You need to eat enough of the right foods to meet the nutritional needs of both you and your baby. But remember, food quality is more important than quantity. Your baby lives on what you eat. Simply increasing your food intake is not the answer. Careful menu planning and good eating habits remain the key.

For details on choosing the right foods, see What to Eat During Pregnancy. But briefly, the right foods are those that contain essential nutrients for healthy growth and development. A variety of the right foods should always be chosen to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients you need.

Your needs for almost every nutrient—including protein, vitamins, and minerals—are greater during pregnancy. Your energy, or calorie, requirements and your needs for most vitamins and minerals increase 10% to 50%, depending on the nutrient. Requirements for vitamin C and zinc increase approximately 40%. Your iron needs increase as well—they are 50% greater during pregnancy. This is why your diet should include the right amounts of quality, nutritious foods.

Because it is not easy to meet increased requirements through diet alone, supplements are often recommended. Please see Nutritional Supplements for Pregnancy.

A mother who follows the guidelines offered here is more likely to have a comfortable pregnancy, deliver a strong, healthy baby, and provide that baby with an abundant supply of quality breast milk, if she chooses to breastfeed.