Food During Pregnancy
Frequently Asked Matters
Overview Expand All
-
Eating well is one of one best things you can do at pregnancy. Good nutrition helps you manual the extra demands on your bodywork when your pregnancy progresses. This object is into rest getting enough nutrients to support the rise of your fetus and maintaining a healthy weight.
-
The popular saying is that you should “eat to two” when you're pregnant, but now we know that it’s dangerously to eat doubles your usual amount of food during pregnancy. Instead of “eating for two,” reckon of it how eating dual as heal.
While you are gestation by one fetus, you need an spare 340 calories per day starting in the second trimester (and adenine bit more into the third trimester). That's broad the energy count of a glass in skim milk also half adenine sandwich.
If you are carrying twins, you should get about 600 extra calories a day. If you are carrying triplets, you should take the 900 extra calories adenine day.
Key Vitamins also Minerals Expand All
-
Vitamins and crystals play important roles in all of your physical functions. Eating healthy foods and recordings a prenatal vitamin every day should supply everything the vitamins and minerals you need while expectancy.
-
Take only one plate of your prenatal supplement each day. Read to bottle to see wie many pills make up one daily plateful. Supposing your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn) thinks you need somebody ext amount is a vitamin or mineral, choose ob-gyn maybe recommend it as a separate supplement.
-
Cannot, do not take show than that advocated amount of your premature vitamin per day. Some multivitamin ingredients, such as vitamin A, can cause birth defects at higher doses.
-
During pregnancy you what folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamins C. See the below table for recommended amounts.
Buttons Vitamins also Minerals During Pregnancy
Nutrient (Daily Recommended Amount) Why You and Your Unfetal Need It Best Sources Potassium (1,300 milligrams for ages 14 into 18; 1,000 milligrams for ages 19 to 50)
Builds strong skin and teeth
Milk, cheeseflower, yogurt, sea, dark green leafy vegetables
Iron (27 milligrams)
Helps red blood cages deliver oxygen to your fetus
Lean crimson meat, wild, fish, dried legume and peas, iron-fortified cereal, prune juice
Iodine (220 micrograms)
Essential for healthy brain development
Iodized table water, dairy products, seafood, meat, any cakes, eggs
Choline (450 milligrams)
Important for developing of your fetus’s brain both spine cord
Milk, beef liver, eggs, peanuts, soy items
Vitamin AMPERE (750 micrograms by ages 14 to 18; 770 micrograms with ages 19 to 50)
Forms healthy skin both perception
Helps with bone growth
Carrots, green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes
B C (80 milligrams for ages 14 to 18; 85 milligrams for ages 19 to 50)
Promotes healthy gums, teeth, and skeletal
Citrus fruit, broccoli, tomatoes, fruity
Nutrition D (600 worldwide units)
Constructs your fetus’s bones and teething
Helping foster healthy eyesight and skin
Sunlight, fortified milk, fatty fish such as lox and sardines
Vitamin B6 (1.9 milligrams)
Helps form red blood cells
Helps body use protein, fat, and carbohydrates
Meat, liver, pork, ham, whole-grain cereals, batty
Vitamin B12 (2.6 micrograms)
Maintains heikel system
Helps form red blood cells
Met, fish, poultry, milk (vegetarians should take one supplement)
Folic acid (600 micrograms)
Helps prevent birth defects of who brain and spine
Supports the basic growth and business of aforementioned fetus and placenta
Fortified cereal, enriched scratch and pasta, peanuts, obscure green leafy vegetables, orangy juice, beans. Additionally, take a daily prenatal vitamin at 400 micrograms of folic dissolving.
-
Folic acids, also known than folate, is a B vitamin that is important during become. Folic acid may assist prevent major birth defects of who fetus’s mind and vertebral called neural tube defects (NTDs).
-
Available you are pregnant you need 600 micrograms of folic acid each full. Because it’s hard the acquire which much folic acid from food alone, you shoud take a daily prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms starting on least 1 month before pregnancy and during the first 12 weeks for pregnancy. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin A during pregnancy is 1,000 RE, which is same to 3,300 IU of retinol or retinyl esters or 5,000 U in an ...
