Pregnancy is the period from conception to birth. During this time the Fetus develops within the womb with the nutrients provided by the mother, who then has to devote particular care to have a healthy diet. In fact, the diet taken during pregnancy should not be very different from a normal balanced diet, but one needs to avoid certain foods that may not benefit the unborn child. What really matters most, is not to have a poor diet, because the child will be much more sensitive to what you eat. In fact, it has been proven with certainty that a bad diet leads directly to a low birth weight of the child, a factor that increases the morbidity and perinatal mortality and increased frequency of congenital malformations.
The same applies to the lifestyle: smoking, a habit harmful for the mother, is even more for the unborn child, and the same goes for alcohol, which should be banned completely from the diet until conception. Consumption of caffeine should be reduced dramatically, especially during the later stages of pregnancy. In pregnancy weight gain is not fixed, because it depends on many factors, among which the most important are the weight of the fetus at birth and the nutritional status of women in early pregnancy.
The increase in weight should range from 10 to 15 kg (16 to 20 kg, while pregnant with twins), women who are overweight should stay in low values of this range.Weight gain during pregnancy should not be linear but only begin after the tenth week, and progress gradually, at a rate of about 350-400 g per week (750 g if the birth is twins). Physical activity in this period generally decreases, and thus, leads to more weight problems. As much as possible, try to walk and remain active. Always drink plenty of water and eat loads of fruit. Pregnancy should be a wonderful experience and not a time of dietary checks, yet it is very important to watch what you eat.