Fertility and Nutrition

If you’re trying to get pregnant:

Healthful eating is one of the best ways you can prepare your body for pregnancy. Aim for your healthy weight. Both extreme underweight and extreme overweight may affect a woman’s menstrual cycle and ovulations and therefore reduce fertility. Your body produces estrogen in the ovaries and in fat cells. If you are very thin, your body won’t produce as much estrogen in fat cells. If you are overweight, your body’s fat cells may produce too much. Both conditions can throw off the fragile hormonal balance that promotes fertility.

Take caution with dietary supplements that claim to enhance fertility. Not enough is known about the risks or the benefits of extra vitamins, minerals or herbals and how they might affect your unborn baby. A registered dietitian can work with you to develop a pregnancy meal plan for a healthy weight.

If you are pregnant:

Pregnancy is not a time to lose weight. Restricting calories and nutrients during pregnancy is not healthy for either the mother or fetus. Overweight women should gain about 2 pounds in the first trimester and 2/3 pounds per week thereafter, achieving a total gain of 15 to 25 pounds.