Congratulations, you are pregnant! The nine months of pregnancy is an exciting time, not just for you but for your growing baby! Think of all the incredible changes that happen in such a short period. Your baby starts as a single cell and rapidly grows, developing vital organs, a beating heart, and all five senses.

To support your baby’s healthiest development, your diet plays a crucial role. Through the food you eat, your baby receives essential vitamins, minerals, protein, and fluids needed for optimal growth. The best thing you can do during pregnancy is to nourish yourself with wholesome, nutrient-dense foods. Let's explore how proper nutrition benefits your baby.

Supporting Organ Development

Your baby has a limited time to develop vital organs such as the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys. A diet lacking in vitamin D or calcium can interfere with bone and tooth growth, while inadequate protein intake may impact organ development. Eating a well-balanced diet ensures that your baby has the building blocks needed for strong, healthy growth.

Influencing Your Baby’s Future Eating Habits

Research suggests that what you eat during pregnancy can shape your baby’s taste preferences. The flavors of the foods you consume pass into the amniotic fluid, exposing your baby to different tastes even before birth. A diet rich in vegetables and fruits may help your baby develop a preference for these foods when they start solids.

Impacting Your Baby’s Personality and Sleep Patterns

It may be surprising to learn that your diet can influence your baby’s temperament. Studies show that babies born to undernourished mothers tend to be drowsier and smile less than those whose mothers had a well-balanced diet. Additionally, mothers who consume adequate omega-3 fatty acids, particularly in the third trimester, tend to have babies with healthier sleep patterns.

Boosting Brain Development

Your baby’s brain experiences its most significant growth during the third trimester. Protein, healthy fats, and omega-3 fatty acids are critical during this time to support cognitive function and neural development. Prioritizing nutrient-rich foods can help give your baby the best possible start in life.

The Risks of Excessive Sugar and Unhealthy Fats

Consuming too much sugar and unhealthy fats during pregnancy can contribute to excessive weight gain and increase the risk of health concerns, such as gestational diabetes.

While weight gain is a normal part of pregnancy, being overweight can pose health risks. 

Excessive weight gain can increase the likelihood of high blood pressure and preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous condition for both mother and baby. Babies born to overweight mothers are at a higher risk of metabolic issues, childhood obesity, and insulin resistance.

Maintaining a balanced diet that limits or avoids junk food and drinks, and includes whole foods, fiber, lean proteins, and healthy fats, can help manage weight gain and promote a healthier pregnancy for both you and your baby.

Click here to learn what to eat in pregnancy. 

The Easiest Way to Get the Nutrition You Need

There has never been a more important time to eat healthily than during pregnancy. But with nausea, food aversions, and busy schedules, getting the right balance of nutrients can be challenging. 

That’s where the In Shape Mummy Pregnancy Superfood Health Shake can help! Specially designed for pregnant women, it provides a complete blend of plant-based protein, wholefood vitamins, and superfoods to support your healthy pregnancy —without any added sugar or artificial nasties.The delicious vanilla and chocolate brownie flavours make it easy to satisfy sweet cravings in a healhy way and manage weight.

Fuel your body and nourish your growing baby with In Shape Mummy Pregnancy Superfood Health Shake —the ultimate nutrition solution for mums-to-be!