What It’s Like to Work With a Dietitian During Pregnancy

So you’re pregnant, and somewhere between the prenatal vitamin rabbit holes and the unsolicited advice about what you should and shouldn’t be eating, you’ve started wondering if working with a dietitian might actually help.

It might. And this post is going to tell you exactly what that looks like — the process, who it’s a good fit for, what a dietitian actually does during pregnancy, and what happens after the baby arrives. 

This breakdown is based on the experience of our clients at Grow with Gabi — we can’t speak for other nutritionists, dietitians, or practitioners. We can, however, set the standard (and raise the bar) for what you deserve during your pregnancy — and this is it ♥️

Who is This Actually For? (Hint: Probably You)

If you’re here, you probably already know what a dietitian is — you may even have one in mind (or worked with one in the past). What you want to know, though, is when or if you need a dietitian during your pregnancy.

The short answer: maybe. 

You might be a good fit if you have a history of disordered eating and want support making sure you and your baby are nourished without old patterns resurfacing. Or if pregnancy is bringing up a lot of food and body stuff that wasn’t there — or wasn’t as loud — before. Or if you’ve always had a complicated relationship with food and you’re just… tired of navigating it alone, especially now. 

During pregnancy, there’s so much of your body that’s changing and is out of your control. It’s normal to feel different than usual — or feel like you’re struggling to do it on your own.

What Does Working With a Dietitian During Pregnancy Actually Look Like?

Before you have a session, there’s a consultation — an initial call, usually around 15 minutes — to ask questions about who you’re working with and for them to get to know you.

Your first session is usually 60 minutes (virtually), and you’re not usually handed a meal plan at the end of it. Your dietitian will want to understand your history with food, what pregnancy has been stirring up, what symptoms you’re dealing with (morning sickness, food aversions, heartburn — all of it counts), and what you’re actually hoping to get out of this.

From there, follow-up sessions are 45 minutes and build on what we’ve established together. You work on it day-to-day, figuring out how to nourish yourself when symptoms are making it hard, working through what’s coming up around food, and building trust with a body that’s changing faster than you can keep up with. 

At Grow with Gabi, our dietitian services are virtual, through our secure telehealth platform, so you can do this from your couch in your third-trimester pillow fort if that’s where you’re most comfortable.

And about the meal plan thing — we know that’s one of the first questions people ask. Our approach isn’t rigid or prescriptive. If some loose structure around eating feels supportive for you, we’ll build that together. 

How Is This Different From Regular Prenatal Nutrition Advice?

A lot of prenatal nutrition guidance is focused on hitting specific nutrient targets and monitoring weight gain — and while those things matter, they’re not the whole picture, especially if food has ever felt complicated for you.

Our approach is non-diet and weight-inclusive, which means we’re not using the scale as the primary measure of how things are going, we’re not labeling foods as good or bad, and we’re not going to make you feel like you failed because survival mode in the first trimester looked like crackers and ginger ale for six weeks. 

We’re focused on your overall wellbeing — mental and physical — and on nourishment that feels sustainable.

Can You Work With Your Dietitian Postpartum?

Yes! Although postpartum is its own season. Your body has done this massive thing and your hormones are all over the place — feeding yourself consistently feels a bit impossible when you’re also trying to keep a newborn alive.

Postpartum nutrition support lives under the same umbrella as pregnancy nutrition — it’s not a separate service, just a continuation of the work. Some clients come during pregnancy and keep going after. Others come to us for the first time postpartum. Either works. 

What the support looks like shifts based on where you are — recovering physically, navigating any food and body stuff that’s come up since having the baby, and making sure you’re actually nourishing yourself through all of it.

How Much Does it Cost to Work With a Dietitian During Pregnancy?

Your first session is 60 minutes and $185, and follow-up sessions are 45 minutes and $170. Our prices — and most dietitian’s prices — are published transparently on their website.

For us, we provide monthly superbills, basically a receipt of services, that you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. 

If your dietitian is out of network with your insurance, it’s always worth calling your provider before your first session to ask about your out-of-network benefits — you might be surprised what’s covered, and it only takes a few minutes to find out.

Not Sure If You’re Ready to Work With a Dietitian During Your Pregnancy?

If you’re pregnant or newly postpartum and the food stuff feels like a lot right now — we’d love to chat.

We offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can get a feel for us before committing to anything. We see nutrition clients in Texas, California, Colorado, and Virginia. Not sure if that’s you? Reach out anyway — we’ll figure it out together.