Great Expectations Pregnancy

Answers from Pregnancy and Baby Experts.

  • Articles
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy (general)
      • 1st Trimester
      • 2nd Trimester
      • 3rd Trimester
    • Symptoms
    • Labor and Delivery
    • Baby Gear
    • Parenting (general)
      • Toddler
      • Preschooler
  • About Sandy & Marcie
  • Book Titles
  • Contact

Fiber: Your Pregnancy Best Friend

Marcie Jones Leave a Comment

Fiber isn’t considered an essential macronutrient, but it can help your pregnancy experience in some major ways: it helps you digest and feel full, prevents constipation and hemorrhoids, lowers cholesterol and slows down sugar absorption, reducing your risk of diabetes. All plant foods contain some amount of fiber, and some have more than others. Nutritionists recommend that you get at least 28 grams of fiber while you’re pregnant, and 29 grams while you’re breastfeeding.

If you’re worried about gaining too much weight during pregnancy, fiber can be a valuable tool to help you from overeating: if you get 28 grams a day, you’ll likely feel to full to binge. If you find yourself getting hungry well before lunchtime, try starting your day with oatmeal. Bean burritos, hummus and salads are also quick and tasty ways to add extra fiber to your diet. Strawberries, pineapple, apples and berries (especially blackberries, raspberries and blueberries) are also high in fiber: try adding them to salads and cereal or having them for dessert with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

One possible downside to high-fiber foods: because they slow down your digestion, they can also give you gas. If this is a problem for you, try gas-prevention enzyme supplements like Beano, which are safe to take during pregnancy.

All-Bran cereal8.8 g per ½ cup
Blackberries7.6 g per cup
Oatmeal4 g per cup
Shredded wheat5.5 g per cup
One pearabout 5 g
Raisinsabout 5 g per cup
Baked beansabout 10 g per cup
Lentilsabout 1 g per cooked tablespoon
Almondsabout 3.3 grams per ounce
Sweet potatoes4 grams per cup
Green Beans3.4 grams a cup

More from my site

  • What’s in a Prenatal Vitamin? Do I Really Need to Take One?What’s in a Prenatal Vitamin? Do I Really Need to Take One?
  • What Vitamins and Minerals Does Your Body Need During Pregnancy?What Vitamins and Minerals Does Your Body Need During Pregnancy?
  • Magnesium and Pregnancy: How Much Do You Need?Magnesium and Pregnancy: How Much Do You Need?
  • Potassium and Pregnancy: the Benefits are Bananas!Potassium and Pregnancy: the Benefits are Bananas!
  • Can A Vegan Diet Be Healthy During Pregnancy?Can A Vegan Diet Be Healthy During Pregnancy?
  • Pregnancy Snack: Toasty Green BeansPregnancy Snack: Toasty Green Beans

Filed Under: Nutrition, Pregnancy (general) Tagged With: Nutrition, macronutrients

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

About The Authors

We're mothers and mom experts. As baby experts, we're here to answer your questions and to offer news and advice. Learn More

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on RSS

Articles by subject

  • Nutrition
  • Trying to Conceive
  • Easy-Not-Queasy Recipes
  • Fitness and Exercise
  • Pregnancy (general)
  • Symptoms
  • 1st Trimester
  • 2nd Trimester
  • 3rd Trimester
  • Labor and Delivery
  • Featured
  • Baby (General)
  • Baby Gear
  • Toddler
  • Preschooler
  • Parenting (general and dads)

Recent Comments

  • JosephCruts on What is ‘Adjusted Cycle Length’?
  • Baliqees on What Does ‘Unstable Lie’ Mean?
  • Monica Treacy on Swollen Ankles! What Can I Do?
  • Marcus Hilderbrand on Why Do Feet Swell During Pregnancy? What Can You Do?
  • M. N. Guptha on What Does ‘Unstable Lie’ Mean?

© 2019 Great Expectations Maternity. All Rights Reserved.

This site is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Visitors to this site should regularly consult a physician for all health-related problems and routine care during pregnancy, after birth, and for their children.