Is it okay to diet when you're pregnant

[ChristySmiles]

Is it a good idea to diet when you're pregnant? Personally, I don't think that this is the best idea, but my friend is insistent on doing it and she's 3 months pregnant. Wouldn't dieting be bad for the unborn baby?

[tara]

Dieting isn't necessarily bad for the mother or the unborn baby. It all depends on the diet, really. If your friend is planning to eat healthy but still get the number of calories she needs, I don't see any real harm in it. I mean, the best thing she can do is discuss her options and concerns with her doctor, if losing weight is important to her.

[Beth]

I don't see why it's bad. Of course you can watch what you eat and watch your calorie consumption when you're pregnant. As long as what you're doing isn't harming the growth of your unborn child, it really shouldn't matter. Still, if your friend's weight is a concern to her, this is something she should really be discussing with her doctor to make sure she does it right.

[tracy1976]

Dieting isn't bad for the expected mom or the baby as long as the diet is safe and she's not depriving her body of any nutrients and calories it needs. I agree with everyone that this is something she really needs to bring up with her doctor. Her doctor can help her find the type of diet plan that will work best for her health and the health of her unborn child. :)

[ChristySmiles]

Thanks for all your input. I can see that you guys pretty much all agree on the same thing - it's fine as long as it's safe and she should talk to her doctor. I'll pass this on to her. I might even let her read your comments so she can see that I'm not the only one who thinks she needs to think a little more about her decision before just altering her diet in an effort to keep her figure...