Protein Needs During Pregnancy

Why Protein Matters More in Pregnancy

Protein supports fetal tissue growth, the expanding blood volume, and the placenta. General guidance places pregnancy needs around 1.1 g/kg of body weight per day, with an additional roughly 25–30 g per day in the second and third trimesters versus pre-pregnancy.

Practical Targets

• Spread intake across meals (≈20–30 g per meal).
• Combine with the calorie additions from weight gain by trimester.
• If you have GDM, pair protein with carbs to flatten glucose.

Check your number with the Protein Intake Calculator and the Pregnancy Calorie Calculator. See the Pregnancy hub.

Educational only. Some conditions (kidney disease, certain pregnancies) change needs — confirm with your provider.