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In most situations, when a woman starts out her pregnancy at a healthy weight, she should eat the same amount of calories during her first trimester and 300 extra calories per day during the second and third trimesters.
The total amount of calories a pregnant woman should eat every day varies from person to person. Factors that should be considered when deciding how many calories to eat are activity level, current weight and metabolism.
According to the book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting," if your ideal weight is 100 lbs., you should be eating anywhere from 1,500 to 2,500 calories per day, depending on your activity level. If your ideal weight is 150 pounds, you should be eating 2,100 to 3,600 calories per day. A more active woman should eat more calories, while women who are less physically active should eat fewer calories.
You can also monitor your weight to determine if you are eating the right amount of calories. According to womenshealth.gov, a woman who is a healthy weight before her pregnancy should gain 2-4 pounds during her first trimester and 3-4 pounds per month during the second and third trimesters. If you are gaining more weight than recommended, cut back the calories in your diet enough to slow the weight gain. It is never a good idea to try to lose weight while pregnant. - It doesn't take much food to add 300 calories to your daily diet. A bowl of cereal with a cup of milk is about 300 calories. So is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It is important not to make your pregnancy an excuse to overeat. Gaining too much weight will make it difficult to lose your weight once your baby is born. It will also intensify some of the negative symptoms of pregnancy including indigestion, stretch marks and shortness of breath. A study by Kaiser Permanente showed that the babies whose mothers gained more weight than recommended while pregnant were twice as likely to struggle with jaundice or abnormal blood sugar levels.
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For women who are underweight when they become pregnant, they may need to add more calories to their diets or start eating more during the first trimester. A healthy amount of weight to gain for women who are underweight at conception is 28-40 pounds, according to WebMD.
Women who are overweight at conception need to add fewer calories to their diets. Overweight women should aim to gain about 15-25 pounds during pregnancy, according to WebMD.
Women who are pregnant with multiples should add more calories to their diets. "What to Expect When You're Expecting" suggests you should add 300 additional calories for each baby. Your doctor can advise you on how many calories you should eat to gain a healthy amount of weight during your pregnancy. - The quality of your diet is just as important as the amount of calories you are eating while pregnant. During your pregnancy, your baby will get all of its nutrition from you. To ensure the health of your baby, it is essential you eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, healthy proteins and whole grains. Limit your intake of fats and sweets, and drink plenty of fluid. Make healthy eating a habit during pregnancy to ensure the best possible health for you and your baby.
