Up to 10% of all women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Though it’s relatively common, it can be scary for parents-to-be. It also requires a significant amount of nutrition education to modify your pregnancy diet so you can control blood sugar levels. By working with an experienced dietitian nutritionist, you can get the care you need, ensure you’re getting the portions and nutrients you need, and manage your gestational diabetes with a healthy eating plan. Here are...

Gestational Diabetes is incredibly common, in fact, an estimated up to 10% of pregnancies are affected by it. You’re expecting. You’re learning to manage blood glucose levels with diet, checking levels on your glucometer. It’s summertime and you really, really want a sweet. We get it. Those cravings! And in a sugar-coated world, one in which our tastebuds have become accustomed to sugar in everything, it can be challenging to satisfy your sweet tooth . It's...

Gestational diabetes affects up to 10% of women. During pregnancy, all women experience insulin resistance to a point, as their bodies go through hormone and weight changes. Between weeks 24 - 28, your ObGyn will check for gestational diabetes. And though some women are more at-risk for developing it (pregnant women older than 25, women who are overweight, or women who experienced gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy), many women who are diagnosed are the...

Many women, when diagnosed with gestational diabetes, feel overwhelmed, even guilty. It’s important to understand that during pregnancy, women’s bodies go through many changes, including hormonal changes and weight gain. These changes cause a woman’s body to use insulin less efficiently. All women experience some insulin resistance during late pregnancy.  Gestational diabetes usually develops around week 24 of pregnancy, and all women should be tested for it. For women who do test positive for gestational diabetes,...

With the refrigerator shelves packed with different kinds of yogurt, it’s hard to know which is the best to buy. For pregnant women, most commercial yogurts are safe and, in fact pasteurized yogurt is a great snack choice throughout your pregnancy. Your developing baby needs calcium, proteins, and vitamin B12. Yogurt (PASTEURIZED) promotes healthy digestion, strengthens the immune system, and supports fetal development. What’s not to love? Why would somebody say not to eat yogurt? Some...

You might have heard about the dangers of papaya, pineapple, and grapes. Really, it seems like everything comes with a warning label these days. Rumors abound about the fruits that can cause harm to you and your developing baby. We’re here to tell you that you can breathe easy. That fruit salad you had at breakfast was most likely a healthy choice! With so much information out there, it’s hard to know what to believe. As...

There’s the saying you’re eating for two, but really the recommendations for a healthy diet plan during pregnancy don’t vary significantly from everyday life. But good nutrition is more important now than ever, as it is critical for both your and your developing baby’s health. We always recommend a nutrient-dense diet, keeping highly processed foods and fast food to a minimum. But what about the when? How many times a day should a pregnant woman eat? A...

While pregnant, nutrition is key to a baby’s healthy development and a mother’s safety. In the blur of planning for your baby's arrival, we recommend you plan to make good nutrition a priority. Your and your baby's lives count on it. Poor nutrition during pregnancy can have negative consequences for both the developing baby and the mother, putting both baby and mom at risk for complications during pregnancy, during childbirth, and even resulting in significant long-term...

We don’t like to generalize about expecting moms' universal needs because every woman’s pregnancy experience is unique. Likewise, every woman’s dietary needs during pregnancy and after birth are unique. Nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting the healthy development of the baby, supporting moms-to-be, helping Mom's body prepare for breastfeeding, and helping accelerate healing after birth. That said, nutrition plans that support those developmental stages are critical to reduce risks to both your child and...

During pregnancy, our bodies take on a life of their own. Some women feel surges of energy, while others simply feel rotten. Seeing a nutritionist during pregnancy can be an incredibly beneficial step for both you and your developing baby. Proper nutrition during pregnancy is essential to reduce risks of complications during pregnancy and birth, as well as for the growth and development of your baby. Here are some risks associated with poor nutrition during pregnancy: Low...

Pregnancy is strange. Certainly it’s miraculous. But ask any woman, and she’ll probably tell you it’s uncomfortable, exciting, daunting, terrifying, painful, overwhelming, nauseating, exhilarating. And, most definitely,  it’s … strange. First a woman grows an organ – the placenta. Then she grows another human being.  It’s the ultimate in awesome biology and chemistry and whoa! And, for some reason, everyone becomes a pregnancy expert as soon as they see a woman with a baby belly. These experts...

Every 4 ½ minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect (an estimated 1 in 33). When preparing for conception and pregnancy, there are ways to prevent birth defects. As a pregnancy nutrition group and registered dietitian nutritionists, we specialize in how to help a woman prepare for pregnancy and best nourish herself during pregnancy. Here are 8 easy steps to reduce the chance of birth defects in your child and make a PACT for...