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SMILE Pregnancy Care Actions
Public Service, Maternity, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Eat Healthy
Having healthy foods and drinks is important for your health and the health of your baby. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and avoid sugary foods and drinks.
Why?
Having a healthy diet in pregnancy has lifelong health benefits for you and your baby.
Focus on eating healthy food like fruit and vegetables and avoid overeating or eating cakes, biscuits and chips. A diet with lots of sugar increases your risk of diabetes and the risk that your baby will become obese later in life. It is important to drink water and avoid sugary drinks such as cola, lemonade, fruit juice and energy drinks (which also have caffeine which should also be limited when pregnant).
Weigh yourself at the start of your pregnancy and talk to your LMC (Lead Maternity Carer – your midwife or obstetrician) about how much weight you should be gaining. Try to stay within this weight range. If you gain a lot of weight in pregnancy it is much harder to lose it after baby is born.
Eating and drinking healthy foods will help you have healthy teeth and gums during pregnancy. Good dental health is important for the overall health of you and your baby.
Useful links
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-safety/food-safety-for-consumers/food-and-pregnancy/
