What should I eat during pregnancy?

Reviewed by Dr Philip Owen, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist

Does a pregnant woman need to eat twice as much?

It has often been said that a pregnant woman should eat for two people, but this is not true.

What is true is that during pregnancy a woman has to provide good nutrition for two individuals. The growing baby gets all its nourishment from its mother through the umbilical cord, so diet is very important. If the mother is lacking in any vitamins and nutrients her baby might lack them too.

If a woman has had trouble keeping her weight up or down before the pregnancy, she should make a nutritional plan with the help of her doctor or midwife.

How much energy does a woman need during pregnancy?

• A woman who is not pregnant needs approximately 2100 calories per day.
• A pregnant woman needs approximately 2500 calories per day.
• A breastfeeding woman needs approximately 3000 calories per day.
• Calories are sometimes called Kilocalories or KCals.

What sort of food should pregnant women eat?

A well-balanced diet should contain something from all the food groups: dairy products, fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, fat and carbohydrates. A pregnant woman needs to eat something from all these food groups every