Your baby’s health during your pregnancy solely depends on you – what and when you consume is important to both of you. Intermittent fasting is a diet that many turn to to lose weight and improve health. This is a time restricted form of fasting and you may wonder if it’s healthy to keep up this kind of eating while trying to get pregnant or when you are pregnant.
Is it safe to fast while I am pregnant?
Fasting during your pregnancy is not recommended. While there is research that shows this may be a good way to help with weight loss and potentially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, this is not ideal when your body needs more calories than normal.
While pregnant your nutritional focus should be to make sure that your baby is getting all the right vitamins and minerals. While in the initial stages of pregnancy you might not need more calories than normal, as your pregnancy progresses you will need to eat more – making fasting a less viable option.
However, if you are struggling with morning sickness (most prevalent in the first trimester), you’ll find that eating bland foods little and often can help ease the nausea, which isn’t compatible with fasting for hours at a time. Not only will snacking help keep the nausea at bay, but it’ll also keep your blood sugar stable.
While there aren’t studies that look at intermittent fasting throughout pregnancy, it has been found that moms-to-be with lower glucose levels had lower fetal movement, which can be a warning sign of potential issues during your pregnancy.
Can I start intermittent fasting straight after birth?
If you’ve decided to eat regularly during your pregnancy, you may wonder if you can return to your old lifestyle after having your baby. However, while you are breastfeeding it’s best to stick to a regular eating schedule. Even after birth your body will be needing extra calories for breastfeeding – restricting these can lead to reduced milk supply
For 2025 we have a renewed Female Health Programme:In collaboration with CareWorks, it’s accessible to all female members aged 18 and above, with an emphasis on preventative care and early detection of female-specific health issues. In addition, we have an enhanced Maternity Programme to support expecting mothers. This includes early identification of and weekly engagement for high-risk pregnancies, post-childbirth care and associated mental health follow-up calls for new mums, given the prevalence of pre and postnatal depression. Also, milestone reminders for children under 3 and cover for antenatal vitamins through savings, day-to-day benefits or the Benefit Booster
Bonitas Medical Fund
0860 002 108
View Website: www.bonitas.co.za
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