There are lots of delicious, healthy snacks you can have for an extra calories in your third trimester. Here are a few ideas to get you started:. Being pregnant may sometimes make you crave fatty and sugary food. Treating yourself to the odd packet of crisps is fine.

The rest of the time, try to have healthy snacks between meals. If you develop gestational diabetes and your body mass index BMI was 27 or over before you became pregnant, your midwife or doctor may give you different advice.

She may recommend that you lose some weight by restricting the amount of calories you eat and doing more exercise. This will help to manage the levels of sugar glucose in your blood. Your midwife, diabetes nurse or doctor will be able to give you more detailed advice, or you may be referred to a dietitian.

Community Getting pregnant Pregnancy Baby names Baby Toddler Preschooler Life as a parent Baby Products Advertisement. When it comes to pregnancy, it seems like everyone has an opinion.

Below is the breakdown by trimester, along with some serving suggestions. Second Trimester: Increase your calorie intake by about calories. Third Trimester: Take in about extra calories per day more than during the second trimester.

Barnes recommends the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a good resource for learning which foods may be unsafe for expectant mothers. Avoid undercooked foods — make sure that meats are cooked to minimum recommended internal temperatures.

Avoid unpasteurized dairy products and raw uncooked foods such as sushi. Avoid hot dogs, lunch meats and cold cuts unless they are heated up prior to eating. Women typically need between two and three liters of water per day — or about eight glasses of water.

Barnes says pregnant women should add about milliliters of water to that, so about one to two cups more. Barnes says.

Preventative Services Task Force recommends all women who are planning or capable of pregnancy take a daily supplement containing to mcg of folic acid to help prevent neural tube defects beginning at least one month before conception.

Women should also consume plenty of folate from foods like dark-green vegetables and beans, peas, and lentils during pregnancy. Iron: Iron is key for fetal development. Heme iron, which is found in animal source foods is more readily absorbed than non-heme iron found in plant sources, but vitamin C can enhance non-heme iron absorption.

Food sources lists for iron are available at DietaryGuidelines. Women who do not regularly consume dairy products, eggs, seafood, or use iodized table salt may not get enough.

Meeting recommendations for the dairy and protein food groups including meat, eggs, and some seafood—as well as beans, peas, and lentils can help meet needs. Supplements : Most health professionals recommend a daily prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement in addition to consuming a healthy dietary pattern.

This may be especially important to meet folic acid, iron, iodine, and vitamin D needs. Alcohol: Women who are or who may be pregnant should not drink alcohol. Caffeine: FDA recommends women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant talk to their healthcare provider about their caffeine consumption.

Food safety: FoodSafety. gov provides guidance on ways to reduce foodborne illness since women who are pregnant and their unborn children are more susceptible. Resources for Supporting Women Who Are Pregnant Women who are pregnant have diverse calorie and nutrient needs, but there are a variety of resources that can help make supporting them easier.

The DRI Calculator for Healthcare Professionals Tool helps calculate daily calorie and nutrient needs. The National Institutes of Health dietary supplement fact sheets provide information about supplements and food sources of key nutrients.