2. Weight Gain
Item Amount
Baby 7-8 pounds
Blood Volume Increase 3 pounds
Placenta 1 pound
Tissue 2-6 pounds
Uterus 2 pounds
Fat Deposits 5 pounds
Breasts 1 pound
Amniotic Fluid 2-4 pounds
Fluids 2-6 pounds
Total ~ 25 to 35 pounds

3. Weight Gain…
 1 to 4 pounds total
during the first 3
months (first
trimester)
 2 to 4 pounds per
month during the
4th to 9th months
(second and third
trimesters)

4. Daily Food Requirements
 Milk and Milk Products, Dairy
 4 servings

5. Daily Food Requirements
 Meats & Proteins
 3 servings

6. Daily Food Requirements
 Fruits
 2-4 servings
 1 high in vitamin C

7. Daily Food Requirements
 Vegetables
 Dark green and deep yellow vegetables
several times a week
 3 to 5 servings

8. Daily Food Requirements
 Breads & Carbohydrates
 6 to 11 servings a day
 Aim for whole grains

9. Beneficial Nutrients
 Folic Acid
○ reduces risk of birth defects (spina bifida)
○ found in green leafy vegetables, nuts,
citrus fruits, beans, fortified cereals
 Iron
○ helps mom and baby’s blood carry
oxygen
○ green leafy vegetables, red meat, beans
 Calcium
○ fetus needs for bone growth
○ helps mom from losing bone density
○ found in Milk group

10. Avoid …
 Alcohol
 Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome
 High risk of still born or
miscarriage
 Low birth rate
 Mental retardation

11. Avoid …
 Smoking –low birth weight, stillbirth,
poor lung development, SIDS, 2nd
hand smoke is also dangerous
 Medications – NO medications
should be taken (even over the
counter) unless approved by
doctor
 X-rays – Exposing fetus to radiation
can cause birth defects
 Hot tubs/saunas – raises core
temperature of mom, could harm
fetus

12. Foods to Avoid …
 Some fish and shellfish contain potentially dangerous
levels of mercury. Too much mercury could damage
your baby's developing nervous system.
 The bigger and older the fish, the more mercury it's likely
to contain. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
encourage pregnant women to avoid:
 Swordfish
 Shark
 King mackerel
 Tilefish
 Limit albacore tuna, chunk white tuna and tuna steak to
no more than 6 ounces, or 170 grams, a week