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Pregnancy Notes: Before, During & After
If you are preparing for pregnancy, are pregnant or have just delivered, Pregnancy Notes has got you covered. Rujuta Diwekar takes you through the journey, with tips for even before you get pregnant, till after you deliver your bundle of joy. Each stage includes notes on food, exercise and recovery. Also included are heritage recipes from across the country, so you can mine the wisdom of our grandmothers. This is a must-have guide for every woman.
220 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2017
547 people are currently reading
3090 people want to read
About the author
Rujuta Diwekar
52 books602 followersWinner of the 'Nutrition Award' from ASIAN INSTITUTE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY, Rujuta is amongst the most qualified and sought after sports science and nutrition expert in the country and the only nutritionist to have associate membership from SPORTS DIETITIANS, AUSTRALIA. In the plethora of diet fads and fears, her voice rings loud and clear, urging us to use our common sense and un-complicate the act of eating. Having worked with people from all walks of life, of all age groups and varying fitness levels, she has fine-tuned her methods to fit the lifestyle of the urban Indian.
Her two books and the film 'INDIAN FOOD WISDOM' have been on top of the best-selling charts for more than 5 years now. Her third book on exercise 'DON'T LOSE OUT, WORK OUT' is out in the market now.
Her two books and the film 'INDIAN FOOD WISDOM' have been on top of the best-selling charts for more than 5 years now. Her third book on exercise 'DON'T LOSE OUT, WORK OUT' is out in the market now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 1, 2023
I read but almost never write a review. But this book has compelled me to write this before I even finished this book.
Apparently pregnant women should only eat food cooked slowly on fire and eat it within 3 hours of cooking. Well what about the women who work 9-5? Is she supposed to quit her job so that she can cook herself fresh lunch everyday 🤣 Not everyone has access to maid/cook or sometimes any sort of help. How are they supposed to work, do strength training, cook 3 fresh meals a day (on fire), make laddoos and what not while pregnant!!!
Also, fire/stovetop cooking is causing so much pollution on this planet. Many apartments nowadays are converting to induction only, I guess they are not supposed to get pregnant then!
I also want to comment on the commanding tone of this author. It’s just terrible. I have read other pregnancy books and for most of them, the general tone is very supportive to all women out there. They always say “Here is what I recommend, but if you can’t do it for so and so reason, don’t worry about it - here are some other options”. However, this author is simply commanding you to do things she thinks is right with no consideration of the reader’s situation whatsoever. Throughout the book, she is like “do this, do that. Don’t do this, don’t do that”. And honestly, she has no idea what she is talking about, because most of the things she recommends in this book if not for your average woman.
This book starts with Kareena Kapoor’s personal note, which is again super ignorant. She quotes “Daughters of working mothers are smarter and sons are kinder”
So in case you live in a country where you don’t have work authorization yet - well don’t get pregnant yet because your kid is only going to be smart/kind once you get a job!
Apparently pregnant women should only eat food cooked slowly on fire and eat it within 3 hours of cooking. Well what about the women who work 9-5? Is she supposed to quit her job so that she can cook herself fresh lunch everyday 🤣 Not everyone has access to maid/cook or sometimes any sort of help. How are they supposed to work, do strength training, cook 3 fresh meals a day (on fire), make laddoos and what not while pregnant!!!
Also, fire/stovetop cooking is causing so much pollution on this planet. Many apartments nowadays are converting to induction only, I guess they are not supposed to get pregnant then!
I also want to comment on the commanding tone of this author. It’s just terrible. I have read other pregnancy books and for most of them, the general tone is very supportive to all women out there. They always say “Here is what I recommend, but if you can’t do it for so and so reason, don’t worry about it - here are some other options”. However, this author is simply commanding you to do things she thinks is right with no consideration of the reader’s situation whatsoever. Throughout the book, she is like “do this, do that. Don’t do this, don’t do that”. And honestly, she has no idea what she is talking about, because most of the things she recommends in this book if not for your average woman.
This book starts with Kareena Kapoor’s personal note, which is again super ignorant. She quotes “Daughters of working mothers are smarter and sons are kinder”
So in case you live in a country where you don’t have work authorization yet - well don’t get pregnant yet because your kid is only going to be smart/kind once you get a job!
September 7, 2017
I am a big Rujuta Diwekar fan! I admire her traditional way of thinking and back to the roots ideas.
It is truly inspiring and something I can relate to.
But I found this book to be abrupt. I am 9 months pregnant and have read a lot of books and articles through my pregnancy. I found the content of the book quite superficial. It just touches on the surface of things. I was expecting something more solid and in dept.
In an attempt to cover the before, during and after of pregnancy, the topics are only discussed very briefly and lack focus.
Disappointed.
It is truly inspiring and something I can relate to.
