Will the baby only get fatter in the later stages of pregnancy? Nutritionist: Eating starch this way won’t make you fat

There is a rumor on the Internet: "The weight gained by pregnant mothers in the later stages of pregnancy is for the fat child, because the baby needs to grow meat and she will not get fat..." As a result, many pregnant mothers start to find ways to eat a lot, especially starchy foods such as fried rice and fried noodles, and they also like to drink beverages and fruit juices, and they will accept anything. As a result, my weight skyrocketed until the end of the delivery period, when I suddenly realized that it was really difficult to lose weight and I wanted to cry.

Excessive intake of calories will accumulate on pregnant mothers

Is it true that no matter how much you eat during the late stages of pregnancy, you won’t gain weight? As cells begin to differentiate rapidly in the later stages of pregnancy, the growth rate of the fetus will increase significantly, and this stage is when weight changes fastest. On the other hand, some pregnant mothers are influenced by online rumors and think that "the weight gained in the late pregnancy will not make you fat, but will only make the baby grow more flesh", so they eat a lot in the last few weeks of pregnancy, and end up weighing more than 20 kilograms like a blown-up balloon.

Pregnant mothers should not think that they will not get fat by eating a lot. In fact, any excess calories consumed will still accumulate on their body instead of going to the baby. Nutritionist Huang Xiaotong said that it is recommended that pregnant mothers increase their calorie intake by 300 calories more per day than the average person and maintain a balanced diet. This will provide the fetus with enough nutrition, keep the head strong and healthy, and prevent themselves from becoming too fat and getting out of control.

Excessive intake of sugar may affect blood sugar fluctuations and lead to obesity

Some pregnant mothers particularly like to eat starchy foods in the later stages of pregnancy, including fried rice, pasta, bread, etc. In addition to increasing the sense of fullness, since these are refined starches, they will allow the body to quickly obtain sugars, which are carbohydrates, including starch, fruits, vegetables, and fiber foods. However, carbohydrates are digested and absorbed and converted into body energy the fastest, but they may affect blood sugar fluctuations and lead to obesity. Therefore, excessive consumption of refined starch will increase calorie intake, cause fat accumulation, and cause blood sugar to soar, which is not a good thing for the pregnant mother or the fetus. Although pregnant women can eat starch, it is still advisable to eat in moderation.

Excess calories consumed during pregnancy will still accumulate in the pregnant woman's body instead of going to the baby.

Pregnant mothers should avoid sugary drinks to avoid large fluctuations in blood sugar.

Pregnant mothers choose good carbohydrates and eat moderately to avoid obesity

How should pregnant mothers eat starchy foods wisely so as not to gain weight? Nutritionist Huang Xiaotong recommends that you try to choose good carbohydrates, also known as "complex carbohydrates," and avoid overly refined sugars. In principle, as long as the food is not overly refined and is kept in its original state as much as possible, such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, whole-grain rice, oatmeal, fresh fruits and vegetables, etc., they are all complex carbohydrates. This type of carbohydrate is rich in dietary fiber and various vitamins and minerals, and can provide the nutrition needed by babies.

Moreover, dietary fiber helps stabilize blood sugar and promotes intestinal motility, helping pregnant mothers get rid of constipation. Please note that it is very important to control the portion size. It does not mean that you can eat as much carbohydrates as you want. Excessive consumption will also cause a burden on the body.

Pregnant mothers should avoid sugary drinks to avoid large fluctuations in blood sugar

In addition to the fact that excessive sugar intake can easily lead to obesity, what is really scary is sugary drinks. Some pregnant mothers have heard that drinking more fruit juice during pregnancy will make the baby's skin white, so they drink concentrated fruit juice desperately, especially without paying attention to juice made from high-GI fruits, such as watermelon juice, pineapple juice, etc. As a result, blood sugar levels fluctuate greatly. If the pregnant mother has diabetes, the symptoms will be even worse.

Generally speaking, obstetricians and gynecologists recommend not to gain more than 12 kg during pregnancy. Some pregnant women even only gain 8 to 10 kg during the entire pregnancy. If you gain too much weight during pregnancy, it can increase your risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. If the fetus is too large, it may lead to dystocia.

Iron supplementation is very important in late pregnancy. It is recommended that pregnant mothers eat more iron-rich foods, such as red meat, fish, clams, red amaranth, dark green vegetables, etc.

【Nutritional supplements in late pregnancy】:

Pregnant mothers should pay attention to the following nutrients in their diet during the late stages of pregnancy:

Take in enough protein: Protein is an indispensable nutrient for the construction of fetal organs and cell differentiation. Pregnant mothers are advised to take in sufficient high-quality protein. Soybeans and their products, including fish, eggs, meat, milk and dairy products, are all good food sources.

Iron supplementation: During pregnancy and childbirth, there will be blood loss, so iron supplementation is very important in the late pregnancy. It is recommended that pregnant mothers eat more iron-rich foods, such as red meat, fish, clams, red amaranth, dark green vegetables, etc. Remember to supplement vitamin C at the same time to increase the absorption rate of iron from plant foods. Foods such as guava, strawberry, kiwi, citrus fruits, bell peppers, bean sprouts, etc. are all good sources of vitamin C.