Pregnancy is not an excuse to stop paying attention to calories – but it’s also not the time to go on a diet. In this episode of the Nutrition Diva podcast, I discuss the dangers of gaining too much (or too little) weight during your pregnancy.
Guide to calorie needs during pregnancy
The following chart shows how much weight you should gain during your pregnancy and about how many calories you should be eating to stay on course.
First, you’ll need to calculate your pre-pregnancy BMI to see how much weight you should gain over the course of your entire pregnancy. Then, use this calculator to estimate your baseline (non-pregnancy) calorie needs, if you don’t already know them. Finally, see how many calories you should add to your baseline during each trimester of pregnancy.
NOTE: These numbers are only general guidelines; please discuss these recommendations with your obstetrician and/or nutrition professional and adjust your intake as needed to stay within recommended weight gain ranges. Please do not attempt to lose weight during your pregnancy. The lower number in the recommended range is just as important as the upper one!