Calorie requirement is the amount of energy or fuel needed by your body. During pregnancy, a woman's basal metabolic rate increases. She has a higher energy requirement to provide for the development of fetus, placenta and other physiological changes. The first trimester does not require any additional calories. For the second and third trimester, the American Dietetic Association recommends an additional 340 to 450 calories per day. The calorie requirement will vary depending on the maternal body weight, activity pattern and how many babies the woman is carrying. Calorie and nutrient requirements will also change for any special needs, such as gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced hypertension. In general, pregnant women need 2,200 calories to 2,900 calories per day.
Calorie Requirements Depending on Maternal Weight.
Pre-pregnancy weight of the mother, size and weight gained during pregnancy are indicators for fetal birth weight. To gain healthy weight, underweight women need more additional calories than normal weight women as they already have low body weight. These women need to gain 28 to 40 pounds up to full term whereas an overweight or obese woman should gain 15 to 25 pounds. People who are overweight would still need to eat nourishing food with sufficient calories and nutrients for the growing baby, as skimping on diet is not recommended. However, planning your meals and choosing low-calorie, nutritious foods can help. Avoid extra calories by cutting down on sugary and fatty foods. Replace regular soda, sweets and fried foods with healthy options such as low-fat milk, whole fruit and whole grains. Try to bake, grill, or roast instead of shallow frying or deep frying. For details on menu planning based on height, weight, age and stage of pregnancy, please refer to My Pyramid for moms.
Multiple Pregnancy
The recommended allowances for nutrients and calories in multiple pregnancies are not clearly defined, therefore adequate weight gain should be used as an indicator of sufficient energy intake. Energy needs are definitely higher than single pregnancies but requirements may be highly individualized. According to the dietary reference intakes, energy needs range from 3,000 calories in obese women to 4,000 calories for an underweight women carrying more then one fetus.
Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy presents many medical and nutritional challenges, putting both mother and baby at great risk. The need for energy, protein and most vitamins and minerals is increased during pregnancy especially in adolescents younger then 15 years of age who still may be experiencing growth. Energy promotes fetal growth and allows for the use of protein, vitamins and minerals. Younger adolescents need higher energy intake than older women. Pregnant adolescents need to consume at least 2,000 calories in a day and in many cases the requirement may still be higher. Again, the best gauge of sufficient energy intake would be satisfactory weight gain. Young pregnant women who are below an optimal weight are advised to gain more weight than overweight women
Gestational Diabetes
Medical Nutritional Therapy is recommended for pregnant women with diabetes. Nutritional therapy generally involves a carbohydrate controlled meal plan that provides enough energy for appropriate weight gain while maintaining target blood glucose levels and avoiding ketoacidosis, a condition which develops when the body uses fats for energy instead of glucose. Please consult your medical professional or a registered dietitian for an individualized diet chart.
References
- Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition and Lifestyle for a healthy pregnancy outcome
- The multiple pregnancy sourcebook: pregnancy and the first days with twins; Nancy A. Bowers; 2001
- Nutrition in women's health; Debra A. Krummel, P. M. Kris-Etherton;1996
- Nutrition and Diet Therapy: Self-Instructional Approaches; Peggy Stanfield, Y. H. Hui; 2009
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