Is it harmful to skip meals during pregnancy?

Your developing baby will extract all the nutrients essential for its growth through the placenta & your blood. Therefore, your diet is important for the proper growth of your baby. Baby’s organ which is formed during the first few weeks of pregnancy, require certain vitamins & minerals to develop correctly. However, skipping meals will cause harm to you and your baby. Therefore, you need a continuous intake of nutritious food for proper growth of your baby as well as you. HMOM is one of the tried & tested app for suggesting & maintaining proper diet (trimester-wise) & diet reminders which will help you to eat on time without getting starved & missing your meals.

                                                             • How Much To Eat

Growing a baby takes a lot of nutrition out of you. So, women beginning their pregnancy at a normal weight should eat an average of 300 extra calories per day. Over-weight or under-weight women should speak with their doctor about their nutritional needs. Eating regularly also helps stave off nausea, a common complaint in early pregnancy.

                                                             • What to Eat

A diet containing a variety of vegetables, fruits, dairy foods, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats and oils, such as from nuts and avocados, helps in the proper development of baby's organs and bones. Dark green vegetables and fortified cereals and juices are good sources of folic acid, Vitamin – B are important for reducing the chance of neural tube defects. Calcium is vital for strong bones and teeth while aiding your circulation and nervous system.

                                                              • How to Avoid Meal


Skipping It should be a priority not to skip meals, and this can take a bit of planning. Keep healthy grab-and-go options like dry fruit and nuts on hand to eat. Set an alarm every couple of hours if you need to remind yourself to eat.

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What are some healthy activities to do during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a very unique phase one could even witness in her life. Follow up with the general schedule for an uncomplicated pregnancy: From the beginning of your pregnancy through 28 weeks you will have a monthly appointment. From 28-36 weeks, you will have an appointment every 2 – 3 weeks. From 36 weeks until delivery, you will have a weekly appointment. Before beginning any exercise program, talk with your doctor to make sure you do not have any obstetric or health conditions that would limit your activity.

Ask about any specific exercise or sports that interest you. Your doctor can offer advice about what type of exercise routine is best for you. The extra weight you are carrying will make your body work harder than before you were pregnant. Exercise increases the flow of oxygen and blood to the muscles being worked and away from other parts of your body. Therefore, it is important to not overdo it. Try to exercise moderately so you don’t get tired quickly. If you are able to talk normally while exercising, your heart rate is at an acceptable level. Staying active is great for you and the baby. If you have an uncomplicated pregnancy you can continue your current exercise regimen with a few modifications. Routine dental work is safe during pregnancy and we encourage you to keep up with your normal dental health routine.

Keep track of when you feel nauseated and what causes it. If continued vomiting occurs, do not eat or drink anything until the vomiting has stopped. As you feel better, try some small amounts of clear liquids (broth, Jello, apple, grape or cranberry juice, and / or popsicles.) A certain amount of swelling (called edema) is normal during pregnancy. It occurs most often in the legs. Elevating the legs usually reduces the swelling by the next morning. Swelling can begin during the last few months of pregnancy, and it may occur more often in the summer. Let your doctor or nurse know if you have swelling in your hands or face, because this may be a sign of another problem. A clue that your hands are swollen is that your rings are too tight. Never take medications (water pills) for swelling unless they have been prescribed for you by your OB/GYN. At least half of all pregnant women seem to have problems with constipation. One reason for this may be changes in hormones that slow the movement of food through the digestive tract your uterus may add to the problem. Here are some suggestions that may help:

• Drink plenty of liquids at least 6-8 glasses of water each day, including 1-2 glasses of fruit juice such as prune juice.

• Liquids (such as coffee, tea and cola) which make you go to the bathroom should not be ingested. They will tend to create a negative water balance in your body and thus make your stools harder and more difficult to pass.

• Eat food high in fiber, such as raw fruits and vegetables and bran cereals.

• Exercise daily. Walking is a good form of exercise.

• Senokot, Doxidan, Metamucil, Colace, Milk of Magnesia and other gentle stool softeners are safe to use in pregnancy In the last three months of pregnancy, you may find that you have more leg cramps.

Get plenty of calcium (three glasses of milk or a supplement) and potassium (oranges or bananas). Stretching your legs before going to bed can help relieve cramps. Avoid pointing your toes when stretching or exercising. Your prenatal vitamins should be the only supplement used during pregnancy unless your doctor specifically directs you to use an additional product.