But I found this book to be abrupt. I am 9 months pregnant and have read a lot of books and articles through my pregnancy. I found the content of the book quite superficial. It just touches on the surface of things. I was expecting something more solid and in dept.
In an attempt to cover the before, during and after of pregnancy, the topics are only discussed very briefly and lack focus.
Disappointed.
August 9, 2019
Not an unbiased review.
So I had only seen some videos and news articles of this author and her ideas of how one should eat and how one can be like Kareena’s size despite eating daal chawal(lentils and rice). Having worked with nutritionists and also getting positive results for my fat loss, it was hard to believe what Rujuta said would work. This book came up in a book club discussion and coincidentally was free on prime so I read it to understand what is it that appeals everyone. It feels like she says what our older generation thinks and preaches mainly to that group and they lap it up nodding along saying “yeah! We knew this and we have been doing the right thing.”
She does recommend exercise and eating protein. But she doesn’t emphasize on portion control or focusing on what’s really required. It is vague suggestions of eating a carb heavy diet and promising that if you listen to your body and eat local with lots of ghee, with some exercise then you will be fine. She even says not to really listen to your doctor but listen to your daadi (grandmom). And to eat all the laddoos and what nots as it is healthy. Also how hormones and gestational diabetes can be controlled with consuming up to 9tsps sugar and ghee(more ghee).
I am not saying one should not consume carbs or fats. But as a celebrity dietician (?) she should be mindful of what is published and how people will interpret. Not all bodies have same metabolism and not everyone should eat sugar and ghee. Someone trying to lose fat would not be able to do so on a carb heavy diet. This is all just IMHO.
I am going with 2.5 as she sometimes vaguely emphasizes on resistance training (to be done during pregnancy if one has been doing for 10-15yrs- BS) and also importance of having proteins in meals.
So I had only seen some videos and news articles of this author and her ideas of how one should eat and how one can be like Kareena’s size despite eating daal chawal(lentils and rice). Having worked with nutritionists and also getting positive results for my fat loss, it was hard to believe what Rujuta said would work. This book came up in a book club discussion and coincidentally was free on prime so I read it to understand what is it that appeals everyone. It feels like she says what our older generation thinks and preaches mainly to that group and they lap it up nodding along saying “yeah! We knew this and we have been doing the right thing.”
She does recommend exercise and eating protein. But she doesn’t emphasize on portion control or focusing on what’s really required. It is vague suggestions of eating a carb heavy diet and promising that if you listen to your body and eat local with lots of ghee, with some exercise then you will be fine. She even says not to really listen to your doctor but listen to your daadi (grandmom). And to eat all the laddoos and what nots as it is healthy. Also how hormones and gestational diabetes can be controlled with consuming up to 9tsps sugar and ghee(more ghee).
I am not saying one should not consume carbs or fats. But as a celebrity dietician (?) she should be mindful of what is published and how people will interpret. Not all bodies have same metabolism and not everyone should eat sugar and ghee. Someone trying to lose fat would not be able to do so on a carb heavy diet. This is all just IMHO.
I am going with 2.5 as she sometimes vaguely emphasizes on resistance training (to be done during pregnancy if one has been doing for 10-15yrs- BS) and also importance of having proteins in meals.
July 28, 2019
This book is more suited for women who are pregnant and live in India. For Indians who are expecting and live out of the homeland, this is more discouraging than encouraging.
October 23, 2024
This book will just give you a basis idea of the pregnancy.you will be needing a deeper knowledge if you are a new mom and dad to be.
October 23, 2022
Crisp and objective
Rujuta has clearly and eloquently detailed what is most important and often overlooked which quality over quantity of food. Timing and frequency of food and the liberty of doing what is right for you and is also available to you, not just available in a modern bazaar at the price of a kidney
Rujuta has clearly and eloquently detailed what is most important and often overlooked which quality over quantity of food. Timing and frequency of food and the liberty of doing what is right for you and is also available to you, not just available in a modern bazaar at the price of a kidney
February 19, 2022
So preachy. But amidst a sea of very western centric pregnancy books, this is closer to home with familiar ingredients, recipes and practices. Expect just major headlines, no detailed advice.
December 21, 2020
Pregnancy is very delicate time for all women’s and a memorable journey too. I remembered when I was pregnant with my little one, there were millions of questions/ doubts arising each day in my head and I sit up googling for the answers until my parents and doctor told me to just STOP 😜😜😜
But today when I finished reading this book, I was satisfied to a great extent because I am not the only one with questions. This book takes us through this journey in a detailed manner explaining what has to done in various stages:
1. Before Pregnancy: Focus on your diet(with dieting tips), Exercise and Activity and on your Lifestyle (Our daily routine).
2. During the Pregnancy: Common Myths being cleared and answered, some food rules to follow for our little ones, each trimester explained in detail with respect to food with different recipes too.
