Eating Well With Baby Belly. Luke Eisenberg

should be slightly higher than usual. While non-pregnant women should consume about 1.5 litres of fluid per day, it is about one more litre during pregnancy. However, these 2.5 litres do not only refer to the amount of water consumed, but also include the water contained in the food.

      The reason for the increased amount of fluid is the increase in blood volume, especially after the second trimester of pregnancy. In the third trimester, you will not only supply yourself but also your almost fully trained child with fluid.

Increased protein requirement for pregnant women

      Protein is the most important macro-nutrient for the body structure of the child. To ensure growth, the body of a pregnant woman needs a little more protein than usual. Whereas the regular protein requirement is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, an increase of 15 grams per day is recommended, especially from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards.

      Although animal protein can be utilized better by the body than vegetable protein, an excessive intake of animal protein can have negative consequences for mother and child due to the high fat content. A combination of both protein types is ideal.

      Animal protein is mainly found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. Plant protein in significant amounts in pulses, wholemeal products, cereal flakes, nuts and seeds.