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Pregnancy Health Center - Recommended Daily Allowances

Recommended Daily Allowances Chart

When you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's important to take a close look at your diet to make sure that you and your baby are getting all of the calories and nutrients you need. What changes should you make? To find out, look over the table below, which lists the recommended daily allowances for various nutrients before conception, during pregnancy, and while you're nursing your baby. The table also explains the importance of each of these nutrients.

The best way to improve your diet is by eating a variety of healthy foods. Taking a daily prenatal vitamin recommended by your health care provider will help fill in any nutritional gaps. (If you're a vegetarian or are on another special diet, be sure to talk to your caregiver about additional dietary changes you may need to make.) Remember, too, that "eating for two" doesn't mean twice as much. You need just 300 extra calories a day (400 while nursing) - equal to one glass of milk, a banana, and 10 crackers.

Nutrient	Non-pregnant Women	Pregnant Women	Lactating Women	Function
Kilocalories	2200	2500	2600	Provides energy for basic body functioning
Vitamin A [micrograms=mcg or retinal equivalents (RE)]	800	800	1300	Aids vision; needed for growth of bones and teeth
Vitamin B6 (milligrams=mg)	1.5	1.9	2.0	Aids in the formation of red blood cells
Vitamin B12 (mcg)	2.4	2.6	2.8	Aids in the formation of red blood cells
Vitamin C (mg)	75	85	120	Needed for wound healing, resistance to infection, and collagen formation
Vitamin D (mcg)	5	5	5	Aids in the growth of bones and teeth
Vitamin E (mg TE)	15	15	19	Needed for the formation and use of red blood cells and muscles
Vitamin K (mcg)	90	90	90	Prevents a rare bleeding disorder in the newborn
Calcium (mg)	1200	1000	1000	Essential for the growth and health of bones and teeth and proper muscle and nerve function
Folate (mcg)	400	600	500	Prevents neural tube defects in the fetus; essential for blood and protein production and cell division
Iodine (mcg)	150	220	290	Required for hormone production
Iron (mg ferrous iron)	18	27	9	Essential for the production of hemoglobin, an important blood protein
Magnesium (mg)	320	350 - 360	310 - 320	Needed for proper nerve and muscle function
Niacin (mg NE)	14	18	17	Promotes healthy skin, nerves, and digestion; helps the body use carbohydrates
Phosphorous (mg)	700	700	700	Essential for the growth and health of bones and teeth
Protein (grams=g)	38	50	60	Needed for overall health and growth; aids in blood production and supplies the "building blocks" for your baby's body
Riboflavin (mg)	1.1	1.4	1.6	Aids in the release of energy to cells
Thiamin (mg)	1.1	1.4	1.4	Helps the body digest carbohydrates
Zinc (mg)	8	11	12	Aids in the production of enzymes and insulin

These additional nutrient requirements can be taken in by choosing the right kinds of foods. For instance, green leafy vegetables are both high in folic acid and iron. Calcium can be taken in through dairy products and also through foods such as salmon, beans, and tofu. Dairy products are helpful in getting nutrients such as phosphorous, riboflavin, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D.

[NOTE: Women in their reproductive years should know that the excessive use of vitamin A shortly before and during pregnancy could be harmful to their babies. 1,000 RE=5,000 international units (IU). More than 10,000 IU should be considered harmful.]

Although pregnancy requires additional nutrients, it doesn't require a drastic change in caloric intake. Remember, don't skip meals and keep saturated fats to a minimum.

Review Date: 12/9/2012
Reviewed By: Irina Burd, MD, PhD, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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