Pregnancy and Nutrition Summary When you’re pregnant, eating healthy foods is more important than ever. You need more protein, iron, calcium, and folic acid than you did before pregnancy. You also need more calories. But “eating for two” doesn’t mean eating twice as much. It means that the foods you eat are the main source of nutrients for your baby. Sensible, balanced meals will be best for you and your baby. You should gain weight gradually during your pregnancy, with most of the weight gained in the last trimester. Generally, doctors suggest women gain weight at the following rate: 2 to 4 pounds total during the first trimester 3 to 4 pounds per month for the second and third trimesters Most women need 300 calories a day or more during at least the last six months of pregnancy than they did before they were pregnant. But not all calories are equal. Your baby needs healthy foods that are packed with nutrients – not “empty calories” such as those found in soft drinks, candies, and desserts. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Find an Expert Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion Find a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Specifics Are Artificial Sweeteners OK to Consume during Pregnancy? Nemours Foundation Caffeine in Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Folic Acid and Pregnancy Nemours Foundation MedlinePlus: Folic Acid National Library of Medicine Omega-3 Fatty Acids during Pregnancy American College of Nurse-Midwives Pregnancy and Fish: What’s Safe to Eat? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Staying Healthy on a Vegetarian Diet during Pregnancy American College of Nurse-Midwives Vitamins and Other Nutrients during Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Related Issues Checklist of Foods to Avoid during Pregnancy Department of Health and Human Services Cravings during Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Food Safety for Moms-to-Be Food and Drug Administration Pregorexia: A Legitimate Problem during Pregnancy? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Weight Gain during Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena National Institutes of Health Health Check Tools Daily Food Plan for Moms Department of Agriculture Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator Department of Agriculture Start Here Eating during Pregnancy Nemours Foundation Eating during Pregnancy American Academy of Family Physicians Eating Right during Pregnancy Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Fit for Two: Tips for Pregnancy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Nutrition during Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Array Eating right during pregnancy Managing your weight gain during pregnancy When you need to gain more weight during pregnancy Patient Handouts Fish Facts Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Food Don’ts (Pregnancy) Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Tips for Pregnant Moms Food and Nutrition Information Center Videos and Tutorials Folic Acid March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Healthy Choices: What to Eat during Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Encyclopedia Folic acid in diet Statistics and Research Pregnancy and Healthy Weight National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Journal Articles Pregnancy and Nutrition NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Tips for Healthy Eating Latest News Artificial Sweeteners During Pregnancy May Make for Heavier Infants HealthDay Child’s Obesity Tied to Mom’s Pregnancy Weight HealthDay Mom’s Obesity, Diabetes May Spur Fetus to Grow Too Fast HealthDay
