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Article Reviewed by: Casey Seiden MS, RD, CDN, DCES

Meeting with a Registered Dietitian can come with a lot of benefits, especially during pregnancy. At Carnegie Imagine for Women, we offer dietitian services so you can get the care you need for a variety of concerns. If you’re considering scheduling an appointment, it can be helpful to know what to expect. Here are some common questions about meeting with our Registered dietitian, Casey Seiden, and how to get started. 

What can a Registered Dietitian help with? 

A Registered Dietitian can help with a variety of different things, whether as part of your pregnancy care or your lifestyle habits. This can include: 

• Adequate weight gain for mother and baby 
• Ensuring a well-balanced, nutritionally complete diet 
• Meal planning strategies, tools, and recipe inspiration 
• Assessment of supplement needs during pregnancy 
• Nutrition for twin pregnancies 
• Nutritional management for endocrine disorders such as PCOS 
• Optimal nutrition for fertility and preconception 
• Managing nausea and vomiting, or gastrointestinal discomfort 

An RD who is also a CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist) can also help with diabetes management related to blood sugar monitoring and medication. This is an important step in gestational diabetes care, so make sure to look for a dietitian with this certification. 

What should I bring with me to my consult? 

There’s no need to bring anything concrete with you; just yourself and an open mind! Typically, people think of dietitians as the “food police.” This is the furthest thing from how we approach nutrition with our patients, so we recommend coming with an attitude of self-motivation and openness to being supported to make positive changes. If you have questions, of course bring those as well. Also, if you are taking medications or supplements, it’s helpful to know the names and doses. 

What questions should I make sure to ask? 

Once we discuss your specific diet and habits, it’s likely that any questions you might have will be answered. However, it can be helpful to come prepared with some questions to get you started on thinking about your care plan and how we can help. Important things you may want to bring up are: 

• Are there ways I can improve my diet to help meet my vitamin and mineral needs during pregnancy? 
• What prenatal vitamin or supplements should I be taking? 
• How can you help me be consistent with my diet throughout pregnancy? 
• What type of exercise is safe or recommended? 
• What food safety concerns do I need to be aware of? 

If you have any symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting, make sure you bring that up so we can address any questions or concerns related to that. 

Schedule an Appointment 

We’re excited to help you transform your exercise and eating habits so you can meet your nutritional needs and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. To meet with our Registered Dietitian and learn more, we invite you to contact our New York City office by calling or filling out our online form. 

Carnegie Imaging for Women blogs are intended for educational purposes only and do not replace certified professional care. Medical conditions vary and change frequently. Please ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding your condition to receive a proper diagnosis or risk analysis. Thank you!