We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Daily Calories During Pregnancy

mommyshortlegs
mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
edited January 5 in Food and Nutrition
In anticipation of future children, hopefully soon, I am wondering what is a realistic daily calorie goal for a pregnant woman -- 29, 5'3", medium-boned, endomorph, lightly active, currently 126-ish lbs. -- with a BMR in the low 1,200 range. My current daily calorie goal is around 1,300, with an estimated maintenance goal of 1,800.

I am convinced the "eating for 2" excuse doesn't officially apply, at least not to the extent of consuming everything in sight and blaming it on hormones. ;) If anything, when growing a baby a woman should be more conscious than ever of her food choices (something I was not during my first and thus far only pregnancy; something I hope to be in the hypothetical next go-around).

Would I opt for a maintenance level of calories? Or lower? Should I just ask a nutritionist? I'm hesitant to simply ask the OB because in the past I received 2 different answers from 2 different doctors during the same pregnancy, which suggests the answers weren't targeted to me based on specific evaluation, as much as they were pulled from textbooks.

Replies

  • Librarymind
    Librarymind Posts: 20 Member
    Don't give up until you find out. And yes, you are eating for two.
  • Librarymind
    Librarymind Posts: 20 Member
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/252940-how-to-count-your-calories-when-youre-pregnant/
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    When you are pregnant you should eat maintenance calories plus 300 extra, unless your own doctor or midwife instructs you otherwise.

    I gained less during my second pregnancy.
  • Farburnfred
    Farburnfred Posts: 333 Member
    You are eating for two but you do not need the calories for two! Its about 300 extra calories a day. However of you get stuck with the nausea stick then it all goes to pot anyhow.... First three months in each pregnancy I lost significantly..

    Good luck in your journey
  • mycrazy8splus1
    mycrazy8splus1 Posts: 1,410 Member
    check out babyfit.com when you do decide to get pregnant again. great site for having a fit pregnancy
  • morgaine108
    morgaine108 Posts: 53
    You would want to eat maintenance calories (for you) plus extra calories for your baby. I know when you are breastfeeding, WW tells you to eat 500 extra calories above the points they give you (although I didn't have much success with that because I didn't lose and was STARVING). Pregnancy is very tricky. If you have a nutritionist that would be the best person to ask. Link above sounds pretty good too. I gained 60 lbs with both of my pregnancies and lost about half of it. I had lost about 100 lbs before my first pregnancy so I really wish I had know these things when I was pregnant.
  • Kenzietea2
    Kenzietea2 Posts: 1,132 Member
    When you are pregnant you should eat maintenance calories plus 300 extra, unless your own doctor or midwife instructs you otherwise.

    You don't need the extra calories until trimester 2 and 3 under normal pregnancy conditions. But, every woman and pregnancy is different- which is probably why you received 2 different answers from different doctors :) The most important thing is WHAT you're eating!
  • Moosycakes
    Moosycakes Posts: 258 Member
    Talk to your doctor. Don't put you or your baby's health in the hands of the internet!

    And, congrats :)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories