Calorie intake in second trimester?

kellz14 · January 2016

OK so I'm not strictly counting calories, but I'm wondering if you're typically supposed to eat more in your second trimester.

First trimester I was feeling full all the time. Now that I'm about to enter my second, I'm all of a sudden hungry all of the time. I tried searching on whether you are supposed to increase your calorie intake in the 2nd trimester, but I'm getting conflicting information. Some say you need to increase your intake in the 2nd, while others say that you don't need to until your 3rd.

What's happening to you ladies? Are you eating more now that you've entered 2nd trimester and find that you need the extra food? Or is your appetite pretty much the same?

PugsandKisses · January 2016

Officially, all you need is about 300 more calories a day.

dolewhipper · January 2016

I've gotten more hungry. On a podcast I listen to they said around 1900-2400 calories a day is a good goal for second tri, no idea where they got it from though. Honestly, I just try and eat as healthy as I can, trying to get all the food groups and portions I'm supposed to get (which I still think is practically impossible to accomplish).

kellz14 · January 2016

Thanks! Part of me feels like... alright you're hungry, so eat some healthy (usually) stuff, even if it's more than you'd usually eat. The other part of me is wondering if I just have a serious case of the munchies all of a sudden and the extra calories aren't necessary.

blackgirlmagic · January 2016

I find myself eating an extra snack or two throughout the day. My normal meals still fill me up but I notice myself getting really hungry like an hour before bed, around like 10pm, I go to bed pretty late for whatever reason.

noelietrex · January 2016

If you've never heard of it, My Fitness Pal is a great website with free calorie tracker and a huge database that makes it super easy to see your calories and macros broken down. My midwife told me 1st trimester no extra calories are needed, 2nd tri 300 extra are needed, and 3rd 450 extra are needed. I used to track my nutrients for training on MFP, but quit when we were TTC and got PG. After my last appointment I'm actually tracking again because I'm not eating enough and am still down weight at 16 weeks. If we're supposed to gain 25lbs by 40 weeks and I'm at -2lbs I figured out I need to gain 1.125lbs per week from now on... I just don't see how it's going to happen- the numbers aren't realistic. This is like balancing the budget

Hoping my body knows what it's doing and I have enough extra fat on me that Seamonkey is going to be okay.

whataboutscience · January 2016

I thought it was an extra 300 2nd and 3rd tri. You should be gaining weight second tri though, so yes, you definitely extra calories.

fantasticmrsfox · January 2016

I would say if you are generally eating healthy, just eat when you're hungry no matter the calories. Every woman's body and lifestyle are different so the calories you will need won't be exactly the same as everyone else's. I think our bodies are smart to tell us when we need more and when we have had enough. Snack away!

LinzerBinzer · January 2016

I heard 300 2nd and 500 3rd. But who knows. It varies based on your individual needs, where you're starting from, activity level, etc.

holly142 · January 2016

I ate lots more my 1st trimester trying to keep the nausea away. Therefore I shouldn't eat more calories now than before! I am listening to my body and trying to make more healthy choices than nonhealthy. I eat whenever I am hungry.

I worried about weight gain with DD since I put on 49 pounds with her. However my doctor never worried, I delivered a healthy baby and lost all the weight within 2 months. That leads me to think that is how much weight I needed to gain! I am trying not to worry about the scale this time.

elenabrent · January 2016

I am STARVING the past few weeks. I eat well so I haven't been limiting myself in quantity. I'm still below my pre-pregnancy weight at 15 + 3, but I'm sure now that the baby is doubling its weight every week and I'm eating all the damn time I'll pack on the pounds pretty quickly.

Croscrew · January 2016

I am counting calories, but more to know what I actually put into my mouth so it won't be junk (I did that the first time around and do not want to do it again). I am currently shooting for a little over 2000 calories, about 300 over my normal intake. I like to use the app Lose it! And sink it to my fitbit so it can account for the extra activities I do during the day. I teach physical education so there are days I get LOADS of steps on top of a workout, so knowing if I can maybe eat a little more or not so much is important to me.

MDmomma1217 · January 2016

I am still dealing with a lot of MS so basically still struggling with keeping things down. It has gotten a bit better, and I've gained some of the weight I've lost, but I'm still down from where I was pre-pregnancy. I'm hoping that I get a better handle on my symptoms soon and I'll have more of an appetite.

pourmeanothermocktail · January 2016

Well, I started exercising a TON more in 2nd, and I hadn't gained anything yet. My appetite is through the roof, but I don't know how much is due to not feeling nauseous, being cold, needing more calories for leech, and/or exercising more. But I've always been one that has been able to keep weight (pre-preg) in a nice place as long as I listen to my body, so I'm just going with it for now.

stillcozy · January 2016

My dr told me just to add 300 calories (roughly half a bagel) to my diet all 3 trimesters. However I was overweight to begin with.