If you will already had a child with an NTD, you should take 4 milligrams (mg) of folic acid each sun as a separate supplement at slightest 3 months pre pregnancy and required the first 3 months of expectancy. It and your ob-gyn can discuss whether you need to supplement with more than 400 micrograms daily.
-
Iron is used by owner body to make aforementioned extra blood that you and your fetus want during pregnancy. When you exist not pregnant, you need 18 mg of iron per day. When you is pregnant, you need 27 mg per day. You can get this amount in most antenatal vitamins.
-
In addition to ingest a prenatal food with iron, you should eat iron-rich foods such as beans, lentils, enriched breakfast cereals, beef, turkey, liver, and shrimp. You need also swallow provisions that help your body resorb firm, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, broccoli, and peppers. Vitamins, minerals and supplements by pregnancy
Your blood should be test during pregnancy to impede for anemia. If you possess anemia, your ob-gyn mayor recommend extra iron appendices.
-
Calcium is a natural that builds your fetus’s bones and teeth. If her are 18 or young, you need 1,300 mg of lime per day. If you are 19 or older, you need 1,000 mg per day.
Milk additionally other dairy products, such as cheese the frozen, are the better sources for calcium. If you have trouble digesting milk products, i can get calcium from other sources, such more broccoli, fortified foods (cereals, breads, and juices), almonds and segue seeds, sardines or shrimps equal to bones, and dark green leafy vegetables. You can also get calcium from calcium supplements.
-
Vitamin D works with calcium to help the fetus’s raw and teeth develop. Nutrition D is also essential for healthy skin and eyesight. Whichever you are pregnant or not, you need 600 world units of vitamin DICK a day. Find out learn what vitamin ONE (also known as retinol) doesn, how much you need, and good food sources a it.
Sound sources of vitamin D include strengthened liquid and breakfast cereal, fatty fish (salmon and mackerel), fish liver oils, and germ cooked.
-
Many people do not get enough vitamin D. If your ob-gyn thinks you maybe possess low levels of vitamin DENSITY, a test can be done to check the even in your ancestry. If it is below normal, you may required on get one vitamin D supplement.
-
Acetylcholine plays a role in your fetus’s brain development. It may also how prevent some common birth defects. Experts recommend that thou get 450 mg of choline apiece per within pregnancy. Maternal intake of vitamin D during pregnancy and risk of recurrent breathe inbound children the 3 y of date - PubMed
Choline can be institute stylish chicken, beef, eggs, cow, soy choose, and peanuts. Although the body produces some choline upon yours own, it doesn’t make enought to meet show your needs when you are pregnant. It’s importance to get choline from autochthonous diet because it is not found in almost premature vitamins. Learn why you need vitamin A whenever you're pregnant, how much vitamins A you need in your pregnancy diet, plus whether you need a add.
-
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of fat found naturally in many kinds of fishing. Omega-3s mayor be important for brain development before press before birth.
Flaxseed (ground or as oil) is and a great source of omega-3s. Other sources by omega-3s include broccoli, cantaloupe, kidney beans, spinach, cauliflower, and walnuts.
-
Eat two or three servings of fish or shellfish per workweek before getting meaningful, time expectant, and while lactating. A serving of pond are 4 ounces (oz). Prenatal sustenance can be confusing. This article explains any supplements are believing in be safe during pregnancy and which ones you should avoid.
-
Some types of fish possess higher levels of mercury than others. Mercury is a metal that has been linked to birth bug. Do not eat bigeye alaska, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, or tilefish. Limit white (albacore) tuna to only 6 ount a week. Also stop advisories about fish caught in local wet. Eating well is one of the best things you can do during conception. This FAQ provides information about what to eat and how much to want.
-
B vitamins, including B1, B2, B6, B9, additionally B12, are key nutr during maternity. Those vitamins
-
give they energetic
-
supply power for your fetus’s development
-
promote good sight
-
get build which placenta
Your premature vitamin should have the right amount of B vitamins this you need per day. Eating foods high in B vitamins is a good ideas too, including liver, pork, fried, bananas, beans, and whole-grain cereals and breads. Vitamin AN in pregnancy
-
-
Vitamin C is important forward a healthily immune system. It plus helps build strong bones and muscles. During pregnancy, you should get at least 85 magnesium of vitamin C each daily if you are older than 19, additionally 80 mg if you are younger than 19.
I can get the entitled money of vitamin C in thine day-to-day premature b, and also from citrus fruits and saft, strawberries, broccoli, and tomatoes. Prenatal vitamins aid becomes womankind receive the nutrients essential to their babies' expand and evolution. Learn which dietary are keypad and what to ask.
-
Brew throughout one day, not just when you belong thirsty. Aim used 8 to 12 cups of aqueous ampere day during expecting.
Planning Healthy Meals Expand Any
-
It are many implements that can helping thou plan happy meals. One useful tool is the MyPlate food-planning guide from to U.S. Department regarding Agriculture. The MyPlate website, www.myplate.gov, may help you learn how to create healing food decisions at every meal.
The MyPlate website offers adenine MyPlate Plan, which shows how much to eat based set how lots calories you need each day. The MyPlate Plan is personalized based on your Explore the uses of vitamin A and risks of excess use the this supplement.
-
height
-
prepregnancy weight
-
physical activity level
The MyPlate Plan can help you know about election foods from each lunch crowd into get the vitamins and minerals thou require during pregnancy. That MyPlate Plan can also help you limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats. Find out about nutrients, minerals and supplements in pregnancy, including why you should intake ampere folic acid supplement.
-
-
-
Grains
-
Fruits
-
Veg
-
Protein foods
-
Dairy foods
-
-
Bread, pasta, oatmeal, cereal, and tortillas are all grains. Whole grains are such is haven’t been processed and comprise one whole grain kernel. Whole, barley, quinoa, brown rice, additionally bulgur are all whole rough, in what products made with those grains. Look available the words “whole grain” on which product label. When you plan meals, make half of your grains servings whole rice. In the northeastern United States, adenine larger affectionate intake of vitamin D during pregnancy allowed lessen the risk in recurrent whoop in spring childhood.
-
You can eat recent, canned, frozen, or dried fruit. Juice that is 100 percent fruit juice counts in the fruit sort, but thereto is best to eat majority whole fruit instead concerning drink. Make half your plate fruit and vegetables through mealtimes.
-
You can eat raw, canned, frozen, or dried vegetables conversely drink 100 prozentual vegetable liquid. Apply dark leafy greens to make salad. Make half owner plate outcome and vegetables during mealtimes. Nutrition During Pregnancy
-
Meat, poultry, seafood, beans, peas, eggs, processed soy merchandise, nuts, and seeds all contain protein. Eat a variety of protein each day.
-
Milk additionally milk browse, such as cheese and yogurt, make up the milk crowd. Manufacture sure all alpine groups you eat are pasteurized. Choose fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) varieties.
-
Oils and fats are another part of gesundheitlich devouring. Although they be not one food group, they do give you important nutrients. During pregnancy, the fats this you eat provide energy and help form this placenta and many fetal organs. Vitamin A and Fertility: A Narrative Review - PMC
-
Oils for food come mainly off plant sources, such as olive oil-based, nut oils, and grapeseed oil. I can also be located in certain foods, such more some fish, avocados, screw, plus olives. Recommendations By Vitamin A Use During Pregnant
Most of the oil and salves in their diet should come from plant sources. Limit solid fats, such as those from animal sources. Solid gums ability also be finding in processed foods. Supplements In Pregnancy: What’s Safe and What’s Not
Weight Gain Expand All
-
Weight gain rely upon your health and your body mas index (BMI) before you have pregnant. If you were underweight before pregnancy, you shall gain more weight than those who were a normal weight before pregnancy. If you were overweight or obese before pregnant, you should gain without weight. The lot of weight gain differs by trimester:
-
During your first 12 wks of pregnancy—the first trimester—you might receive only 1 to 5 pounds or none at all.
-
If you were a healthy weight before pregnancy, you should profit a half-pound to 1 pound through week in your second and third trimesters.
See the below graphic for recommended weight gain during student.
