While it is important to have healthy eating habits during pregnancy, it is not recommended that you attempt to lose weight. Losing weight places the health of the growing fetus at risk.

Further reasons for not strictly dieting during pregnancy include:

• Inadequate energy intake could "starve" the fetus of nutrients, especially in the third trimester, and increase the risk of a low birth weight baby.
  
  
• Excessive weight loss can produce ketones, a by-product of fat breakdown, that may be detrimental to the baby's development.
  
  
• The mother runs the risk of ill-health both during pregnancy and in subsequent years e.g. inadequate calcium will increase the risk of osteoporosis (brittle bones) in later years.
  
  
• Unbalanced nutrition during pregnancy can severely affect milk production during lactation. Adequate protein and energy is required for optimal growth of the mammary glands. Even adequate nutrition during lactation may not overcome the lack of mammary gland growth that occurred during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, there are certain foods that should be avoided due to the health risks they pose to the developing fetus, including alcohol, caffeine, fish that contains mercury and foods that potentially carry listeria, such as:

• Soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert and ricotta (these are safe if cooked and served hot)
• Takeout cooked chicken, served cold, as used in chicken sandwiches or sushi
• Cold meats, including ham and salami
• Pate
• Pre-prepared salads, such as coleslaw or pasta salad from the deli or a smorgasbord
• Raw seafood, such as oysters and sashimi
• Smoked seafood, such as smoked salmon or smoked oysters (canned smoked oysters are safe)

For more information on potential food hazards during pregnancy, see the CalorieKing.com article What Not to Eat When Pregnant

During pregnancy, your body undergoes major changes and many temporary conditions develop such as indigestion, constipation and morning sickness. Some of these conditions are related to the digestive system and can be eased with changes to your diet.

For more information, see the CalorieKing.com article Coping with Diet-related Pregnancy Conditions