Pregnancy Protein Needs

About this calculator

Protein needs rise during pregnancy to support fetal growth, placental tissue, increased maternal blood volume and breast tissue development. Standard guidance, including recommendations echoed by ACOG and dietary reference intakes, raises the general adult target of about 0.8 g/kg body weight per day to roughly 1.1 g/kg per day during pregnancy — commonly translated into a flat addition of about 25 extra grams of protein daily in the second and third trimesters.

Obstetric dietitians and prenatal care providers use this kind of estimate when counseling pregnant patients on meal planning, particularly for those who are vegetarian, carrying multiples, or have restricted diets where hitting the higher target takes deliberate planning rather than happening automatically. Protein needs scale with body weight, so a heavier or lighter pre-pregnancy weight changes the actual gram target even though the underlying rule stays the same.

This calculator takes your body weight and returns an estimated daily protein target for pregnancy.