When you’re “eating for two,” your diet becomes not just about your body’s needs but also the needs of your developing baby. At 3 Sister Surrogacy, our surrogate requirements include optimal physical health to be sure that the surrogates we provide to couples are ideal for the job. In this post, we’ll talk about proper nutrition during pregnancy and offer a few suggestions for what to eat and what to cut out for the next nine months.
Nutrients Are Key
With any dietary plan, the most important element is its ability to provide vital nutrients to the body. A few particularly important nutrients for pregnancy include protein, calcium, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and folic acid obtained from various foods and, if needed, specialty supplements.
Nutritious Foods to Eat While Pregnant
Here are some great nutrient-packed foods you may want to stock up on:
- Lean meats: Lean cuts of chicken, pork, beef, and other meats are good sources of iron (and you’ll need twice as much as usual during pregnancy!).
- Eggs (fully cooked): A rich source of protein, amino acids, and choline.
- Low-fat dairy (pasteurized): Low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese are packed with calcium.
- Dark, leafy greens: spinach, kale, and other dark greens provide folate, calcium, iron, and fiber.
Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy (or at Least Limit)
For optimal health and safety, try to avoid or limit the following:
- Caffeine: Limit intake by switching to decaf coffee/tea or other beverages.
- Unpasteurized dairy, juices, sprouts, etc.: Unpasteurized foods have not undergone the heat treating that helps extend shelf life and as a result may contain harmful bacteria. Avoid unpasteruized foods (examples include: soft cheses, raw milks, some yogurts).
- Undercooked meat, eggs, and fish: If not cooked properly, these may also contain harmful bacteria. Foods like rare steak, sushi, and raw cookie dough should be avoided. Also, raw shell-fish, like oysters, have a risk of mercury contamination. For a list of other foods to avoid please reference: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/foods-to-avoid-pregnant/
- Alcohol: Avoid drinking due to risks of fetal harm.
Balanced Meals and Dietary Restrictions
Although it’s easy to label foods “good” or “bad,” the most important aspect of a healthy pregnancy diet is finding balance. Pregnant women can still enjoy many of their favorite treats in moderation. Similarly, packing your plate with “good” foods that only provide one or two nutrients won’t be sufficient to meet all your body’s needs.
Balance is especially important for those with restricted diets; women who plan to have a vegetarian or vegan pregnancy, for example, need to take extra care to ensure they’re getting enough of the right proteins, vitamins, and minerals. With careful meal planning, doctor-approved supplement use, and regular medical monitoring, vegan and vegetarian women can enjoy safe, healthy pregnancies.
Explore Your Options with 3 Sisters Surrogacy
Irrespective of your dietary habits, you may be one of many women who find it difficult to get pregnant on your own. If you’re struggling to conceive despite your best efforts, you’re not out of options!
At 3 Sisters Surrogacy, we connect families with healthy, carefully selected gestational surrogates. To learn more about our surrogate requirements and discuss whether surrogacy is the right choice for you, fill out our contact form online or call us today at (877) 976-9483.
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