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Pregnancy Nutrition: More Than Just Eating for Two
Pregnancy is an exciting but overwhelming time, especially when it comes to nutrition. There’s so much information online—some of it conflicting, outdated, or even incorrect! The truth is, what you eat during pregnancy plays a crucial role in both your health and your baby’s development.
Pregnancy nutrition is more than just healthy eating. Recent UK studies indicate that many women of childbearing age and those actively trying to conceive have low intakes of essential nutrients needed for pregnancy. In fact, 90% of women are deficient in at least one micronutrient vital for optimal pregnancy health. Ensuring that you meet these nutritional needs can help support both a healthy pregnancy and your baby’s long-term well-being.
The first 1,000 days of life—starting from conception up to your baby’s second birthday—is a unique window that has one of the biggest impacts on lifelong health. That means what you eat during pregnancy is a third of this critical period, shaping everything from your baby’s growth to their future well-being. But how do you know what’s best? That’s where working with a specialist prenatal dietitian can make all the difference.
How Does Pregnancy Nutrition Impact You and Your Baby?
Your diet during pregnancy doesn’t just affect your baby’s growth; it also plays a role in your own health, energy levels, and recovery after birth. Here are some key ways nutrition can influence both mum and baby:
Fetal Growth & Development – Essential nutrients like folic acid, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and choline help support your baby’s brain development, immune system, and overall growth.
Optimal Weight Gain – Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy helps support your baby’s development, while reducing complications like preterm birth and gestational diabetes.
Epigenetics & Long-Term Health – Your diet influences your baby’s genetic expression, helping to reduce future risks of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even allergies.
Reducing the Risk of Gestational Diabetes – A well-balanced diet & individualised supplementation regimens can help regulate blood sugar levels, reducing the risk or helping to manage gestational diabetes.
Preventing Deficiencies – Micronutrient demands increase during pregnancy and a well-planned diet can help prevent fatigue and complications linked to iron and Vitamin D deficiency,
Supporting Mental Health – Optimal nutrition can help balance mood and may reduce the risk of postnatal depression.
Postpartum Recovery & Lactation – Your nutrient stores impact recovery after birth and milk production if you choose to breastfeed.
Why See a Prenatal Dietitian During Pregnancy?
You are lucky if you get more than a nutrition leaflet on foods to avoid and a quick question to check you are taking folic acid during routine antenatal care. Many midwives and doctors receive no more than a few hours (if any) of nutrition education, and even dietitians often receive only several hours at best during their training. That’s why I have gone above this and undertaken several courses in prenatal nutrition—because women deserve better than this! They deserve updated, evidence-based advice on nutrition during pregnancy for the most optimal health for both them and their baby.
Google searches and social media advice can be overwhelming and, often misleading. As a specialist prenatal dietitian, I take the guesswork out of nutrition and provide tailored support based on the latest research and your individual needs. Whether you're experiencing nausea, struggling with food aversions, or simply want reassurance that you're meeting your pregnancy’s increased nutritional demands, I can help you every step of the way—from the first all the way to the fourth trimester.
How I Support My Clients
When you work with me, you’ll receive expert guidance to:
Achieve optimal weight gain for both mum and baby
Navigate food safety concerns during pregnancy
Meet increased nutritional needs for pregnancy and postpartum recovery
Access meal guides & delicious pregnancy-friendly recipes
Manage nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy
Reduce the risk of gestational diabetes and help manage existing diabetes
Ensure balanced nutrition for vegetarian or vegan diets
Prevent and manage anemia through diet and or supplementation
Boost and optimise energy levels throughout pregnancy
Personalized supplementation advice to avoid deficiencies and meet requirements
Understand how nutrition shapes genetic programming for lifelong health
Increase confidence in food choices with a full nutrient analysis
There are very few dietitians who specialise in antenatal care so I welcome the fact that you have stumbled upon this blog and recognise the importance of nutrition for both you and your baby! Why not take it a step further and get in touch for personalised advice tailored to your unique needs?
Is It Ever Too Late to See a Prenatal Dietitian?
Absolutely not! Whether you're in early pregnancy and need guidance on folic acid and first-trimester nutrition, or in your third trimester with increasing nutrient demands, it’s never too late to optimise your diet. If you’re breastfeeding, nutrition is just as important to support lactation and postpartum recovery.
I offer one-off appointments for those who need guidance on specific concerns or comprehensive 1:1 support through my Bloom Baby Programme, designed to help reduce complications, provide tailored meal plans, and support you throughout pregnancy.
About Me – Your Expert in Pregnancy Nutrition
I’m Tazmin Lewis, a Certified Prenatal and Paediatric Dietitian with over 10 years of experience supporting women before, during, and after pregnancy. My expertise includes gestational diabetes, Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes, pregnancy and postnatal nutrition, and infant feeding. I’m also on the British Dietetic Association’s Maternal & Fertility Nutrition Committee, ensuring that my advice is always evidence-based and up to date.
Why not book a free 15 minute discovery call and find out how we can work together
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