Knowing what foods to eat and how much
It’s especially important to eat healthy food during pregnancy and while breast feeding. Aim to eat a wide variety of nutritious foods from the
five food groups every day. Take a look at our
healthy recipes for cooking ideas.
Drinking plenty of water is also a good way to keep your health in check during pregnancy. It is recommended pregnant women drink 8-10 glasses of water per day and increase this to 13 glasses when breastfeeding.
For reliable advice, take a look at these
tips for healthy eating when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding from the Australian Dietary Guidelines. You can also use our
food calculator to check what types of food you should be eating every day when pregnant and how much of each food group you should be eating.
Folate, iodine and iron
Foods containing folate, iodine and iron are especially important during pregnancy as they play a big role in the growth and development of your baby. Learn more about planning a healthy pregnancy in the NSW Health
Thinking of having a baby factsheet and speak to your
doctor or midwife about how you can make sure you’re getting enough of these nutrients during pregnancy.
Find out more on starting and growing a family at NSW Government life events .
Gestational Diabetes
Some women may develop gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that can occur during the second half of pregnancy and goes away once the baby is born. Gestational diabetes is diagnosed when higher than normal blood glucose levels are identified. You will likely be screened for gestational diabetes between your 24 and 28 week routine check-up. Find out more on
gestational diabetes via healthdirect or speak to your doctor for more information and advice.