le questionnaire alimentaire

Pregnancy and post-pregnancy
 
  Food suggestions to help prevent nausea and other complications in pregnancy.
Answer

Nausea and vomiting

During the first three months of your pregnancy, you may often experience nausea in the morning when your stomach is empty. Sometimes, this can last all day and be accompanied by vomiting.

Since it seems to happen most often when your stomach is empty, it is a good idea to eat a solid breakfast first thing in the morning.

If you continue to feel nauseous throughout the day, it is better to eat frequent, light meals and to avoid foods that are hard to digest, rich dishes and kitchen odors. It also may be helpful to eat more solid foods than liquids.

Acid stomach and heartburn

You may experience an acidic stomach or heartburn at the end of your pregnancy. To alleviate this, you should:
- eat smaller meals.
- avoid foods that are hard to digest as well as acidic foods.
- avoid lying down after a meal.

Constipation

You may become constipated during pregnancy. It is recommended that you:
- drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, making sure that you drink at least one glass in the morning on an empty stomach.
- eat large amounts of fiber-rich foods (green vegetables, whole grain bread and cereals, etc).
- do some exercise.

Bloating

You may feel especially bloated after meals. To alleviate bloating, it is recommended that you:
- chew your food well.
- avoid foods that are hard for you to tolerate.

Eat smaller meals. Drink herbal tea such as lemon verbena, mint, lime or camomile tea after a meal.

To reduce your risk of toxoplasmosis

This disease can be very dangerous for the fetus. It is recommended that you:
- avoid any contact with cat feces (do not change the litter tray).
- wash your hands regularly (especially before preparing meals).
- make sure that meat is cooked thoroughly, especially lamb.
- wash raw vegetables and fruit well.
- clean the refrigerator regularly.
- do not eat goat's cheese.

To reduce the risk of listeriosis

Listeriosis is contracted primarily by eating cheeses made from unpasteurized milk (ex blue cheese, goat's cheese, feta, brie), deli meats, some seafood, and undercooked meats. Pregnant women are more susceptible to serious problems from listeriosis, so these foods must be avoided.

To reduce your risk of food poisoning

During pregnancy, it is best to avoid seafood because it spoils quickly and is very susceptible to bacteria.

To avoid an excess of vitamin A

Too much vitamin A is toxic for the baby.
This vitamin can be found in high doses in liver.
During pregnancy, do not eat organ meat (especially liver) more than one or two times a month.

Avoid tobacco and alcohol

The fetus does not need alcohol and it can be very dangerous for your baby (it can cause congenital defects).

Cigarette smoking is one of the main causes of low birth rate.
It also causes slow development and can lead to premature birth.

Avoid drinking too many caffeinated beverages such as coffee or tea

Coffee and tea contains caffeine. Too much caffeine is poorly tolerated. It can lead to fatigue and loss of appetite and cause insomnia.

During pregnancy, we recommend that you drink these kinds of beverages in moderation.

Do some gentle exercise

As long as you do not have any medical complications and your doctor agrees, you can do gentle physical activities such as walking, swimming, or stationary bicycling.

Take a look at the FAQ on 'Nutritional needs of pregnant women'