Eating for two
Eating for two? True or False?
Eating for two? True or False?
It is a misconception that pregnant mothers need to consume a lot more when they are pregnant. The actual calories requirements are:
- First trimester – no extra calories needed.
- Second trimester – ~350 calories extra
- Third trimester – ~450 calories extra
Some examples are :
| Food Item | Calories |
|---|---|
| 1 Glass of Milk | 50 |
| 1 Apple | 90 |
| 1 Banana | 100 |
| 1 Pouch of Yogurt | 130 |
| 2 Boiled Eggs | 150 |
| 1 Peanut Butter Sandwich | 300 |
| Muffins | 200-500 |
So it is definitely not recommended to have consistently extra serves at every meal time in pregnancy. Excessive pregnancy weight gain can lead to complications such as diabetes, pre-eclampsia, having a big baby and many more.
Ideally, pregnancy weight gains are as below :
| Pre-Pregnancy BMI | Target Weight Gain In Pregnancy |
|---|---|
| <18.5 | 12.5kg - 18kg |
| 18.5 - 24.9 | 11.5kg - 16kg |
| 25 - 29.9 | 7kg - 11.5kg |
| >30 | 5kg - 9kg |
Hope this answers some questions as I know this is a topic most pregnant moms are curious about!