts of meat, oil based salad dressings and processed foods.
Weight Management
Your weight throughout your pregnancy may increase your risk of developing gallstones. If you carry excess weight, do not try to lose it during pregnancy, warns Sosic. Follow a healthy diet that provides your body with adequate nutrients and keeps you fulfilled. However, avoid processed foods, added sugars and added fats whenever possible to help limit your intake of excess calories. By limiting your weight gain to the recommended levels for your weight, you may decrease your risk of gallstones during pregnancy, according to the March of Dimes. The weight gain recommendations for pregnancy vary based on your pre-pregnancy height, weight, age and build. During pregnancy, obese women should gain 11 to 20 lbs., overweight women should gain 15 to 25 lbs., normal weight women should gain 25 to 35 lbs. and underweight women should gain 28 to 40 lbs.
References
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Gallstones; September 2010
- American Pregnancy Association; Pregnancy and Constipation; March 2007
- MedlinePlus; Fiber; Linda J. Vorvick, M.D.; July 2010
- 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans; U. S. Department of Agriculture; December 2010
- Dr. Abaz Sosic, M.D., OB/GYN; Bradford Regional Medical Center; Bradford, Pennsylvania
- Baby Centre; Pregnancy Weight Gain: What to Expect; July 2009
