"Eating for two" makes it sound like you need double. In reality, most women need no extra calories in the first trimester and only a few hundred more later on. Enter your details from before pregnancy and how far along you are, and you'll see a gentle daily estimate and a healthy weight gain range.
Estimated daily calories now
0 kcal / day
By trimester
This is a general estimate, not medical advice. Your doctor or midwife knows your health and should guide what and how much you eat during pregnancy.
How much weight to gain depends on your BMI before pregnancy. Your row is highlighted.
| BMI before pregnancy | Total gain | Per week from week 14 |
|---|
Sources: Institute of Medicine (2009) weight gain guidelines for a single baby; IOM estimated extra energy needs of about 0, 340 and 452 kcal a day for the first, second and third trimester. The UK's NHS suggests a smaller increase, around 200 kcal a day, and only in the last trimester.
Usually none in the first trimester. US guidelines suggest about 340 extra calories a day in the second trimester and about 450 in the third. The NHS in the UK suggests around 200 extra a day, only in the last trimester.
No. Your baby needs nutrients more than extra calories. A few hundred extra calories later in pregnancy, about a glass of milk and a sandwich, is usually enough.
It depends on your BMI before pregnancy. For a healthy BMI, most guidelines suggest about 11.5 to 16 kg (25 to 35 lb) in total for one baby.
Dieting to lose weight during pregnancy isn't recommended. If you started pregnancy above a healthy weight, your doctor may suggest gaining less, but they should guide that.
No. Twin pregnancies need more calories and a higher weight gain. Please ask your doctor or midwife for advice.
After your baby arrives, the calorie calculator can help you plan your daily needs again.
Open the calorie calculator