Can You Drink Ensure While Pregnant?

Last Updated on May 11, 2023

Many women are wondering and asking themselves can I drink ensure while pregnant? The answer is yes, you can drink ensure while pregnant, but it is important to do so in moderation. Ensure is a nutritional shake that provides many essential nutrients for pregnant women and their babies.

It is important to make sure that you are getting enough high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals during pregnancy, and Ensure can help with that.

In this blog post, we will discuss can pregnant women drink ensure, the benefits of drinking Ensure while pregnant, as well as the dangers of drinking too much. So, keep reading!

What Is Ensure?

Ensure is a brand of nutritional supplements manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. Ensure drinks are intended to provide complete nutrition for those who need extra nourishment, such as people who are recovering from illness or injury, those with poor appetites, and older adults.

The product line includes several types of shakes, bars, and powders that can be added to drinks or meals to increase their nutritional value.

Most Ensure products contain vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients that help support immune health, digestive health and overall wellness. Additionally, some varieties offer additional benefits, like probiotics or omega-3 fatty acids.

Depending on the variety chosen, Ensure products may also be suitable for people with food allergies or special dietary considerations like gluten-free options.

One of the most popular items in the Ensure line is the classic shake, which comes in several flavors and contains a balance of vitamins and minerals.

Additionally, Ensure can help people build strong bones and muscles while also aiding in healing after injury or surgery. Ensure comes in both liquid and powder form to make it easy to consume, no matter your dietary needs.

A balanced diet combined with the occasional supplement like Ensure can provide you with all the nutrients necessary for a healthy lifestyle.

Can I Drink Ensure When I Am Pregnant?

Ensure is perfectly safe to drink during pregnancy. It’s packed with high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals and fats that are essential for both mom and baby.

The nutrients in Ensure can help pregnant women maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy and have more energy throughout the day. No matter what stage of pregnancy you’re in, Ensure is a great choice for moms-to-be.

Many mothers rely on it as part of their daily prenatal nutrition routine because it helps them meet the extra nutritional needs of carrying a baby. So when you’re stocking up on essential items during pregnancy, Ensure can be the perfect addition to your diet!

We asked Dr. Steph Lee, a board-certified pediatrician and a member of the American Academy Of Pediatrics on “Can I drink ensure protein shakes while pregnant”. She said the following:

 “Ensure is a great choice for pregnant women. It provides essential vitamins and minerals that are necessary during pregnancy, plus the added protein can help keep mothers feeling fuller longer.”, said Steph Lee, MD, MPH, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician.

For expecting mothers who have difficulty getting enough calories or just want to give their baby an extra nutritional boost, Ensure can be consumed daily or several times per week. However, you should always consult your doctor before adding any new supplement to your diet.

In addition to providing nutrients, Ensure also contains probiotics which may help support digestion health and improve immunity in both mom and baby. Research is still ongoing but there are promising signs that these beneficial bacteria may play a role in promoting healthier gut flora and reducing inflammation in the body.

So if you’re looking for a convenient way to get more nutrition during pregnancy, Ensure is definitely worth considering. Not only is it safe and nutritious, but it’s also an easy and delicious way to help you meet all of your prenatal needs in one drink.

Is It Safe to Drink Ensure During Pregnancy?

As we’ve mentioned earlier, parents-to-be can rest assured knowing that Ensure is a safe and healthy drink option during pregnancy. Packed with high-quality 8 grams to 30 grams of protein, vitamins, and minerals, drinking Ensure will help you meet the balanced nutritional demands of your growing baby.

“Ensure is a safe and nutritious drink for pregnant women as it contains many essential vitamins and minerals.”, Lee added. “it can be a helpful source of additional calories, protein, folic acid, zinc and other important nutrients.”

In general, Ensure products can provide great nutrition for pregnant women. They are an excellent source of carbohydrates and protein, which helps with energy levels, and they also contain a number of essential vitamins and minerals that can be beneficial for the fetus.

You can consume Ensure products as a supplement if you are pregnant. However, according to registered dietician Samantha Broghammer, there is a moderate amount of vitamin A in each product.

So, it would be best to take them in moderation depending on how much vitamin A you get from other sources such as prenatal pills. If you want to use the product more than once per day, then talking with your doctor first is recommended.

Is Ensure Recommended for Pregnant Women?

Let’s be clear: Eating genuine, nutrient-dense foods is healthier than using Ensure. However, it can occasionally be beneficial as a supplement for women who are expecting and dealing with morning sickness or other conditions that make it challenging to receive enough nutrients.

Drinking Ensure could give your body the boost it needs if you’re having difficulties keeping food down. In addition, Ensure’s protein, vitamins, and minerals can aid in satiety while offering crucial nutrition for pregnant women.

