Making babies? Don’t diet while you do it

Dieting can deplete your body of valuable nutrients, especially if the regime is very low calorie or, worse still, faddy, where you eliminate or concentrate on particular types of food. No baby is going to have the best start in life if she’s conceived while you’re eating nothing but cabbage soup.

Going into a pregnancy overweight also presents health risks.

‘It puts you at risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. It’s also more difficult to lose weight after the baby is born,’ says Colette Kelly, nutritional scientist with the British Nutrition Foundation. Conversely, if you are too thin you may find it difficult to conceive because your periods can be erratic.

Shape up in advance

If you need to lose or gain weight, Dr Doyle’s advice is to start shaping up a year before you try for a baby. You should stop dieting for at least three months, preferably longer, before you and your partner get down to serious baby making activities. ‘I think of it in terms of red blood cells. They have a three-month life,’ explains Dr Doyle. ‘I would also recommend taking a pre-conceptual multivitamin and mineral supplement while you’re dieting to maintain your nutritional status and carry on taking it during the conception period. Make sure it contains 400 micrograms of folic acid.’

Shed your excess pounds by increasing the amount of exercise you do, and decreasing portion size rather than eliminating foods altogether. And try to keep alcohol intake down. ‘If it’s a sensible diet the baby won’t be deprived of anything,’ says Kelly. ‘Follow general healthy eating guidelines: eat more fruit and vegetables, plenty of starchy foods like bread and pasta. Don’t cut out milk and milk products, and go for lean meats, fish and chicken.