PCOS Pregnancy Diet

The most common reproductive disorder among women is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS can become pregnant on their own, or with the help of reproductive technology. When a woman with PCOS is pregnant, she must pay special attention to her diet.

Gestational Diabetes Risk

Women with PCOS are often referred to as "pre-diabetic" because they are insulin-resistant. When your body's cells are resistant to the insulin you produce, your pancreas goes into overdrive, producing even more insulin. The pancreas eventually wears out from all this overproduction, leading to diabetes and the need for supplemental insulin to make up for what your body can no longer produce. If you have PCOS and you are pregnant, you need to manage your diet so that you can avoid developing gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes can put you and your baby at risk, and can further increase your chances of developing full-blown diabetes after pregnancy. The best way to avoid gestational diabetes is to closely monitor your carbohydrate intake, and avoid simple carbohydrates.

Starting Weight and Weight Gain

Many women with PCOS are overweight when they conceive. Even if you are overweight, you will need to gain weight while you are pregnant to ensure proper nutrition for yourself and your baby. The key is to make sure that you gain weight only as needed and through eating the healthiest diet you can. A diet that focuses on lean proteins, low glycemic index fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and dairy will ensure that you gain only that weight your body and your baby need, and help prevent other pregnancy complications.

Preventing Complications

To prevent other pregnancy complications, such as high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia, it is important to watch your diet carefully. Women with PCOS are at higher risk for these pregnancy complications. The best diet to prevent these complications is the pregnancy diet developed by Dr. Tom Brewer (see Resources). Dr. Brewer found that a healthy diet, consisting of plenty of protein, healthy fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and dairy allowed women to gain only the weight they needed to gain, maintain their pregnancies without complications and deliver healthy, "blue ribbon" babies. The Brewer diet will also help you avoid developing gestational diabetes.