[Submitted Question]

How much protein do I need in my diet in the first trimester?

[WombToBloom]

On average, a woman needs 60 grams of protein in her diet per day during her pregnancy; however, this varies with age and weight. In general, your intake of protein should increase over time during the pregnancy. A more particular way to determine the protein intake per day is to use the following formula: Protein intake in grams equals weight in pounds times 0.37 or weight in kilograms times 0.8. This means that the more you weigh, the more protein you need in your diet. You should eat more protein if you are doing any weight lifting or strenuous exercise.

Protein sources in your diet include meat and fish, beans of any kind, dairy products and nuts or seeds. The very best sources are dairy and meat or fish sources because they provide complete proteins, having the total number of amino acids necessary for the growth and development of the fetus. Nuts, seeds, legumes or other sources of proteins are incomplete and must be combined with another source of protein to make a complete protein.

Let’s look at a good diet during pregnancy. Breakfast can include a boiled egg or scrambled eggs with toast and peanut butter. The eggs and the peanut butter provide sources of protein. Lunch can include a meat sandwich with a glass of milk. Remember that milk is a good source of calcium as well as protein. Dinner can be filleted fish or a cut of meat. Glasses of milk with every meal are a must.

[fawnanddoe]

I have been following the Bradley Method and he suggests that pregnant women get between 80 and 100mg of protein per day.

This is definitely more than you probably need, but I have been trying to follow it. It's even harder because I am a vegetarian, but I try to eat a lot of beans, eggs and wheats.

[journeybirth]

I always followed the Brewer diet and it recommended 80-100gm of protein a day. There's more info at BlueRibbonBaby.org Home

[laboroflovedoula]

I think it is certainly proven to be the baby's brain food- so a lot is better than a little! I do think the brewer diet is high in protein and if a woman shoots for 80-100 grams she will not miss having the amount she needs for a healthy pregnancy and baby!

[AngelaMays]

For your pregnancy concerns, it is best to seek advice from your doctor so that he/she can keep track of your developments. You should also immediately consult your doctor about your anxiety problems so that he/she can give you the options on how to deal with it. Just be careful on taking antidepressant drugs like Zoloft because numerous reports show that this drug causes unpleasant side effects such as birth defects to infants, increased suicidal thoughts, sleeping disorders, eating disorders, physical pain, psychosis and memory problems.

[anitagrace2]

On average, a woman needs 60 grams of protein in her diet per day during her pregnancy; however, this varies with age and weight. In general, your intake of protein should increase over time during the pregnancy