Can pregnant women eat pig's feet?

May 08, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

I am 32 years old this year and have been pregnant for more than three months. Can pregnant women eat pig's feet?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu

Generally speaking, pregnant women can consume pig's trotters in moderation, but should adjust the intake according to their own health conditions and dietary needs.

Pig's trotters are rich in nutrients such as protein, collagen, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. They can provide energy support for pregnant women, promote fetal bone and muscle development, and help prevent anemia during pregnancy. Collagen helps enhance skin elasticity, reduce the occurrence of stretch marks, and improve dryness and skin laxity during pregnancy. The glycine contained in pig's trotters has a calming effect on the central nervous system, which may help relieve anxiety and insomnia. The minerals such as calcium and magnesium contained in pig's trotters may help alleviate symptoms such as soreness in the waist and knees and leg cramps during pregnancy.

However, consumption should be moderate, as pig's trotters are high in fat. Excessive consumption may lead to rapid weight gain, increasing the risk of complications such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. High fat and high cholesterol content may increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, causing discomfort such as bloating and diarrhea, especially for pregnant women with weaker gastrointestinal function. During pregnancy, it is important to maintain a balanced diet. Pregnant women should avoid heavily seasoned braised pig's trotters and should opt for healthier cooking methods such as homemade pig trotter soup or braised pig's trotters. When purchasing pig's trotters, make sure to check for any signs of localized rot or ulcers to avoid purchasing trotters from pigs that may have suffered from foot-and-mouth disease.