During pregnancy, you should avoid eating items you're allergic to. Depending on your reactions' severity, you risk endangering your health, which could put your baby at risk. Still, you need quantities of certain nutrients to ensure your baby has everything she needs to grow and develop. With a limited section of food choices, you might worry about how to meet your nutritional needs. Your doctor can help you make the right choices during this crucial time.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor about your dietary restrictions. Ask for recommendations for a prenatal vitamin and other supplements to cover any obvious nutrition gaps. Take the supplements each day to form the basis for your nutritious diet. Talk about what steps you should take if you accidentally eat something that triggers a reaction.
Step 2
Make a list of safe foods and unsafe foods. Research alternative names for unsafe foods and check the labels on each product you buy. For example, gluten may be listed as wheat; further, wheat may be called gluten, rye and several other names. Work as a food detective.
Step 3
Choose foods from your safe-food list that come from each food group, if possible. Eating from each food group is the easiest way to cover your nutritional bases, states the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Step 4
Look for foods from other groups to cover any groups you lack. For example, if you can't eat dairy products, choose vegetables -- like broccoli and spinach -- that are high in calcium. Eat as wide a variety of foods as safely possible.
Step 5
Write down the number of calories you take in with each meal and snack. You need about 300 extra calories daily, according to the American Pregnancy Association. If you're unsure how many calories you needed before you became pregnant, consult a calorie calculator like the one MayoClinic.com provides.
Step 6
Add extra servings of safe foods -- especially fruits and vegetables -- at each meal or at snack time, to ensure you meet your daily caloric needs.
Tips and Warnings
- Meet with your doctor often to ensure your diet doesn't negatively affect your baby's growth and development.
References
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Nutrition During Pregnancy
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Prevention of Allergies and Asthma in Children -- Tips to Remember
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Food Allergy
- American Dietetic Association: Reducing the Risk from Food Allergies
- Cleveland Clinic: Prenatal Vitamins
