Pregnancy protein requirement

As an expectant mom, it is important that you are able to sustain what your child needs during pregnancy. Your child's nutrition is dependent on you. Lacking of the needed nutrition during pregnancy could bring developmental problems on the baby and health concerns to the mother in the long run. Some of the nutrients that play a major role during pregnancy are folic acid, calcium, iron and protein. In this article we will discuss protein as an important part of pregnancy.

Amino acids which can be found on protein form the building block for the development of the muscles and the tissues. During pregnancy, it is important to the growth of the baby particularly on the second and the third trimester of pregnancy where growth is in its highest. Lacking of this nutrient can lead to low birth weight and early childbirth. Also some manifestations of this to the mother are weight loss, muscle fatigue and frequent infection.

How much protein you should consume per day? An average woman would need 40 to 45 grams of protein per day as his protein requirement. During pregnancy, there is an increase to the protein requirement by 25 grams to be able to sustain the development of the baby.

Getting the extra 25 grams should not pose a problem for expectant moms. There are several types of foods where you can get the protein that you need. Some of the protein-rich foods are beans and legumes, lean meats such as beef, chicken and pork, seafood like crab, lobster and shrimp and dairy products such as milk and cheese. Fish are also excellent source of protein. Expectant moms should however be careful in eating fish as not all types of fish are safe for consumption during pregnancy. Predator fish like tuna and king mackerel should be avoided as they may contain metals such as mercury that can be harmful to pregnancy. Mercury can affect the brain development of the baby inside the womb. Aside from mercury, you also run the risk of lead exposure that does the same effect.

Consulting your medical practitioner would help you learn if you have sufficient protein to sustain your health and the development of your child. By doing so, your doctor can help you plan your meals to help you meet your protein requirement.

Meeting your protein needs during pregnancy should never be a problem. There are a lot of choices to include in your meal to meet your protein requirement. Eat nutrition-dense food to ensure that you stay healthy as well as the baby in the womb.



Riza C. Belgira is health enthusiast and an advocate of strengthening women's health and well-being through informative health resources and articles.

Visit her web site and explore informative and useful tips on 4d scans, pregnancy, dieting and weight loss at http://www.4d-ultrasoundscan.co.uk/.