But, before including Ensure or any other supplement in your regular regimen, speak with your doctor first.  It should be highlighted that Ensure is not a meal replacement and shouldn’t be used as one. When it’s feasible, pregnant women should continue to eat a balanced diet.

Thus, if you use Ensure as a supplement and not as a substitute for a balanced diet, it can play a significant role in your pregnancy. 

What Are the Benefits of Drinking Ensure During Pregnancy?

There are countless benefits to drinking Ensure during pregnancy, but one of the most important is that it provides plenty of nourishment for pregnant women to maintain their health and help support the growth of their babies. With 32 nutrients, Ensure drinks provide plenty of nourishment for your body to fight off illness and keep you healthy overall.

It is packed with essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and iron which makes it a balanced nutritional drink.

Additionally, Ensure supplies of protein which is essential for cell growth and tissue repair. This can help to ensure that both mother and baby are getting the nutrients they need.

Ensure is also low in sugar which can be beneficial when it comes to managing cravings and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels during pregnancy.

It also contains omega-3 fatty acids which have been found to reduce inflammation, support a healthy immune system and promote the overall health of both mother and baby.

Drinking Ensure during pregnancy may also aid in proper digestion and reduce constipation, which often occurs due to hormonal changes during this time. Finally, Ensure provides an energy boost that many pregnant women find helpful when feeling fatigued throughout their pregnancies.

However, it is important to remember that all pregnant women should always consult their physician before beginning any type of supplementation or before making significant changes to their diet.

Are There Any Negative Side Effects to Drinking Ensure While Pregnant?

Anytime you want to introduce your body to a new diet or supplement, especially when pregnant, it is important that you take the proper precautions.

Caffeine-lovers, beware; if you’re drinking coffee-flavored Ensure drinks, make sure to keep an eye on your caffeine intake. If you enjoy your coffee-flavored Ensure, know that each cup contains more than 200 mg of caffeine.

Additionally, to guarantee a healthy pregnancy, you should keep track of your entire daily nutritional intake. When selecting a coffee-flavored Ensure product, carefully read the label to ensure that you are selecting the proper one for you.

Even if Ensure is safe, you should still keep your daily intake to 5–6 bottles or less. Pregnant women who take prenatal vitamins with a greater vitamin A content need to be more careful and limit their daily intake to no more than two bottles.

Overdosing on vitamin A during pregnancy can result in congenital defects, and taking in too much iron will increase your risk of developing gestational diabetes.

Is Ensure Helpful for Morning Sickness?

Pregnancy nausea can be a real turn-off when it comes to food. If you’re vomiting after eating, can’t keep solid foods down, or if you’re so nauseated that nothing sounds appetizing, drinking an Ensure shake can help meet your nutritional needs.

If you’re feeling nauseous or if the smell of food is off-putting, sipping on a shake can be easier than sitting down to a full meal. Choose a style of shake that’s higher in energy to help make up for what you’re missing from solid food.

Although drinking Ensure won’t stop morning sickness, being excessively hungry can also lead to nausea. Aside from staying hydrated with water or electrolyte drinks, consuming Ensure can “cushion” a very empty stomach and might help lessen the Feeling of nauseous.

How much Ensure can I drink daily if I’m pregnant?

The Ensure website advises healthy people to consume no more than 48–64 fluid ounces (or 6–8 bottles) of Ensure Original/Plus per day. Pregnant women should know, though, that consuming too much vitamin A might result in birth abnormalities.

The amount of vitamin A in 8 ounces of Ensure Original, according to Abbott Nutrition, is 1,250 international units (IU). In contrast, the World Health Organization recommends a daily intake cap of 10,000 IU for vitamin A. You would need to drink 8 bottles of Ensure each day to reach this amount!

However, if you opt to drink Ensure and want to know “how many ensures can I drink a day while pregnant”, it is best to limit your consumption to 6 bottles or less per day. For women taking a prenatal vitamin with higher levels of vitamin A, you should use more caution and ideally consume no more than 2 bottles daily.

Consuming too much Ensure may also lead to increased calorie intake, which can contribute to weight gain. Make sure you keep your daily calorie intake in check and partake in regular physical activity to ensure that you’re maintaining a healthy weight.

Additionally, be sure to speak with your doctor about the best nutritional choices for you, especially if you have any underlying health conditions. Your doctor can provide advice tailored to your individual needs and help you make the most out of your Ensure consumption.

What Are the Nutritional Guidelines for Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is an important time for maintaining a healthy diet. Eating well helps to ensure that both mother and baby receive the nutrients they need to develop and stay healthy. Nutritional guidelines for pregnancy are designed to promote good health, reduce the risk of complications, and help support a successful pregnancy outcome.

