[Nutrition in pregnancy and breast feeding].

Food is extremely important in pregnancy and breastfeeding. You need an extra 300 calories a day during pregnancy to gain the right amount of weight for a healthy, strong baby. You can do this by adding in 1 or 2 healthy snacks during the day. During pregnancy, you should gain 25-35 pounds if you were normal weight, 15-25 pounds if you were overweight, and 28-40 pounds if you were underweight before pregnancy. Your weight should increase slowly with the majority of gain in the third trimester. Different foods help your baby grow in different ways, so it is important to eat a variety of foods. While breastfeeding, you need an extra 500 calories. Two or three healthy snacks during the day should meet your body’s extra energy needs. Aim for the higher daily serving range in each of the food groups if you are breastfeeding.