Protein's Power ROLE IN PREGNANCY

Protein is critical for ensuring the proper growth of your baby's tissues and organs, including your little one's brain!

Protein’s Power Role in Pregnancy

Did you know…

Protein is the macronutrient that most influences birth weight?¹ Currently ⅛ women are not consuming adequate amounts of protein in their second and third trimesters.²

Protein is critical for ensuring proper growth of your babies tissues and organs, including your little ones brain! For you momma, protein plays a role in reducing swelling/fluid retention, supports collagen production, and helps promote healthy weight gain, and to top it off it provides more vitamins/minerals.³

That’s right…protein during pregnancy is important, but exactly how much protein do you need when pregnant? 

Protein intake will vary from each individual, however standard recommendations for the first trimester has a daily recommended protein intake of 38 g, whereas protein intake in the second trimester and third trimester ramp up to 59 g of protein intake per day.⁴

Some great sources of protein include: 

  • Lean beef and pork (preferably from naturally-raised animals)
  • Chicken and poultry
  • Organ Meats (if available from naturally-raised animals)
  • Eggs
  • Salmon
  • White-Flesh Fish
  • Plain Greek Yogurt
  • Nuts, seeds, nut butters
  • Beans, legumes, lentils

When you don’t have time to make these protein sources, PowerNatal’s prenatal protein powders are here for you. During life’s busiest moments, our powders provide a convenient choice to help you get the adequate amount of protein needed for you and baby without the hassle and worry of needing to prepare a protein packed meal. 

Footnotes

¹ Grigel, Kaycie Rosen. “Pregnant Women Need More Protein.” Natural Medicine Journal. https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2015-08/pregnant-women-need-more-protein. 

² Murphy, M. M., Higgins, K. A., Bi, X., & Barraj, L. M. (2021). Adequacy and Sources of Protein Intake among Pregnant Women in the United States, NHANES 2003-2012. Nutrients, 13(3), 795. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030795

³ “Integrative OB/GYN: Eat More Protein for a Healthy Pregnancy.” CentreSpringMD, June 3, 2021. https://centrespringmd.com/integrative-ob-gyn-eat-more-protein-for-a-healthy-pregnancy/. 

⁴ Murphy, M. M., Higgins, K. A., Bi, X., & Barraj, L. M. (2021). Adequacy and Sources of Protein Intake among Pregnant Women in the United States, NHANES 2003-2012. Nutrients, 13(3), 795. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030795

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