Eta: spelling is hard tonight

WorkingMom562 · January 2016

I'm in the same boat as you, hungry all the time! I've been ready for my first lunch before 11 every day this week! I try to eat a snack or drink some water and busy myself and eventually when I look up again it's an actual appropriate lunch time. But after I eat, within an hour, I'm ready for more.

In my defense, my lunches tend to be lean cuisines...300 calories don't really cut it for my big butt.

Im not focusing at all on the weight gain, actually since I'm overweight to start with I shouldn't be gaining too much. But if you're hungry, then just EAT! It's not good to feel like you're starving...aim for something healthy. If your hand falls on a potato chip, eat it anyway!

chanfa · January 2016

If you are hungry definitely look at food that gives you guys protein. Protein will make you feel satisfied for longer than eating 300 cals or carbs. Eat something like another piece of grilled chicken, yogurt, or maybe even a protein shake that is approved by the doctor.

I have been also feeling a lot more hungry and I know its tempting to stuff bad food down your throat but I tend to go for fruits or nuts. It makes me full and I feel great that I ate something on the healthier side

ellou05 · January 2016

I tend to binge on junk very easily, so I've been logging all my food in MyFitnessPal. Also helpful so I can try to make sure I get the nutrients I'm supposed to be getting (never get all of them, but I try--yay for prenatal vitamins!). I had it set to 1800 during first tri. Just entered second tri and haven't adjusted yet. I'm thinking 2000? I was normal BMI before pregnancy, but about 10lbs above where I personally thought I should be. I've been eating 3 small meals + 3 snacks per day, so feels a bit like I'm constantly eating but it keeps me feeling good. Breakfast is a bran muffin. Morning snack is usually fruit, nuts, and/or cheese. Lunch is a wildcard. Afternoon snack is a bowl of honey nut cheerios. Dinner is veggies, protein, and usually some brown rice. Evening snack is often a dessert item. ;-)

MotherOfDucks · January 2016

I found a great calculator for this. I know that because I'm petite, my calorie needs were lower pre-pregnancy. Especially when dieting. So I wasn't sure what "about 300 extra calories" should put me at. So here's a helpful little link. Apparently I need to be eating a bit over 1500 calories a day. Which is about what I figured. But it helps to confirm IMO.

https://www.freedieting.com/tools/pregnancy_calorie_calculator.htm

PinkLady2015 · January 2016

my doc said 300 extra calories, and 500 if you plan on breast feeding but if you lost weight during your first trimester you can probably budget in a few hundred calories more a day. The calculations basically work out to something like 300 calories x 7 days a week x 40 weeks/3500 calories in a pound= 24 lbs which is sort of on the low end of what docs suggest as average weight gain, so there's wiggle room there depending on what your starting weight was.

whataboutscience · January 2016

@PinkLady2015 I'm not sure how to read what you wrote. I believe it's while BFing that you then need an extra 500 calories. Not while pregnant in preparation? For the record BFing made me way hungrier than being pregnant. Within a month of having my daughter I lost all but 7 pounds and then proceeded to gain about 15 over the next year. :-( Doesn't start me off great this pregnancy...

PinkLady2015 · January 2016

whataboutscience said:

@PinkLady2015 I'm not sure how to read what you wrote. I believe it's while BFing that you then need an extra 500 calories. Not while pregnant in preparation? For the record BFing made me way hungrier than being pregnant. Within a month of having my daughter I lost all but 7 pounds and then proceeded to gain about 15 over the next year. :-( Doesn't start me off great this pregnancy...

That's actually a really good question... my nurse at my last appointment (I thought!) said an extra 500 calories if you plan on breastfeeding... but now I'm wondering if I misunderstood or she misspoke and meant to say 500 calories when you ARE BF'ing... my apt is next Wed so I'll double check with her.

Croscrew · January 2016

I highly agree with @chanfa! If all I have is a bowl of cereal with almond milk and a banana, I have not had enough protein to get myself through the morning. Eggs it is everyday for this girl. But any other type of protein you like would work.

stillcozy · January 2016

I've heard to add the extra once your breast feeding since you are burning a lot of calories not sure how adding extra would help us now.
Hm interesting though I plan on it but I probably won't add it in due to being on the heavier side

whataboutscience · January 2016

@Lindsayleigh1989 Just be careful that you don't get too few calories if you do BF or your supply will drop. Every woman is different, but I know some just couldn't work out or lose weight while BFing because of this. It made me so hungry anyway it was a losing battle. I gained instead of lost while BFing. :-/

stillcozy · January 2016

whataboutscience said:
@Lindsayleigh1989 Just be careful that you don't get too few calories if you do BF or your supply will drop. Every woman is different, but I know some just couldn't work out or lose weight while BFing because of this. It made me so hungry anyway it was a losing battle. I gained instead of lost while BFing. :-/

Sorry I was unclear I meant adding in the extra calories before I give birth I do plan on upping it once I do start breast feeding though

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