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Fitness & nutrition

Only 300 extra calories and a walk can make a difference

Moderation is the key when it comes to fitness and nutrition when you're pregnant. If you're not overweight when pregnant, you only need to add 300 calories a day. That means adding:

• Small baked potato
• Low-fat, low-sugar blueberry yogurt and
• One small can of vegetable juice

Regular exercise like a walk can help you:

• Improve your sleep
• Promote flexibility and strength
• Raise your energy and mood
• Strengthen your heart
• Ease bloating and constipation
• Make labor shorter and easier, and reduce post-delivery recovery time

Why weight matters

Weight isn't about your appearance or vanity or getting into a specific size. It's about the health of you and your baby. Weight has a direct impact on pregnancy, labor, delivery and after the baby is born. If you are overweight before pregnancy, excessive weight gain can lead to health complications such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure (also called hypertension) and a condition called preeclampsia, which may indicate kidney problems.

Healthy weight during pregnancy
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Folic acid, calcium, iron
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