How many calories to eat when pregnant? Pregnancy is not a simple phase. It is a transition from womanhood to motherhood. To add, the body also undergoes a delicate phase. It needs sufficient nutrients to supply both the mother’s needs and the baby’s needs for growth. Here are 10 important advices for expectant mothers out there.
How Many Calories to Eat When Pregnant? 1-3 Important Advices
1. For expectant mothers on their first trimester, it is important to know how much weight do they really need to gain based on their pre-pregnancy weight. If you have gained 28 to 40 pounds, it is still underweight, 25 to 35 pounds would mean normal, 15 to 25 would be overweight and 11 to 20 pounds is already obese.
2. Gaining 11 to 20 pounds or more would be possible for gestational diabetes, a condition that needs immediate attention.
3. According to Dr. Saul Weinreb, a Baltimore OB/GYN, weight gain in pregnancy is based on the rule of thumb, it is always based in the pre-pregnancy weight.
1. For expectant mothers on their first trimester, it is important to know how much weight do they really need to gain based on their pre-pregnancy weight. If you have gained 28 to 40 pounds, it is still underweight, 25 to 35 pounds would mean normal, 15 to 25 would be overweight and 11 to 20 pounds is already obese.
2. Gaining 11 to 20 pounds or more would be possible for gestational diabetes, a condition that needs immediate attention.
3. According to Dr. Saul Weinreb, a Baltimore OB/GYN, weight gain in pregnancy is based on the rule of thumb, it is always based in the pre-pregnancy weight.
How Many Calories to Eat When Pregnant? 4-7 Important Advices
4. Now, when it comes to calories, a woman should have a recommended additional 150 to 200 calories a day, about 5 to 10% of the total weight gain during the whole pregnancy period. This is a fragile time where baby’s important organs take form, thus proper nutrition is important.
5. Now, for the second and third trimester, a woman should need to add approximately 300 calories a day. The two last trimesters is the time where the belly grows bigger until full term. There should be about 30% of total weight gain.
6. Why the need to perk up calories? It is important to understand where the calories are going. It is estimated that the baby should weight about 7 to 8 pounds, the breasts at 1 to 3 pounds, the uterus at 2 pounds, placenta about 1/3 of the baby’s weight, and 10 to 20 pounds for the amniotic fluid and increase in the volume of blood.
7. With the calories going to proper places, it is surprising to know that fat stores only account for 6 to 8 pounds in the body.
4. Now, when it comes to calories, a woman should have a recommended additional 150 to 200 calories a day, about 5 to 10% of the total weight gain during the whole pregnancy period. This is a fragile time where baby’s important organs take form, thus proper nutrition is important.
5. Now, for the second and third trimester, a woman should need to add approximately 300 calories a day. The two last trimesters is the time where the belly grows bigger until full term. There should be about 30% of total weight gain.
6. Why the need to perk up calories? It is important to understand where the calories are going. It is estimated that the baby should weight about 7 to 8 pounds, the breasts at 1 to 3 pounds, the uterus at 2 pounds, placenta about 1/3 of the baby’s weight, and 10 to 20 pounds for the amniotic fluid and increase in the volume of blood.
7. With the calories going to proper places, it is surprising to know that fat stores only account for 6 to 8 pounds in the body.
How Many Calories to Eat When Pregnant? 8-10 Important Advices
8. What kind of food should pregnant women concentrate on? The key nutrients should be iron, calcium and folic acid. Iron would probably be the most important nutrient for the mother to take in during pregnancy. Iron is important to prevent low blood count. Since the blood volume is expected to increase, iron supplementation is integral.
9. Folic acid, meanwhile, would be the most important nutrient for the fetus. Folic acid is important to prevent neurological deficits and spinal cord damage. According to the American Dietetic Association, 400 micrograms of folic acid is recommended every day.
10. To add, the recommended diet for expectant mothers should be concentrated in whole grains, vegetable, fruits, favourable fats, low-fat dairy and lean protein. Now, how many calories to eat when pregnant? A good knowledge of the rule of thumb is important.
8. What kind of food should pregnant women concentrate on? The key nutrients should be iron, calcium and folic acid. Iron would probably be the most important nutrient for the mother to take in during pregnancy. Iron is important to prevent low blood count. Since the blood volume is expected to increase, iron supplementation is integral.
9. Folic acid, meanwhile, would be the most important nutrient for the fetus. Folic acid is important to prevent neurological deficits and spinal cord damage. According to the American Dietetic Association, 400 micrograms of folic acid is recommended every day.
10. To add, the recommended diet for expectant mothers should be concentrated in whole grains, vegetable, fruits, favourable fats, low-fat dairy and lean protein. Now, how many calories to eat when pregnant? A good knowledge of the rule of thumb is important.
