Nutrient Needs During Pregnancy

Carbohydrate

In the US, recommendations for carbohydrate intake during pregnancy were developed in order to assure that glucose is provided to the fetal brain and to prevent the formation of ketoacids by the mother. Thus, the RDA for dietary carbohydrate is slightly higher (175 g/day) than the RDA for non-pregnant women.

The amount of fiber recommended for individuals by the 2002 DRIs is the same (28 grams per day) for pregnant and non-pregnant women. It is worth noting, however, while pregnancy does not increase an individual’s need for fiber, most people do not consume this amount of fiber, so an individual’s intake may need to be increased.