How Do I Become a Prenatal Nutritionist?

A prenatal nutritionist specializes in working with expectant mothers on their diet and eating behaviors to ensure quality health for their body and their child. Prenatal health recognizes all aspects of the lifestyle of the mother, and nutrition is one of the biggest keys to nourishing the body and developing baby. To become a prenatal nutritionist, one must have a strong interest in promoting and maintaining health for developing bodies and mothers alike, and must be able to recommend an eating plan that will be right for each individual. Appropriate education needed to become a prenatal nutritionist involves at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition with a special emphasis on prenatal nutrition therapy. Your education will provide you with the tools you need to advise expectant mothers on pregnancy and nutrition, including how to promote healthy weight gain and adequate growth of the fetus.

Prenatal nutritionists focus on mother and baby nutrition, making the career more specialized compared to general nutrition practitioners. When one is seeking to become a prenatal nutritionist, it is usually due to his or her deep interest in promoting health in developing infants, an important interest which should always be present when working with clients. Often, schools which offer a nutrition degree will have special programs geared toward prenatal nutrition, as adolescent nutrition classes are required to receive a normal nutrition degree. Education to become a prenatal nutritionist involves many science and health courses which provide a foundation in the field.

Those seeking a degree in nutrition with a specialized aspect in prenatal nutrition should look into internships involving prenatal care and child nutrition. After completing nutrition coursework, those who earn their degree must go on to a nutrition internship to receive qualified work experience in their field. Finding an internship position that works with expectant mothers and babies is especially important for those who desire to become a prenatal nutritionist. These internship positions are often competitive, but necessary, and require commitment to gain experience in the prenatal nutrition field.

Career fields for prenatal nutritionists are in work office environments, schools, hospitals and private practices. Prenatal nutrition often sees a steady job market, as nutrition education for developing babies and young children is always sought by expectant parents and families. Many nutritionists decide to join nutrition organizations in their cities or surrounding areas which help further their own education in the ever evolving nutrition world. Seeking help from other prenatal nutritionists is a great way to grow and learn new aspects of nutrition which can help promote the health of future clients.