Eating sweets during pregnancy can be an occasional treat. Sweets contain high amounts of simple sugar that contribute to excessive weight gain during pregnancy. A drop in blood sugar levels can make your cravings for sweets rise.
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Risks of Sweets During Pregnancy
Cakes, pastries, candies, jams, jellies, sugary drinks, sodas, and packed fruit juices are high in sugar which is harmful to the mother and the baby. The daily sugar intake should not exceed 100 calories (25 grams of free sugars) or around six teaspoons.
One can of cola contains 9 teaspoons of sugar which are beyond the recommended value.
Eating plenty of sugary foods can have a negative impact on the baby’s health. It can adversely affect the birth weight of the baby which can lead to complications in labor.
The learning skills and memory of the child may be affected later in life if the mother consumes too many sugary foods. There is an increased risk of asthma in babies and cognitive abilities can also be affected if the mother has the habit of excess sugar intake.
Include fruits that contain natural sugars which are associated with greater visual motor abilities and verbal intelligence.
Swap your favorite foods for better health like an apple or an orange instead of a donut. Eat smaller meals frequently to curb sweet cravings. Do not skip meals to avoid the triggering of unusual cravings.
FAQs
Are sweets good for the womb?
Consumption of excess sweets can result in excessive gestational weight gain and other complications like gestational diabetes, preterm labor, and preeclampsia. Sweets can be enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than over-indulging in them.
Are sweets good for the fetus?
High sugar intake has been found to impair the baby’s brain function. The cognitive functions and verbal memory power tend to be affected by high amounts of intake of sweets. The natural sugars available from fruits are associated with greater visual motor abilities in children in the early stages of life.
Can I eat sweets at night during pregnancy?
Eating sweets at night during pregnancy can be an occasional treat. The consumption of sweets at night leads to dental carries and unwanted weight gain for expecting mothers. The cravings for sweets may be sometimes due to the drop in blood sugar levels. Alternate sweets with healthier foods like fruits, nut butter, and dates to manage the cravings.
Can sweets affect early pregnancy?
Sweets can bring some complications in early pregnancy as they may increase the risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and preterm labor. The risk of miscarriage was also found to be higher with the intake of more sweets. Too many sweets can hurt the baby’s health. High intake of sweets during pregnancy can lead to overweight babies and difficulties in labor.
Why sweets should be avoided during pregnancy?
Continuous intake of sweets leads to a heavy rise in blood glucose levels which can adversely affect the development of new organs in the baby and cause serious birth defects in the baby. Sweets are low in nutrients and high in calories and fat, which may harm the mother and baby. The rapid changes that occur in the mother’s body can affect the baby and its developmental stages.
How much sweetness is safe during pregnancy?
The sweets intake should not exceed 30 gm of free sugars per day or should be less than 10% of the daily calorie intake. Excessive consumption of sweets can lead to unwanted weight gain and dental problems.
The empty calories and fats from sweets provide zero nutritional benefits to the mother and baby. Sweets cause blood sugar levels to spike easily and trigger the rapid release of insulin.
Are sweets safe to eat during lactating?
A high craving for sweets and fatty foods is noticed during lactation. This is due to the changes in the emotional stability of the mother while the requirement for milk for the baby is high. Limit the consumption of sweets during lactation and include a variety of foods from different food groups to introduce the baby to new tastes and flavors.
Eating a healthy diet during lactation lowers your cravings and benefits the newborn and the mother.