Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

You may see your doctor or your dentist for regular exams, but there's another kind of health professional that women may need to see: a registered dietitian. A registered dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has met certain academic and professional requirements. This week on Healthwatch, we'll look at ways a registered dietitian may be able to help women be healthier.

If you're planning to start a family, you should consult a dietitian. Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, says pregnant women need more calories, calcium and iron. They also need to be sure they're getting adequate folic acid to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida.

A registered dietitian can help you put together an eating plan to make sure you gain the right amount of weight and get adequate nutrition during pregnancy.

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