This chapter discusses nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, which needs special consideration because these are both periods of extremely rapid growth. The nutritional implications of rapid growth are two-fold. First, the energy intake has to be appropriately increased. Secondly, the nutrients required for tissue growth such as proteins, vitamins and minerals should form a relatively larger fraction of the diet. The protein intake needs to be increased during pregnancy. Malnutrition during pregnancy affects both the mother and the child adversely. The mother may get emaciated and develop anaemia, osteoporosis or osteomalacia. The baby may be born prematurely, and may have a low birth weight in relation to the duration of gestation. The requirement for protein, iron, calcium and vitamins continues to be high during lactation. Pregnancy and lactation constitute important physiological states with nutritional implications of far reaching consequences for the present and future of the society.