Dietitian services are offered at CIW to help our patients achieve a healthy pregnancy. We have a registered dietitian onsite to create an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Having a dietitian onsite is very helpful for those with at-risk pregnancies, due to the fact that diet can play a major role in the health of you and your unborn baby. Want to learn more about our dietitian services? Read on!
What does a prenatal dietitian do?
The job of a prenatal dietitian is to provide nutritional guidance to help achieve healthy weight gain in expectant mothers and adequate growth of the fetus. Furthermore, a prenatal dietician shares tailored dietary advice for women dealing with common symptoms of pregnancy such as nausea, constipation, reflux, and nutrient deficiencies.
How important is nutrition during each trimester?
During the first trimester of pregnancy, nutrition is very important in helping women customize their lifestyles to meet their bodies nutritional needs. Our nutritionist will teach women about foods to limit or avoid, and explain weight gain targets during pregnancy. In the second and third trimesters, nutrition is also vital in assessing weight gain, management of gestational diabetes, and increasing macronutrient needs if the fetus is not growing optimally.
How do you help expecting mothers maintain a healthy diet during pregnancy?
Our prenatal dietitian helps pregnant women maintain a healthy diet by sharing individualized dietary advice, meal plans, and resources that apply to their stage of pregnancy. We also take into account any health conditions that the expectant mother may have, which may permit closer dietary surveillance.
What kinds of services are available to CIW patients during pregnancy? How often are you available to patients at CIW?
Nutrition and diabetes in pregnancy teachings are offered at CIW Monday-Thursday 8:00am-3:30pm.
Can you create personalized diet plans to suit different patient’s needs?
Definitely! Our dietitian and staff can create customized diet plans for patients who have health needs or conditions which require greater emphasis on specific nutrients during pregnancy.
What are the biggest misconceptions about proper diet during pregnancy?
A very obvious misconception is that, because the expectant mother is eating for two, she must double her caloric intake. For most singleton pregnancies, a woman needs only about 300-500 extra calories per day. However, for multiple pregnancies, caloric needs usually double. We also like to clarify any questions that address cultural myths regarding unnecessary dietary restrictions.
What is the greatest benefit to a customized prenatal diet?
At CIW, we believe prenatal diet and lifestyle counseling helps to address habits and behaviors the expectant mother can work on to feel her best during pregnancy, as well as better her health and wellbeing throughout the pregnancy.
If you are interested in learning more about our offered dietitian services at CIW, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.