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Pregnancy Nutrition from A to Z

A Comprehensive List of Nutrition Issues for Moms-to-be

By Donna Smith

Tea and coffee consumption during pregnancy is a controversial subject. According to Nutritionist Alison Gamble, consuming 300 milligrams or more of caffeine is considered heavy usage, and those women are 50 percent more likely to spontaneously abort. It also increases the risk of having a low birth weight baby, and a study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood reported that children of women who consumed 400 milligrams a day were more than twice as likely to die of SIDS. Consuming large amounts doesn't mean you'll have problems, but it increases the risks. Three, 5-ounce cups of coffee contain about 300 milligrams.

Urine should not have much color to it. "If it's not nearly clear, then you're probably not drinking enough water," says pre- and postnatal fitness expert Catherine Cram. "It's helpful to fill a large quart bottle of water in the morning and try and drink it by noon and repeat for the afternoon, adding additional water as needed if you're exercising. It's helpful to consume the greater portion of water earlier in the day, so you don't have to make late-night bathroom visits."

Varicose veins that become enlarged around the rectal area are what we refer to as hemorrhoids. "The hormones of pregnancy cause a relaxation of all smooth muscle," says Shirley Moore, certified nurse-midwife. "The veins are smooth muscles. This relaxation in combination with the increased blood volume and pressure that occurs during pregnancy makes a pregnant woman more prone to hemorrhoids." Moore advises pregnant women to keep the stools soft by drinking lots of fluids and including foods high in fiber in her diet, such as whole-grain breads, beans, cereals and vegetables.

Want to see more?

• Two of Everything, Please: Debunking the Myth of Eating for Two
• Foodborne Illnesses: What You Should Know
• Eating for Three (or More): The Special Nutritional Needs of Moms Carrying Multiples
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!