Your body undergoes many changes during pregnancy. It's working hard to keep up with these changes as well as to nourish your growing fetus. All that hard work means that your body is using more energy. Most women need to increase their caloric intake to provide everything their bodies, and their unborn children, need to stay healthy and strong throughout their pregnancies. Discuss your pregnancy diet with your doctor for advice specific to your situation.
Recommended Caloric Intake
Women who begin their pregnancies at a healthy weight should take in an additional 300 calories in the second and third trimester, MayoClinic.com recommends. Underweight woman should try to consume a little more, and overweight women might need to consume a little less. Your doctor will tell you how many more calories you need and advise you about any dietary changes you need to make.
Considerations
Every woman and every pregnancy is different. An overweight woman who is very active may actually require more calories to sustain a healthy pregnancy than an inactive woman with a sedentary lifestyle might. Your body type, level of activity and the nature of your pregnancy --- being pregnant with twins, for example --- can all be factors in how many calories your body will need to stay healthy.
Healthy Calories
Forget the old cliche about eating for two. You don't have to double up on everything, and pregnancy isn't an excuse to gobble up everything in sight, healthy or not. Foods with "empty" calories such as candy and soda aren't good for you or your baby if you eat too many of them. Increase your caloric intake with healthy foods like fruit, whole grains, salads and lean meats. It's OK to indulge in a treat from time to time, of course, but the majority of your calories should come from other, healthier sources.
Where All Those Calories Go
You may wonder, if the average newborn only weighs about 7 pounds, why do you need to gain all of that extra weight and take in all of those extra calories? Your body is working hard to pump more blood and dealing with increased blood flow to your uterus and the placenta. Your breasts increase in size and begin producing milk. Your body retains more fluids, which adds extra weight, too. It takes effort to carry extra pounds around; calories convert into energy to help with that. A woman of average weight needs to take in enough calories to add between 15 and 20 pounds by the end of pregnancy, so pull up a chair, grab a yogurt and some fruit, and start growing that baby.
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