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Pregnancy is a time of excitement, and many questions arise about what diet contributes to a successful pregnancy. Communicating with an expert who will answer these questions can help put the pregnant person’s mind at ease.
That’s where a pregnancy dietitian comes in: they provide nutrition counseling specific to prenatal and postnatal nutrition.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD or RDN) have completed advanced training in food and nutrition and how this impacts the body. To become an RDN, one must complete a minimum of a Master’s degree, have at least 900 hours of supervised practice, and pass a national certification exam. Many registered dietitians receive training that allows them to specialize in areas such as diabetes, kidney disease, or gastrointestinal health. Some do additional advanced training focusing on women’s health and prenatal and postpartum nutrition.
An RDN is a healthcare professional and part of the pregnant person’s healthcare team.
The term “nutritionist” can be used by anyone and does not require any education or certification.
Being pregnant can be overwhelming due to the amount of conflicting information that is readily available. Once family and friends find out someone is pregnant, they often immediately offer advice on the best foods and diets to follow, not to mention all of the information available on social media and other online sources.
How can a pregnant person know who to trust?
An RDN with additional training in working with pregnant people can be a trusted resource for all things nutrition during and after pregnancy. They provide expert, evidence-based nutrition counseling to help ensure the health and wellness of both the pregnant person and the baby.
When an RDN works with pregnant clients, they begin by assessing their current diet and identifying any gaps between their eating and what is needed for a healthy pregnancy.
During the assessment, more than just eating is reviewed. The RDN also reviews the client’s overall health, any health conditions they should be aware of, such as diabetes, PCOS, or high blood pressure, and food and cultural preferences.
This information helps the dietitian develop a comprehensive plan that closes the nutritional gaps and accounts for the client’s health, preferences, and cultural requirements.
Meal plans can be helpful tools to guide eating and ensure that all nutritional needs are met.
After completing the assessment, an RDN can help the client create a balanced diet that will account for all of the client’s needs and support the baby’s growth and development. Additionally, the dietitian will recommend any additional vitamin supplements that may be necessary based on nutritional gaps.
The diet plan will also account for healthy weight gain, which is critical to supporting the baby’s growth and development.
Pregnancy can bring with it a myriad of adverse symptoms, including nausea, acid reflux, low energy levels, and loss of appetite. Some pregnant people develop food aversions, which can limit the foods and overall variety and nutritional composition of their diet.
An RDN can help clients understand and overcome these symptoms. Often, different solutions are needed than those used for those who are not pregnant. If the client is dealing with food aversions, the dietitian helps these patients find alternative foods that will be palatable while meeting their nutritional needs.
While pregnancy itself has its own inherent reflux and nausea symptoms, it can also aggravate responses to certain foods.
Sometimes, foods that trigger reactions such as nausea or acid reflux are immediately apparent. However, other times, it is difficult to determine which food is causing the reaction. This can be a concern because if the amount of food eaten is reduced, key nutrients may be missing from the pregnant client’s diet, and they may find it challenging to achieve appropriate weight gain and nutritional needs fo the growing fetus.
An RDN helps their clients identify their trigger foods – the food or foods that may be causing the problem. Once these foods are identified, other foods can be substituted in the client’s meal plan.
Since symptoms and trigger foods will likely change over the pregnancy, this process is ongoing, with adjustments being made as needed.
Some pregnant people develop gestational diabetes. This is a specific type of diabetes that may occur during pregnancy. An RDN helps clients learn how to manage gestational diabetes through modifications to their diet and simple lifestyle changes.
Having gestational diabetes increases the risk for the pregnant person to develop Type 2 diabetes in the future. If this is the case, the dietitian can continue to be a resource for nutrition information after pregnancy.
After a client has given birth, the RDN can provide postpartum support. A healthy diet is still a primary concern in facilitating breastfeeding while achieving a healthy post-pregnancy weight in a realistic time frame.
A dietitian helps clients understand what a healthy weight loss amount is while providing appropriate nutrition for the baby. They help their clients maintain a healthy diet after giving birth and beyond.
When looking for a pregnancy dietitian, it is essential to understand their qualifications as a prenatal nutritionist. Below are some factors to consider when choosing a registered dietitian nutritionist.
Registered dietitian nutritionists complete the education and training mentioned previously. If you are seeking an RDN for prenatal nutrition counseling, you may want to work with one who specializes in women’s health or has specific experiences with pregnancy conditions. This information should be readily available on their website or by asking them.
When working with any medical provider, clients should feel like their concerns are heard and taken seriously. The same is true when working with a registered dietitian. The RDN should listen openly to the client’s needs, desires, and concerns. They should be able to make the often complex nutrition information understandable and applicable to the client’s life. They should address the client’s fears or concerns with respect and understanding while helping find ways to overcome them.
Customer service infuses every aspect of an interaction with the dietitian. They should be available to the client for support when needed. The dietitian should treat everyone kindly and with respect, whether they are the pregnant person, partner, or family members involved in appointments.
When appropriate, the RDN can also interface with other healthcare team members, including the OB/GYN, PCP, and midwife.
Nutrition research is constantly being updated, and new findings are being released. A dietitian should keep up-to-date on research and how it applies to their clients. Dietitians also understand that each client is unique, and the recommendations made for one may not work for another. That’s why they need to be able to adapt their nutrition coaching recommendations to each client.
An RDN who specializes in working with those who are pregnant is a critical part of the healthcare team. They provide expert guidance and help ensure a balanced diet that includes all of the key nutrients and helps support a healthy pregnancy. RDNs have nutrition programs that follow the pregnancy through the prenatal to postnatal times.
Offices currently located in Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, and Rochester, NY, but we see patients all across the country.
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