7. Conclusion

Based on the present work, there are three main conclusions which may help women have a healthy baby during their pregnancy. First, an increase in body weight is necessary during the last two trimesters. However, the gestational weight gain should be interpreted with some cautions related to prenatal BMI, especially overweight or underweight. Second, gestational diabetes is strongly associated with a greater risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. Once diagnosed, diet-based interventions aim to control maternal hyperglycemia. As a result, seeking a tailored nutritional counseling by a registered nutritional therapist will put on a proper diet, including the appropriate management of energy restriction and the promotion of a balanced diet with high fiber and low GI carbohydrate. Moreover, the management of blood glucose during pregnancy may benefit from avoiding saturated fats, but increasing consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Last, it has clearly been shown that pregnant women may find it harder to consume enough specific nutrients, such as vitamin D, folate, and omega-3 DHA. Consuming fortified or enriched foods or oral nutrient supplementations may optimize a diet.

Undernutrition during Pregnancy DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82727
