Prenatal Nutrition from Preconception to Gestational Diabetes

In this episode of Fit as a Fiddle, we chat with prenatal dietitian Mel Spinella, founder of Well by Mel Nutrition, about what realistic, evidence-based nutrition looks like from preconception through pregnancy. Mel shares why the three months before conception matter so much, which labs to consider (vitamin D, folate/B12, iron, thyroid, blood sugar), and why not all prenatal vitamins are created equal, especially when it comes to choline, DHA, and iron.She discussed how nutrient needs shift across trimesters, how to think about supplements if you don’t eat fish, and the difference between “hard no” foods (alcohol, high-mercury fish, excess caffeine) and sensible food-safety precautions that shouldn’t spiral into food anxiety. Mel also offers practical strategies for managing morning sickness with blood-sugar-friendly snacks and vitamin B6. She reframes gestational diabetes as placenta-driven, not your fault, showing how to keep carbs in your life using balanced meals, snacks, and a strategic bedtime snack to steady blood sugar.Connect with her:wellbymelnutrition.com@pregnancynutritionist_Click here and use your exclusive 20% listener discount (Code: Fit20) to enroll in Master Your Pelvic Floor, our signature self-paced course that will change the way you understand and care for your body.