3. After Pregnancy: Importance of taking care of our body which normally we neglect at that moment with some recipes and food rules.
This book also has a note from Kareena Kapoor Khan which is really motivating for all the pregnant woman’s out there.
My personal opinion about this book is that this book could clear our myths about food/ food rules but somewhere it does lack to specify in detail all the other problems that women face during pregnancy and even after that.
But today when I finished reading this book, I was satisfied to a great extent because I am not the only one with questions. This book takes us through this journey in a detailed manner explaining what has to done in various stages:
1. Before Pregnancy: Focus on your diet(with dieting tips), Exercise and Activity and on your Lifestyle (Our daily routine).
2. During the Pregnancy: Common Myths being cleared and answered, some food rules to follow for our little ones, each trimester explained in detail with respect to food with different recipes too.
3. After Pregnancy: Importance of taking care of our body which normally we neglect at that moment with some recipes and food rules.
This book also has a note from Kareena Kapoor Khan which is really motivating for all the pregnant woman’s out there.
My personal opinion about this book is that this book could clear our myths about food/ food rules but somewhere it does lack to specify in detail all the other problems that women face during pregnancy and even after that.
February 1, 2023
First of all, large chunks of this book are irrelevant and/or unintelligible if you are not familiar with Indian food and practices. That’s not the reason for the 2 stars, I enjoyed getting a new perspective (for as far as I could follow). I’m also 100% behind the idea of following a local and traditional diet over a global standardized one. What I enjoyed less were 1- the ‘yummy mommy’ advice, and 2 - bold statements that are not supported by science. This book lost its credibility for me after it advised to not eat salads nor soups in favor of ayurvedic practices. Since there’s no scientific evidence that salads or soups are anything but healthy food options, so the advice in this book seems to lack nuance. Also, there seemed to be some anti-West sentiment that at first made perfect sense in the context of diets, but after several out of context remarks, I didn’t read like a defense of traditional culture, and more like a chip on the author’s shoulder. Which is unfortunate, because the world could use more credible voices on this topic.
All in all I think this book could be a valuable source of recipes and meal guidelines for anyone with access to fresh Indian food, but some of the claims would best be fact checked against actual studies.
All in all I think this book could be a valuable source of recipes and meal guidelines for anyone with access to fresh Indian food, but some of the claims would best be fact checked against actual studies.
April 28, 2025
This entire book is just appalling. This person should not call herself an author. The condescending and almost dictatorial tone of the entire book turned me off completely. While I appreciate the push to go back to our roots and celebrate the vast nutritional knowledge Indian cuisine has, there is no room to change/ adapt with times. It is classist in its approach, assuming everyone has access to the same financial means as she commands. The part about exercising, while totally true it’s needed for a healthy pregnancy, the blatant command to change gynaecs if they put you on bed rest is beyond dangerous. Here is someone with ZERO medical knowledge telling pregnant women that if the doctor lets you get up from bed to go to the bathroom, you can probably have walks?! Going to the bathroom is a human necessity not proof that the pregnant woman might not have complications that require a bed rest.
Overall, it’s just so out of touch from reality and this person needs to learn to come down from her high horse if she wants to keep « educating » people on nutrition. Maybe a more humble/ approachable tone might make people want to read what she’s got to say.
Overall, it’s just so out of touch from reality and this person needs to learn to come down from her high horse if she wants to keep « educating » people on nutrition. Maybe a more humble/ approachable tone might make people want to read what she’s got to say.
February 17, 2021
I finished this book in less than a couple of hours. Such was the experience of reading it. Easy, funny and super practical. It's very important for city cum working moms to read this book as it gives simple and basic tips on nutrition that we could follow without having to worry too much about burying our faces into everything everyone suggests while being pregnant. For someone like me with a history of anorexia, fear of weight gain during pregnancy is a nightmare and battle to be fought every single day. But this book is an absolute reassurance on how to take it easy, how one could remain fit through pregnancy and fall back into original fitness levels post pregnancy. I loved reading it and would highly recommend busy to be mamas to do too!
April 29, 2018
Good read.. Being an all time Rujeta fan, would highly recommend this book for anyone trying to get pregnant.. Fitness fitness and fitness!!! it matters a lot.. I feel sorry for my friends not realising the importance and rather making comments on those being conscious to stay fit. Im not referring to the obsession to lose weight or look hot. it has nothing to do with looks. it's about being healthy, eating healthy and living healthy - i.e., staying active .. Must read before and start of pregnancy, for choosing to eat the right food.. The post pregnancy part is also crisp and good.
June 17, 2018
I liked the book because it has very doable conscious changes that we can make. It inspired me to look into our CULTURE of eating. Since we have so many across India, it reinforced the idea of eating locally. No need to run behind exotic veggies and grains. Frankly, while being pregnant, food is a very important and confusing thing. Unlike others, I didn't have a lot of morning sickness.. But I never knew what I wanted to eat. This book brought back some of the comfort foods I enjoyed as a child. Its a no fuss book. Rated 3 because its only a reference.