The nutritional guidelines encourage a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. It also stresses moderation in all foods and emphasizes that pregnant women should avoid foods and drinks such as alcohol, soft cheeses, raw fish, and certain types of seafood.

It is also important to take a prenatal vitamin supplement to help meet nutritional needs during pregnancy.

Pregnant women should also be aware of the special dietary requirements for their stage of pregnancy. During the first trimester, for example, when the baby’s organs are forming, it is important to get adequate amounts of folic acid and other B vitamins.

During the second and third trimesters, calcium needs to increase significantly to help with the growing bones of the baby. Iron also becomes increasingly important during this time to support healthy red blood cell production in both mother and baby.

Eating a variety of healthy foods, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding unhealthy snacks will help to ensure that nutritional needs are being met during pregnancy.

Finally, it is important for pregnant women to consult with their physician or dietitian before making any changes to their dietary plan. A healthcare provider can assess the specific dietary needs of the pregnant woman and provide individualized guidance.

This can be particularly important for women who may have special nutritional requirements due to underlying health conditions or other circumstances. Following these guidelines can help to ensure a successful pregnancy outcome and provide essential nutrition support for the mother and baby.

Also read: How many calories do you burn when giving birth

Gestational weight gain recommendations

A woman’s body mass index should be determined at the first prenatal visit, and her health care providers should advise her on how to have a good pregnancy by gaining the right amount of weight, eating nutritively, exercising frequently, and avoiding excessive weight gain.

For the most part, you won’t require any extra calories throughout the first trimester. During the second trimester, women normally only require an additional 340 calories per day, and an additional 450 calories per day during the third trimester (last three months).

While the recommended amount of weight gain during pregnancy varies based on your body mass index, it typically ranges between 25-35 pounds (11.3-15.9 kg). If you are pregnant with twins or more, the recommendation is usually closer to 37–54 pounds (16.7-24.5 kg).

It is important to remember that gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy is not only beneficial for your health but also helps ensure a healthier baby. Eating nutritiously throughout pregnancy can help you meet your calorie needs and provide essential nutrition for both you and your baby.

Additionally, participating in regular physical activity can help reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and increase or maintain your physical strength and endurance.

Pregnancy is a time when most people gain weight, but if you don’t gain enough, your baby may be born too small. Some babies that are born too small have trouble breastfeeding, get sick more often, and might even have developmental problems later on.

Having a baby who is born too large can lead to delivery complications, cesarean delivery, and obesity during childhood. Gaining more than the recommended amount of weight in pregnancy is associated with having a baby who is born too large.

This excess weight gain can also increase the amount of weight you hold on to after pregnancy, which can lead to obesity.

Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the right amount of weight gain for you, and ask questions if you have any concerns. Your healthcare team can also help provide resources and support as you go through your pregnancy journey.

What are the things to remember before drinking ensure while pregnant?

Pregnant women can get all the nutrients they need for a healthy baby by drinking Ensure as part of their diet. But before making this choice, it’s crucial to keep in mind a few crucial considerations.

Keep track of your daily caffeine intake, especially if you also consume other caffeinated beverages, as well as your intake of vitamin A supplements.

Always seek medical advice before using any form of supplement. Pick a brand that uses only high-quality, sugar-free components in its production.

Last but not least, to get the benefits fully, continue taking Ensure according to your regular schedule throughout your pregnancy.

Recommended Ensure Products During Pregnancy

The following Ensure can be helpful during pregnancy. These products provide extra vitamins, minerals, protein, and calories that are important for the development of the baby.

Recommended Ensure	Protein	Sugar	Calories
Ensure Plus	16 grams	20 grams	350
Ensure Original	9 grams	15 grams	220
Ensure Original Powder	9 grams	13 grams	250
Ensure Max Protein	30 grams	1 gram	150
Ensure High Protein	16 grams	4 grams	160
Ensure Plant-Based Protein	20 grams	7 grams	180

They can help to prevent nutritional deficiencies and provide the energy needed to support a healthy pregnancy. Ensure products are available in both liquid and powder forms, making them easy to incorporate into a woman’s everyday diet.

They are also great to have on hand in case of morning sickness or other times when food may be unpalatable.

For those who are actively trying to gain weight or maintain their current weight during pregnancy, Ensure Plus can be a really helpful option.

This product is specially formulated with extra calories and max protein to help women reach their weight gain goals while also providing essential nutrients for their growing baby.

FAQs

Wrapping up

Thanks for reading our blog post about drinking Ensure while pregnant. As you can see, it’s perfectly safe to drink Ensure when you’re expecting and it can offer many essential nutrients that both mom and baby need.

Just remember that it should be consumed in moderation, as with any supplement or food during pregnancy. And of course, always consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet.

We hope this article has been informative and we wish you a healthy pregnancy! Best of luck!

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