Original source overview
What is nutrition, and why is it important during pregnancy?Nutrition is about eating a healthy and balanced diet so your body gets the nutrients that it needs. Nutrients are substances in foods that our bodies need so they can function and grow. They include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.
When you're pregnant, nutrition is more important than ever. You need more of many important nutrients than you did before pregnancy. Making healthy food choices every day will help you give your baby what they need to develop. It will also help make sure that you and your baby gain a healthy amount of weight.
Do I have any special nutritional needs now that I am pregnant?You need more folic acid, iron, calcium, and vitamin D than you did before pregnancy:
• Folic acid is a B vitamin that may help prevent neural tube defects.
• Before pregnancy, you need 400 mcg (micrograms) per day. • During pregnancy and when breastfeeding, you need 600 mcg per day from foods and/or vitamins. It is hard to get this amount from foods alone, so you will most likely need to take a supplement that contains folic acid.
• Iron is important for your baby's growth and brain development. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body increases, so you need more iron for yourself and your growing baby. You should get 27 mg (milligrams) of iron a day. • Calcium during pregnancy can reduce your risk of preeclampsia. It's a serious medical condition that causes a sudden increase in your blood pressure. Calcium also builds up your baby's bones and teeth. • Pregnant adults should get 1,000 mg (milligrams) of calcium a day • Pregnant teenagers (ages 14-18) need 1,300 mg of calcium a day
• Vitamin D helps the calcium to build your baby's bones and teeth. All women, pregnant or not, should be getting 600 IU (international units) of vitamin D per day.
Keep in mind that taking too much of a supplement can be harmful. For example, very high levels of vitamin A can cause birth defects. Only take vitamins and mineral supplements that your health care provider recommends.
You also need more protein when you are pregnant. Healthy sources of protein include beans, peas, eggs, lean meats, seafood, and unsalted nuts and seeds.
Getting enough fluids is another special nutritional concern during pregnancy. When you are pregnant, your body needs even more water to stay hydrated and support the life inside you. So it's important to drink enough fluids every day.
How much weight should I gain during my pregnancy?How much weight you should gain depends on your health and how much you weighed before pregnancy:
• If you were at a normal weight before pregnancy, you should gain about 25 to 35 pounds • If you were underweight before pregnancy, you should gain more • If you were overweight or had obesity before you became pregnant, you should gain less
Check with your provider to find out how much weight gain during pregnancy is healthy for you. You should gain the weight gradually during your pregnancy, with most of the weight gained in the last trimester.
Do I need to eat more calories when I am pregnant?How many calories you need depends on your weight gain goals. Your provider can tell you what your goal should be, based on things like your weight before pregnancy, your age, and how fast you gain weight. The general recommendations are:
• In the first trimester of pregnancy, you probably do not need extra calories • In the second trimester, you usually need about 340 extra calories • In the last trimester, you may need around 450 extra calories per day • During the final weeks of pregnancy, you may not need extra calories
Keep in mind that not all calories are equal. You should eat healthy foods that are packed with nutrients - not "empty calories" such as those found in soft drinks, candies, and desserts.
What foods should I avoid during pregnancy?During pregnancy, you should avoid:
• Alcohol. There is no known amount of alcohol that is safe for a woman to drink during pregnancy. • Fish that may have high levels of mercury. Limit white (albacore) tuna to 6 ounces per week. Do not eat tilefish, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy, or king mackerel. • Foods that are more likely to contain germs that could cause foodborne illness, including
• Refrigerated smoked seafood like whitefish, salmon, and mackerel • Undercooked meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood • Refrigerated meat spreads • Store-made salads, such as chicken, egg, or tuna salad • Unpasteurized or raw milk • Unpasteurized juices or cider • Unpasteurized soft cheeses, such as unpasteurized feta, Brie, queso blanco, queso fresco, and blue cheeses • Raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean) • Raw cookie dough • Unwashed fruits and vegetables
• Too much caffeine. Drinking high amounts of caffeine may be harmful for your baby. For most people, it's best to limit caffeine to less than 200 mg per day during pregnancy. But first check with your provider about whether you should have caffeine at all.
Encyclopedic background — Wikipedia
The following selected excerpts provide background on “Nutrition and pregnancy”. This related background source does not cover every aspect of the specific topic “Pregnancy and Nutrition”; population-specific details and decisions should be checked in the original topic source. They are not a substitute for the source overview or current local clinical guidance. Each excerpt below comes from the fixed Wikipedia revision [W1].
Definition and overview [W1]
Nutrition and pregnancy refers to the nutrient intake and dietary planning that is undertaken before, during, and after pregnancy. Nutrition of the fetus begins at conception. For this reason, the nutrition of the mother is important from before conception (probably several months before) as well as throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. An ever-increasing number of studies have shown that the nutrition of the mother will have an effect on the child, up to and including the risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes throughout life.
An inadequate or excessive amount of some nutrients may cause malformations or medical problems in the fetus, and neurological disorders and handicaps are a risk that is run by mothers who are malnourished. An estimated 24% of babies worldwide are born with lower than optimal weights at birth due to lack of proper nutrition. Personal habits such as consumption of alcohol or large amounts of caffeine can negatively and irreversibly affect the development of the baby, which happens in the early stages of pregnancy.
Caffeine consumption during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss. The available research favors the notion that the benefits of fish consumption during pregnancy outweigh the risks; however, the type of fish is important. Folic acid, which is the synthetic form of the vitamin folate, is critical both in pre- and peri-conception.
Reading this topic in context
Use “Pregnancy and Nutrition” as a starting point for a focused discussion, rather than treating every statement in the broader encyclopedia article as applying to you. The original source overview and the background excerpts answer different questions: the overview explains the health topic for readers, while the encyclopedia supplies terminology and general context. Keep a record of which questions concern symptoms, a confirmed diagnosis, prevention, or an existing treatment. This helps a healthcare professional address the relevant issue without relying on an internet label.
Questions to take to a professional
1. Which nutrition and supplement advice applies to this pregnancy?
2. How should nausea, restricted diets or an existing medical condition change the plan?
Evidence, scope and next steps
The health-topic overview is attributed to MedlinePlus / the National Library of Medicine at the original topic link below. Wikipedia [W1] is a secondary background source; its references can support further reading, but their presence is not evidence that WellPrimer has independently reviewed every study. No clinical review, guideline certification or NLM endorsement is claimed. For screening intervals, diagnostic thresholds, pregnancy or child-specific advice and treatment choices, check current guidance in your country with a qualified professional. Do not start, stop or change a prescribed medicine based on encyclopedia excerpts. New or worsening symptoms need appropriate clinical assessment rather than more reading alone.
Attribution and reuse
[W1] Wikipedia contributors, “Nutrition and pregnancy”. Version 1369116102, edited 2026-08-13. Retrieved 2026-10-16. Fixed revision: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nutrition_and_pregnancy&oldid=1369116102. Contributor history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nutrition_and_pregnancy&action=history. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ .
The MedlinePlus health-topic summary retains its original attribution. Wikipedia excerpts and the added compilation/commentary are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0; selections, section ordering and editorial reading prompts have been added. No images are reused. This is an educational compilation, not a clinician-reviewed guideline.