Pregnancy Calorie Goals

Jenigmatic

I am currently trying to conceive. I want to continue logging to MFP during my pregnancy to try to stay within a healthy calorie range and be conscious of what I'm eating. I won't be "dieting" while pregnant. How should I set my goals in MFP? Any advice is appreciated.

steph2strong

Hi I just found out I'm pregnant with my second. My first is 10.5 months old. Are you having any issues with fertility? because if so a special diet/calorie requirement may be outlined to you from your doctor. Personally I have infertility issues and I had to follow a higher calorie diet including more fats and other things, but this is a special circumstance. So if you do have any fertility issues I would strongly suggest you talk to your doctor. In general, If you are trying to conceive your calorie goals should be set to maintenance. It's also recommended that you limit caffeine (1 cup of coffee per day max... personally I cut it out completely), abstain from alcohol and stop smoking if you are a smoker. Ensure you are taking a folate supplement every day. In the first trimester with my first son I just kept my calories at maintenance as many woman do, you don't need any extra calories in first trimester. For rest of pregnancy I just set it to gain 0.5 lb per day. In all honesty though first trimester I couldn't keep anything down except dry corn flakes and chicken noodle soup and didn't log until week 13. Then, because I was active i needed more than I set on MFP so just ended up listening to my own body, ate healthily but as much as i needed. We'll see how things go this pregnancy. Good luck to you.

Jenigmatic

I don't think I will have any issues with fertility, or at least I hope I won't! I have a 9 1/2 yo son, so I've been pregnant before and I gained WAY too much weight with him. Although I did end up with borderline pre-eclamspia at the end of the pregnancy and I know some of that weight was attributed to extreme water retention. I just REALLY would like to stay at a healthy manageable weight this time around and since it's been so long since my son... it's like starting brand new! I will definitely need refreshers!

I just got off birth control this month, so "trying to conceive" is really.... trying to get pregnant! And hoping for the best!!

Thank you for your advice! I am taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. I think what I will do is set it for maintenance to start, and then talk to the doctor once I go in for my first visit.

HealthyBodySickMind

I tracked all through my pregnancy. It came in handy because I had gestational diabetes, so tracking was good for controlling that. I never had to take any insulin or anything for the GD. I've got all the stats, so what would you like to know? I averaged 2046 cal/day in the first trimester, 2326/day in the second trimester, and 2351/day in the third trimester. I ate on average 2506/day while breastfeeding for the first 6 months postpartum and had lost all the pregnancy weight by 9 months postpartum.

ewhsweets

I am pregnant with my second and for the last 4 years to include being pregnant with my first I log everyday. I use MFP during this time to ensure that I'm eating 'enough' instead of using it to keep my diet esp since I'm an avid runner I want to make sure I'm fueling my body enough for both myself and my little one...I was underweight for my first pregnancy so I gained about 42 lb. Lost it all in about 4 months. When I stopped nursing a year later, I put on about 8lb of muscle training for an event and kept it on as I actually liked being stronger. My doctor said no diet changes the first trimester, second +250-ish third trimester +350-ish - MFP is easily adjusted.