From the Guidelines
High-fiber fruits are recommended during pregnancy to help promote regular bowel movements and prevent constipation.
Key Recommendations
- Increasing dietary fiber intake to the recommended daily amount of approximately 30 g/d can help prevent constipation 1
- Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are examples of high-fiber foods that can help promote regular bowel movements 1
- Adequate fluid intake, particularly water, can help soften stools and ease bowel movements 1
High-Fiber Fruits
- While the study does not specify particular high-fiber fruits, examples of high-fiber fruits that are commonly recommended include berries, apples, and bananas
- It is essential to note that excessive fiber can cause maternal bloating, so a balanced diet with a variety of high-fiber foods is recommended 1
From the Research
High-Fiber Fruits Recommended During Pregnancy
- Apples and bananas are high-fiber fruits that were consumed more by women with higher fiber intakes 2
- A high-fiber diet during pregnancy may have potential health benefits, including increasing gut microbiome diversity, lowering the risk of glucose intolerance and pre-eclampsia, achieving appropriate gestational weight gain, and preventing constipation 2, 3, 4
- Sufficient fiber intake may be protective against pregnancy-associated constipation and may be associated with improved pregnancy outcome 3
Key Findings
- Women consuming the highest quartile of fiber intakes consumed more fruit, especially apples and bananas, than women consuming the lowest quartile of fiber intakes 2
- A combination of low fiber and low fluid intake increased the risk of constipation during pregnancy 3
- Low fiber intake increased the risk of combined adverse outcome, including cesarean section, premature delivery, and/or small for gestational age 3
- High total dietary fiber intake was associated with reduced changes in triglyceride levels 4
Dietary Fiber Intake
- The median dietary fiber intake was 24.1 grams per day, with only 29.5% of women meeting the recommended Adequate Intake of 28 g/day 2
- The mean dietary fiber intake level was 25.89 mg/g per day, which declined across pregnancy trimesters 5
- Soluble fiber supplementation may offer potential benefits for gestational diabetes mellitus patients and may reduce the need for constipation medication 4