When do you need to up your calorie intake? Conflicting advice!!

[emeraldgirl1]

I had thought it was not until the third trimester that you are meant to add more calories to your day (though even that is conflicting as nobody seems to say by how much!) but now I have just read it should be throughout pregnancy!!!

While I have not been silly enough to diet (am now 24w) I have kept an eye on my food intake as my sister and best friend ballooned in early pregnancy and (past history of eating problems) I wanted to be v careful that I didn't leave myself with stones and stones to lose after the birth as I know this would be psychologically awful for me (and therefore baby).

But I desperately want to make sure I add the extra food when I need it!! I want my baby to grow nicely!!

Does anyone know the current advice - roughly how many extra calories do you need to add and more importantly when???!

Thank you!!

[GhostShip]

You only need an extra 300 in 2nd and 3rd trimester :)

[purpleraindance]

hahaha ive had an extra (at least) 500 calories a day since week 8 but mw said only 300 from week 26 but ive only put on 2 stone & am 29+6 so depends on the mummy to be really :-)

[emeraldgirl1]

Oh gosh in that case I probably need to make up for list time... Haven't been doing that! Mind you my activity level has dropped for the past month thanks to pelvic girdle pain meaning I can't exercise much or walk anywhere.

I eat when I am hungry and get full quite easily these days. Hard to know if I am getting enough calories without obsessively counting!!

[GhostShip]

I wouldn't worry about it, your body will tell you what you need. Not everyone is the same anyway, it's just a guide for the 'average' woman.

have a read, it might help

[emeraldgirl1]

Thanks purple rain dance!!

I don't weigh myself (old habit as it used to help in the eating disorder days) so I not only have no clue what I weigh now, I have no clue what I weighed before I was pg!!!

[tiredteddy]

I thought it was the equivalent of eating two extra pieces of brown toast a day in the third trimester? Have the guidelines changed again?

[GhostShip]

tired two pieces of brown toast could quite easily add up to 300 calories, depending on the bread and butter.

[emeraldgirl1]

Yes, the approximate 300 extra IN 3rd TRIMESTER was what I was working on... The second trimester extra is the new info to me...

[bigkidsdidit]

I wish this was a question I needed to ask! I've been ravenous since pretty much the moment of conception :(

[emeraldgirl1]

Bigkids, I am pretty much always ravenous and have oddly found that pregnancy has made me less so!! My greed has waned for the first time in my life!!

[bigkidsdidit]

I'm still a stone heavier after my last pg so was trying to be really sensible this time but no chance

Oh well, hopefully the second trimester will be better!

Btw my midwife told me extra cals in last trimester only too

[emeraldgirl1]

Thanks bigkids!! Ok I will stick to the third trimester advice! I find large meals hard enough at the moment so dread to think how many constant small meals I'll have to eat as bump gets bigger!

[inadreamworld]

Am 33 weeks and have put on nearly a stone and a half so far. I put on a similar amount in previous pregnancy. Eat when you are hungry but obviously pregnancy is not the time to diet!!!

[emeraldgirl1]

Wishing now that I had weighed myself at start of pregnancy :( I have no idea of my base line!!!

[Ellypoo]

Did nt your MW weigh you at your booking appt? I thought that was standard.
But, try not to worry about your weight too much, a lot of what you put on will be water/baby etc. try to eat little and often, and as was said above the extra calories your body needs in last trimester is equivalent to a couple of slices of toast.

[TeaOperated]

Don't worry too much Emerald - my MW and Dr both told me the baby will always get what it needs, it takes it before you get anything! (why my bump is occasionally nicknamed 'the parasite') So if you're eating a healthy (ish) diet and eating when you're hungry, sure you and lo will be fine.