Nutrition in pregnancy

Eating well in pregnancy is about balance, not perfection

The World Health Organization's 2016 antenatal care guidance recommends that every pregnant woman receive counselling on healthy eating and staying physically active, as part of routine care. There is no single perfect pregnancy diet — the general principle is a varied diet with enough energy and protein, alongside the specific supplements your provider recommends for you.

WHO's guideline lists several nutrition-related interventions that a provider may offer depending on your situation and local context — including daily iron and folic acid supplementation for most pregnant women, calcium supplementation where dietary calcium intake tends to be low, and cutting back caffeine for women who drink a lot of it. Exactly which of these apply to you, and at what dose, is a conversation for your own midwife or doctor — this lesson is general education, not a personal prescription.