A woman’s nutritional and overall health, before and during pregnancy, influences the health of her developing baby. Eating well, combined with taking a daily multivitamin with folic acid and iron, can give a woman the nutrients she needs to feel good, have energy, and support a healthy pregnancy.

Women of Childbearing Age

During different stages of their childbearing years, women need additional nutrients or calories. Although folic acid is found in some foods, such as dark green vegetables, beans, lentils, orange juice and some grain products, all women who could become pregnant and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding need a daily multivitamin containing 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid. This supplement, together with the amount of folic acid. will help decrease the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and meet the extra folic acid needs for those pregnant and breastfeeding. In addition, pregnant women need to ensure that their multivitamin also contains enough iron. A health care provider can help you find the multivitamin that is right for you.

Additional Calories

Pregnant and breastfeeding women need a few more calories. For most women, this means an extra two or three Food Guide Servings from any of the food groups each day in addition to their recommended number of Food Guide Servings per day. These extra Food Guide Servings can either be included as an additional snack, or can be added to their usual meals. For instance, instead of having an extra snack made up of two Food Guide Servings, you may choose to have one extra Food Guide Serving of vegetables and fruit at breakfast and one extra Food Guide Serving of milk and alternatives at supper.