Your Pregnancy Checklist

This condition occurs when hormones released by the body during pregnancy mess up with the usage of insulin. It results in a spike in your blood sugar levels and may lead to complications during delivery as it increases the risk of giving birth to comparatively grown-up babies, making the mother prone to gestation diabetes, as an increased blood sugar will increase birth defects. It is necessary to get tested for this in the second trimester.

During pregnancy, calcium intake should be increased as it is required for the development of bones by the mother and the newborn. A calcium deficiency in the diet can actually increase your blood pressure and the risk of complications. Thus, it is recommended to increase the intake of calcium-rich food items such as low-fat milk, yogurt, hard cheeses, etc, during pregnancy.

Your body needs a great deal of nutritional boost during the pregnancy period. Taking prenatal multivitamins rich in folic acid from the very beginning of the gestation period largely reduces the risk of neural tube defects and other pregnancy complications.

The omega 3s (a nutrient critical to brain development) is present in substantial quantities in fish. The only problem is that some types of fish have a high mercury level which is toxic when consumed by babies and adults. To stay safe, pregnant women should not exceed their fish consumption by 12 ounces per week. Types of fish that are recommended for consumption include canned light tuna, shrimp, salmon, pollock, or catfish. Types of fish that you should steer clear of include swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish, as they have a high mercury content.