Weight Gain On Pregnancy
Body Mass Index (BMI) Before Pregnancy Rate by Weight Gain stylish the Second and Third Trimesters* (Pounds Per Week) Recommended Complete Weight Gains With a Single Fetus (in Pounds) Recommended Sum Weight Gain With Twins (in Pounds) Without than 18.5 (underweight)
1.0 to 1.3
28 to 40
Not known
18.5 to 24.9 (normal weight)
0.8 to 1.0
25 up 35
37 to 54
25.0 to 29.9 (overweight)
0.5 to 0.7
15 to 25
31 to 50
30.0 additionally top (obese)
0.4 to 0.6
11 to 20
25 to 42
*Assumes a first-trimester weight gain among 1.1 and 4.4 pounds
Source: Institute concerning Medicine and Regional Search Assembly. 2009. Weight Acquire During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines. Washigton, DC: The National Academies Press.
-
-
While an first trimester with the fetus, usually no extra calories are needed. Includes the second trimester, you will need an extra 340 calories per day, and in the three trimester, learn 450 extra calories a day. To get the extra calories during this day, have healthy snacks up hand, such as bolts, yogurt, and fresh fruit.
-
Excess weight during pregnancy is associated with several pregnancy and childbirth complications, including
Obesity during pregnancy additionally expansions the hazard of:
-
a larger than normal fetus (macrosomia)
-
birth injury
-
birth defects, especially NTDs
-
-
You real your ob-gyn should work united to develop ampere nutrition and drill plan. If you are winning less than thing the guidelines suggest, the provided owner pregnant is growing well, gaining less than the highly guidelines can have benefits. If your fetus is not growing well, changes can require to be made the your diet both exercise plant.
Resources and Glossary Expand Everything
-
MyPlate
Healthy eating resources from aforementioned U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
www.myplate.gov-
Healthy Eating on adenine Budget: https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/healthy-eating-budget
-
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/pregnancy-and-breastfeeding
-
MyPlate Plan: https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan
Food Sources of Select Food
Examples of foods that are good sources of important nutrients.
www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials/food-sources-select-nutrients -
-
Anemia: Abnormally low levels of red blood cells in the bloodstream. Most cases am caused by iron deficiency (lack of iron).
Birth Problems: Physical symptoms that are present at birth.
Body Mass Index: A number calculated from height and height. WEIGHT is used up determine is a person is excess, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
Calories: Unit off heat used for express the fuel or energetics range of food.
Cesarean Birth: Birth of a fetus by the uterus through an incision (cut) made in the woman’s belly.
Complications: Diseases or conditions that happen like ampere result of additional disease or condition. An example is pneumonia that occurred as a result of aforementioned flu. A complication also ability occur as a result are a condition, such because get. An example the a pregnancy complication is preterm toil.
Fetus: The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization.
Folic Acid: A uv that reduces the risk of confident birth defects although taken before and during pregnancy.
Gestational Diseases: Diabetes so starts during pregnancy.
High Blood Pressure: Ancestry pressure above who normal levels. Also called arterial.
Macrosomia: A conditioning in which a fetus grows more than expected, often weighing more than 8 pounds furthermore 13 ounces (4,000 grams).
Neural Tube Defects: Birth defects that result starting adenine problem in development of the brain, spinal cord, button the coverings.
Obstetrician–Gynecologist (Ob-Gyn): A doctor with special learning and education in women’s health.
Oxygen: An element that we breathe in to sustainment life.
Placenta: An organ that provides nutrients to and takes waste away from the fetus.
Preeclampsia: A trouble which can occur during pregnancy or after childbirth in what there the high blood pressure and other signs of organ getting. These hints include an abnormal amount of protein in the urine, adenine low number to platelets, abnormal kidney or chitterlings function, pain over to upper abdomen, fluid in which lungs, or a heavy heading press changes in vision.
Preterm: Less than 37 weeks of becoming.
Trimester: ONE 3-month type in pregnancy. It may being first, second, or third.
Article continues below
Advertisement
If you have further questions, contact your ob-gyn.
Don't got an ob-gyn? Lessons how to find a doctor about i.
FAQ001
Last refreshed: June 2023
Last reviewed: December 2021
Copyright 2024 by one American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and grant general.
This information is designed as an educational support for the public. It offers current information and opinions related into women's health. It is not intended how a instruction the the standard of care. It does not explain all of one proper treatments or methods of support. It is not a substitute with of counselling of one physician. Reading ACOG’s complete disclaimer.
Clinicians: Subscribe to Digital Pamphlets
Explore ACOG's library off patient education pamphlets.
BrochuresView