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Protein in your pregnancy diet

Why you need protein during pregnancy

The amino acids that make up protein are the building blocks of your body's cells – and of your baby's body as well. It's important to get enough protein throughout your pregnancy, but especially during the second and third trimesters, when your baby is growing the fastest and your breasts and organs are getting bigger to accommodate the needs of your growing baby.

How much protein you need

Pregnant women: about 70 grams (g) of protein per day

Non-pregnant women: about 45 g

You don't have to get the recommended amount of protein every day. Instead, aim for that amount as an average over the course of a few days or a week.

Most women in the United States regularly eat more protein in a day than they need, so you probably won't have any trouble meeting your body's needs during pregnancy. If you don't eat meat, you can meet your protein requirements through other sources, including dairy, beans, or soy products.

Food sources of protein

Beans are a great source of protein, as are lean meat, poultry, fish and shellfish, eggs, milk, cheese, tofu, and yogurt. While animal products contain complete proteins (all nine amino acid components) and other plant sources generally don't, eating a variety of foods throughout the course of the day will help ensure that you get all of the amino acids you need.

Eat three or four servings of protein daily and you'll be well on your way to eating right for a healthy pregnancy and baby. (Your prenatal daily requirement of 70 grams is the equivalent of two glasses of milk, a 5-ounce chicken breast, and two cups of yogurt, for example.)

Here are some good protein sources:

Dairy

  • 1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese: 14 g
  • 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese: 14 g
  • 8 ounce container low-fat yogurt: 9 to 12 g
  • 1 ounce Parmesan cheese: 11 g
  • 1 ounce Swiss cheese: 8 g
  • 1 cup skim milk: 8 g
  • 1 ounce part-skim mozzarella cheese: 7 g
  • 1 ounce cheddar cheese: 7 g
  • 1 large fresh egg: 6 g

Beans, nuts, legumes

  • 1/2 cup raw tofu (firm): 20 g
  • 1 cup cooked lentils: 18 g
  • 1 cup canned black beans: 15 g
  • 1 cup canned kidney beans: 13 g
  • 1 cup canned garbanzos: 12 g
  • 1 cup canned pinto beans: 12 g
  • 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter: 8 g
  • 1 ounce dry roasted peanuts: 7 g
  • 1 cup light plain soymilk: 6 g

Meat, poultry and fish
Note that 3 ounces of meat or fish is about the size of a pack of cards.

  • 1/2 roasted chicken breast (no skin): 27 g
  • 3 ounces sockeye salmon: 23 g
  • 3 ounces trout: 23 g
  • 3 ounce lean beef hamburger patty, broiled: 21g

Caution: Not all fish are considered safe during pregnancy. Some predator fish, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish should be avoided because they contain methyl mercury, a metal believed to be harmful in high doses to the growing brains of fetuses and young children. In addition, the FDA recommends that you limit your total consumption of other fish to about 12 ounces per week during pregnancy. Learn more about how to avoid mercury while eating fish.

The signs of a protein deficiency

Weight loss, muscle fatigue, frequent infections, and severe fluid retention can be signs that you're not getting enough protein in your diet.

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