Pregnancy & lactation nutrition is not about restricting calories or trying to lose weight. Additional nutrition is required during pregnancy depending on the trimester to meet the requirement of the growing fetus as well as mother herself.

Dramatic changes occur throughout pregnancy, including in the earliest days, sometimes before women realize they’re pregnant. Therefore, adequate nutrition is vital for women who are trying to conceive or may become pregnant. In addition, women who are either underweight or obese before becoming pregnant can find it more difficult to get pregnant and face greater risks of pregnancy complications. Therefore, it’s recommended to establish healthy eating and exercise habits and work towards a healthy weight before pregnancy. Nutrition before conception is also important for fathers; studies have shown that sperm quality is better in fathers who have a healthy body weight & a healthy dietary pattern

Similarly, lactating women requires extra nutrition to secrete adequate quantity & quality of milk to feed the baby & to recover herself. Inadequate nutrients in mother diet is directly related to poor quality & quantity of breast milk which have direct effect on baby’s growth & development.