When do you start to up your calories?

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I'm in my second trimester (27 weeks), I just wondered when I should start to increase my calorie intake. Some things I have read online it says to increase it by 200 in the second trimester and others say in the third trimester. Do you just eat when you feel hungry even if it's in between meals? I really am unsure.

Honestly just eat what felt comfortable and don’t fret over numbers

Feels*

I have never consciously “upped my calories” at any point during pregnancy - I just eat when I’m hungry. Three normal meals per day and a snack if I fancy one in between.

I think maybe the 200 calorie thing is more of a guideline to stop people “eating for two” which can obviously be problematic for mum and baby if they gain significant amount of weight from over-eating.

God that grammar was awful, sorry.

Soon as I got a +!!!

Thanks for the replies.

Okay great so it's more about going with what you feel? I'm not fretting over numbers at all, but sometimes I just eat my usual 3 meals a day and then wonder that I've not actually eaten enough for me and the baby. I'm far from over eating although some days I may have a snack during the day, but I just wonder if the extra 200 calories is a mandatory thing or if it's more so that you should just go with the flow.

Yeah I think going with the flow is the best approach :)

The extra calories you need in pregnancy are equivalent to one extra banana a day. You don't need to consciously eat more just eat when hungry as normal and that's fine.

As PP have said - just eat when hungry and don't worry too much. Congrats!

Eat your meals. When you are hungry, eat something nutritious. An apple, pumpkin seeds, some nuts, green smoothie, black eyed peas or lentil soup. Make sure you are drinking minimum 3 litres of water to ensure its not dehydration hunger. good luck.

I'm eating a bit more but trying to be healthy. I probably didn't eat enough before and I'm definitely more hungry now!!

Just eat normally as you always do. I've never intentionally tried to eat differently. I eat how I always ate and the same amounts. If I feel extra hungry, I eat more. If I'm not hungry, I eat less. I've gained a healthy amount in both pregnancies this way, about 18lbs with my first and probably a little bit more than that this time (I'm probably around 16-18lbs now at 35 weeks, so may put on a bit more before baby arrives).

Go with the flow. Also, many people can't eat a specific number of calories a day due to morning sickness. Ive only recently been able to start eating full meals again and I've just hit 40 weeks, but when I worried about it to my midwife she just said that babies are basically parasites and will take what they need without a problem. So don't worry OP, just eat however much you feel like