Prenatal vitamins are vital in the wake of the increased demands of pregnancy. Growing a new person isn’t easy on your body, and you will require additional vitamins and minerals in your diet—like folic acid, calcium, and iron—for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Rather than just selecting a prenatal vitamin yourself, talk to your doctor or midwife about if you need a special formulation (i.e., in cases of anemia or nutritional deficiencies), and if a tablet, capsule, or liquid prenatal vitamin will work most efficiently. You can do your part to prevent stretch marks by drinking lots of water to keep skin hydrated, by massaging your skin daily with a moisturizer or oil that’s high in vitamin A and vitamin E (i.e., cocoa butter) to prevent stretch marks, and increase circulation and tissue repair; and by consuming a diet that’s rich in skin-supporting vitamins—E, C, A, and zinc.

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What are your biggest nutrition questions during pregnancy?

Diet places a very crucial role in pregnancy. Write the amount of nutritious diet intake is very essential in pregnancy as it will not only affect your baby as well. Make sure you are having a healthy and balanced diet that include all fruit and vegetables, all dairy products, lentils, lean meat, eggs, poultry, all cereals, healthy fats. Just make yourself aware of some food that you have to strictly avoid during your pregnancy.
You should avoid raw, undercooked eggs as they contain harmful salmonella bacteria which cause food poisoning. Undercooked and raw meat and poultry, such as pink or raw meat that is bloody contains Toxoplasma parasite and harmful bacteria Salmonella. Salmonella increases the risk of food poisoning and leads to miscarriage or fetal death during delivery also. You can eat homemade well-cooked and hot meat and poultry. Fish containing mercury can damage your nervous system, immune system, and kidneys and also cause serious developmental problems in children if consumed unpasteurized milk and fruit juices contain an array of harmful bacteria which leads to bacterial contamination.
Avoid Papayas, especially the unripe and semi-ripe ones are rich in latex, which can cause uterine contractions and create complications. Avoid Pineapple as it can break down proteins in the body and lead to abnormal bleeding. Caffeine intake should be to less than 200 mg per day, or about 2–3 cups of coffee while pregnancy, taking high caffeine during pregnancy should restrict fetal growth and increase the risk of low birth weight at delivery. Avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy as it increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. It can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, which involves facial deformities, heart defects, and mental retardation.

In the second trimester, you can have food that is rich in calcium and vitamin D, which is necessary for baby's bones and teeth development and omega-3 fatty acids rich food, which are important for your baby's brain development.
In the third trimester, you can have food that will boost your energy, just when you need it most. Also have foods that contain vitamin K, which helps your body to heal well after birth. Eat small meals frequently, and ensure they are nutritious and contain lots of fruits and vegetables. Avoid oily food and foods that may upset the stomach, such as carbonated drinks, spicy foods, and processed meats. Your diet can be the leading cause of heartburn; managing this can help avoid heartburn during pregnancy. Continue folic acid tablets during pregnancy. A healthy intake of the food with perfect nutritional analysis assures that the baby development has got the perfect beginning.

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Which is the correct month for intake of folic acid during pregnancy?

Folic acid is a B vitamin that has been shown to reduce the risk of spina bifida. 1 mg (1000 micrograms) is recommended during the month prior to pregnancy and for the first 2 months after conception to reduce this risk.

More folic acid may be recommended if you have a personal or family history of spina bifida including a prior affected child. A prenatal vitamin is a general multivitamin with 800-1000 micrograms of folic acid, as well as calcium and iron. Most women continue their vitamins after the second month to help reduce anemia and make up for any imperfections in the diet. If you are not anemic and eat a well-balanced diet, stopping prenatal vitamins at 2 months of pregnancy is acceptable.

After 12 weeks the baby begins to make bone and will draw the necessary calcium from your bones. To prevent bone loss 1000-1500 mg of calcium is recommended. This equates to 4-5 servings of milk, yogurt or dairy. Since this is difficult to consume, take a calcium supplement (usually 500-600 mg) to make up the difference. Don’t take calcium and iron (in the multivitamin) at the same time as they can offset each other’s absorption. While calcium citrate (“Citracal”) is the best absorbed, other types of calcium such as fruit flavored “Tums” and “Viactiv” (chocolate flavored) may be more appealing.

 If you eat fish 3 times weekly you are getting plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids, or Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). If not, take a supplement containing 200mg of DHA (from fish oil or flax seed oil). There is a growing body of evidence that EFA deficiency may contribute to a number of pregnancy complications including preterm labor and pre-eclampsia. EFAs may help fetal eye and brain development, may improve mom’s skin, hair, and nails and are also passed into breast milk. Prenatal vitamins are vital in the wake of the increased demands of pregnancy. Growing a new person isn’t easy on your body, and you will require additional vitamins and minerals in your diet—like folic acid, calcium, and iron—for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Rather than just selecting a prenatal vitamin yourself, talk to your doctor or midwife about if you need a special formulation (i.e., in cases of anemia or nutritional deficiencies), and if a tablet, capsule, or liquid prenatal vitamin will work most efficiently.

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