Key Takeaways
- Prenatal (pregnancy) dietitians specialize in helping you meet your nutritional needs and manage any nutrition-related health conditions during pregnancy.
- You may seek nutrition counseling during pregnancy if you have severe morning sickness, follow a vegan diet, or are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
- Look for providers with a registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) credential to ensure you receive safe and evidence-based recommendations during pregnancy.
Becoming pregnant is a special milestone, and to keep you and your baby (or babies) healthy, you’ll need to make some dietary adjustments.
These may include adding more protein and iron to your diet, as well as extra snacks for energy.
A registered dietitian specializing in prenatal nutrition can help you navigate your changing diet during pregnancy and beyond.
Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of working with a pregnancy dietitian, and follow our simple steps to finding the right provider through Nourish.
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What Can a Pregnancy Dietitian Nutritionist Help Me With?
A prenatal dietitian can help you navigate your changing nutritional needs throughout pregnancy and manage pregnancy-related symptoms that may impact your diet.
For example, pregnant people have higher protein and calorie needs and require additional vitamins and minerals, like folate and iron.
Morning sickness and fatigue are common in pregnancy and can make it challenging to meet these nutritional needs.
A dietitian can also educate you on food safety precautions to take during pregnancy and which foods to avoid.
If you have certain pre-existing health conditions or develop a condition like gestational diabetes during your pregnancy, a dietitian can help you manage these.
To ensure you receive evidence-based nutrition information, check that your provider has a registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) credential. In many states, individuals can call themselves “nutritionists” without formal education or training.
Is It Worth Seeing a Pregnancy Dietitian Nutritionist?
Research shows that maternal nutrition can significantly impact the health of the pregnant person and the infant.
A systematic review from 2023 found that pregnant people who received nutrition counseling from a dietitian had a reduced risk of preterm birth.
They also had a lower prevalence of having infants with low birth weights.
Studies also demonstrate that dietitians can help people improve their dietary intake and gain a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy.
When Should You See a Pregnancy Dietitian Nutritionist?
A prenatal dietitian can help you manage a wide range of nutrition-related concerns that may come up during pregnancy, including:
- Morning sickness.
- Food aversions and cravings.
- Gestational diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Acid reflux.
- Healthy weight gain.
- Vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
In addition, if you’re pregnant with multiples, your dietitian can guide you in meeting your higher nutritional needs.
Prenatal nutrition counseling is recommended in certain populations, such as those with:
- A history of bariatric surgery.
- An eating disorder.
- Very active lifestyles.
- Vegetarian or vegan diets.
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10 Best Pregnancy Dietitian Nutritionists
If you want to work with a pregnancy nutritionist, find our list of the top 10 prenatal dietitians who accept insurance below.
1. Kimberly Blume
About
Kimberly is a registered dietitian with a Master’s degree in human nutrition.
She works with pediatric and adult clients and follows a non-diet approach in her counseling.
Specialties
Kimberly specializes in nutrition during and after pregnancy and is also an expert in pediatric nutrition.
2. Alma Simmons
About
Alma is a dietitian with over 14 years of experience and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
She helps people find a balanced approach to eating to move away from restrictive dieting.
Specialties
Alma specializes in women’s health and diabetes. She’s well-versed in pre and postnatal nutrition and gestational diabetes.
3. Morgan Sikes
About
Morgan is a dietitian with over seven years of experience and a Master’s degree in nutrition science.
She takes a holistic approach to her counseling sessions.
Specialties
Morgan is an expert in pregnancy and postpartum nutrition. She also specializes in gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
4. Erin Rigney
About
Erin is a dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist.
She earned a Master’s degree in human nutrition and has over 13 years of experience.
Erin uses a non-diet, “all foods fit” approach to her sessions.
Specialties
Erin has several specialties, including pre and postnatal nutrition, weight management, gestational diabetes, and high blood pressure.
5. Olguyne Fernandez-Fraga
About
Olguyne is a registered dietitian with a Master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics.
She helps her clients set realistic goals while still enjoying their favorite foods.
Specialties
Olguyne is an expert in pregnancy, postpartum, and pediatric nutrition.
She can also assist with cholesterol and blood pressure concerns.
6. Kendra Thoenes
About
Kendra is a dietitian with a Master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics.
She brings a health at every size (HAES), inclusive approach to her sessions.
Specialties
Kendra specializes in pregnancy, as well as eating disorders and sports nutrition.
7. Sharon Millan
About
Sharon is a dietitian with a Master’s degree and 20 years of experience.
She works with clients of all ages and has a non-diet philosophy.
Specialties
Sharon specializes in pediatric nutrition, the pre and post-natal period, and gestational diabetes.
8. Catherine Brennan
About
Catherine is a registered dietitian with a focus on mindful and intuitive eating.
Specialties
Catherine has several specialties in addition to pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, including:
- Vegan and vegetarian diets.
- Pediatric nutrition.
- Eating disorders.
- Autoimmune disease.
- Gestational diabetes.
9. Lauren Mardeusz
About
Lauren is a dietitian with a client-centered approach who helps people improve their relationship with food.
Specialties
She specializes in women’s health, which includes nutrition for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and PCOS.
10. Lindsey Ahlert
About
Lindsey is a dietitian, certified intuitive eating counselor, and registered yoga teacher.
She has a master’s degree in food and nutritional sciences.
Lindsey takes a weight-inclusive approach to her sessions.
Specialties
Lindsey specializes in pre and postnatal nutrition and helps people overcome binge eating and emotional eating.
Do Pregnancy Dietitian Nutritionists Accept Insurance?
Many prenatal dietitians accept insurance, but checking before your consultation is important.
Some providers follow a cash-pay business model and only accept out-of-pocket payments, which is more common in private practice.
Your insurance plan may have limitations on how frequently you can see a dietitian or whether you must have a specific diagnosis, like gestational diabetes, to have your visits covered.
How Much Does a Pregnancy Dietitian Nutritionist Cost?
If you’re paying for your visit without insurance, you can expect to pay between $100-200 for your initial appointment with a prenatal dietitian.
Subsequent visits may be shorter in duration and cost slightly less.
These costs can vary depending on several factors. Areas with a high cost of living will be more expensive.
If your dietitian has any specialty certifications, like diabetes or sports nutrition, they may charge higher rates.
When working with a dietitian through Nourish, all visits are 55 minutes long and will be the same cost, regardless of location or provider specialty.
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Takeaway
Your diet during pregnancy can affect health outcomes for you and your baby.
A prenatal dietitian can provide guidance on the increased nutritional needs in pregnancy.
They’ll also help you manage nutrition-related health conditions and pregnancy symptoms, like morning sickness or acid reflux.
Many prenatal dietitians accept insurance but check your specific insurance plan to understand which services are covered.
How a Dietitian Can Help
Eating a balanced diet during pregnancy can be challenging, especially if you’re nauseous or need to monitor your blood sugar levels.
A registered dietitian can help you find meal and snack options that work for you and meet your nutritional needs to support a healthy pregnancy.
Your dietitian will consider other health conditions you may have, like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or iron deficiency, while making dietary recommendations.
Find a dietitian specializing in prenatal care to eat well and feel your best during pregnancy.
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