YOUR PREGNANT
CLIENT’S NUTRITION
A healthy, varied diet can help your clients avoid pregnancy-related problems.
Nutritionist and exercise scientist Brooke Turner looks at changing nutrient
needs, what to include and what to avoid during pregnancy.
regnancy is the one time in a
woman’s life where what she eats
directly impacts the health of
another. During pregnancy the
overall health of the mother transfers to and
promotes proper development and growth
of the baby. In fact, studies have shown a
link between not only maternal health and
the influence on the health and development
of the mother’s children, but also her
grandchildren.
Consuming a healthy, varied diet
can help your clients avoid pregnancy-
related problems, such as uncontrolled
hypertension and gestational diabetes;
assist in healthy weight gain; promote sleep;
improve energy levels; enhance mental state
and overall wellbeing; and assist in post-
birth recovery.
So, how can this be achieved?
P
Pregnant clients can eat for
two, right?
Wrong. While a pregnant woman’s daily
energy requirements do increase, they do
not need to ‘eat for two’, as the old saying
suggests. It is more important that your
client focuses on quality rather than quantity
and fuels their body with what it needs to
support them and their developing baby.
During pregnancy there is an increased
recommended daily intake (RDI) for many
nutrients, but it is important to note that one
size does not fit all, and that these energy
requirements vary from one expectant
mother to the next due to a range of factors
such as:
• activity levels
• current diet
• age
• underlying injury/illness
• food preferences, i.e. vegetarian, vegan,
celiac.
The initial stages and first trimester of
pregnancy require very little change in
daily energy intake. Generally, the basal
metabolic rate (BMR) increases by the
fourth month of pregnancy (second
trimester) and can reach a 15-20% increase
from its baseline towards the end of
pregnancy. These increases are mainly due
to the increase in oxygen demands by the
growing baby and the increased cardiac
output; you may notice your client’s rate
of perceived exertion (RPE) is higher for
any given exercise or activity compared
to their pre-pregnancy levels. As women
reach the second trimester, energy needs
increase to approximately an additional 300
calories (1255kJ) per day, further increasing
to 450 calories (1880kJ) per day by the
third trimester. These increased energy
requirements can be easily met by adding
in a piece of fruit with a serve of Greek
yoghurt and oats, a small sandwich or
larger serving sizes.
Daily energy requirement
changes per trimester
First trimester No dramatic change
Second trimester + ~300
calories/1255kJ
Third trimester + ~450
calories/1880kJ
NETWORK SPRING 2019 | 21