October 23, 2021
Okay so this book is a great self help book for all the mothers or would be mothers. This book is specially designed for Indian mothers and I am glad I read this book, it's simple, straight, humourous and most importantly very informative. This book is not only for pregnant women but for women who want to conceive as well. It talks about a lifestyle that is more local and is not surrounded by the hyped foods. This book can work wonders if the tips are followed religiously and honestly!!! Surely recommended!
November 11, 2023
Lots of amazing insights into what should be eaten during different trimesters of pregnancy as well as post partum recovery. Tons of diet charts and old heritage indian recipes to keep pregnancy at ease. Highly recommend to women who do not have family/friends/acquaintances to guide them with god during and after pregnancy!
October 24, 2017
It gives a vivid idea of what one should do before and after pregnancy, emphasising on daily workouts.
It gives a vivid idea on what one should do before and after pregnancy, emphasising on daily workouts for better life.
It gives a vivid idea on what one should do before and after pregnancy, emphasising on daily workouts for better life.
October 28, 2017
an amazing book ...fighting many myths and, connecting us to the roots of true wisdom, makes me feel proud to know that we indians had always been the wisest in the field of healthy eating also. Thanks to Rujuta for such a nice book, lucid language and the personal touch.
September 26, 2018
Very good information
It's worth reading..very good information..n easy
to follow with easy recipes to have ..
Every pregnant women should read it..or those u who planning for the same
It's worth reading..very good information..n easy
to follow with easy recipes to have ..
Every pregnant women should read it..or those u who planning for the same
September 27, 2019
Ok ok book
This book is very informative. Good read but expecting some more ideas on food/recipes. Meal plans should be more globalized some mentioned items are more local even.we dont know the meaning of.
This book is very informative. Good read but expecting some more ideas on food/recipes. Meal plans should be more globalized some mentioned items are more local even.we dont know the meaning of.
January 5, 2020
Absolutely recommended
Amazing book on pregnancy, what to eat, when to eat and also on workouts. The FAQs are so brilliantly answered. I wish i read this in my first pregnancy but it is not late though. Well written
Amazing book on pregnancy, what to eat, when to eat and also on workouts. The FAQs are so brilliantly answered. I wish i read this in my first pregnancy but it is not late though. Well written
April 15, 2020
A book that every child bearing woman should own.
A must have book before, during and after pregnancy. A complete view of food, exercises, recipes and not-to-dos and much more during pregnancy.
A must have book before, during and after pregnancy. A complete view of food, exercises, recipes and not-to-dos and much more during pregnancy.
January 10, 2021
Very informative and inspiring too
Thank you for writing this book, for people like me who take so much stress on small things even during pregnancy, this book was a very good help.
Thank you for writing this book, for people like me who take so much stress on small things even during pregnancy, this book was a very good help.
October 26, 2021
Simple and easy to understand. Really appreciate the ease with which Rujuta mentions the things to do and not just follow the trends. Each trimesters : food, exercise and activities explained well. Loved the way the meal charts have been designed.
December 23, 2021
Felt comforting to read this. Very "grassroot" and foundational advice.
Although I could do without repeatedly listening to examples of being a bad/unfit/irresponsbile husband. It's not such a bad world Rujuta!
Although I could do without repeatedly listening to examples of being a bad/unfit/irresponsbile husband. It's not such a bad world Rujuta!
September 6, 2023
Food and exercises required before, during, and after pregnancy are given here. The book also highlights the importance of traditional food knowledge for maintaining good health. There are also recipes that should be consumed after pregnancy.
A must-read for all pregnant and new mothers.
A must-read for all pregnant and new mothers.
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November 27, 2024A close family member is pregnant. Read this to understand what a pregnant woman goes through and how she should be taken care of.
Rujuta has shared details on how to eat, workout during the 3 trimesters and post pregnancy. Would recommend this to people who have a pregnant woman in their family.
Rujuta has shared details on how to eat, workout during the 3 trimesters and post pregnancy. Would recommend this to people who have a pregnant woman in their family.
August 16, 2017
Read it since my wife is pregnant. Good health tips and advice for pregnant women. Highly recommended.
April 14, 2018
this is very exciting book...i would like to rcommend it to read to my newly married couples
December 11, 2018
Awesome
A must for every to be mommy...it helped me during as well as after pregnancy. I feel strong.... after my second child
A must for every to be mommy...it helped me during as well as after pregnancy. I feel strong.... after my second child
January 16, 2019
Should read once
Should read once! Good for at least those who kiss parenting during this Stage.
Also the tips are very useful
Should read once! Good for at least those who kiss parenting during this Stage.
Also the tips are very useful
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews