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Two of Everything, Please

Debunking the Myth of Eating for Two

By Lisa Hurt Kozarovich

"That doesn't amount to much, just a snack," says Pratt. "You're talking about a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of non-fat milk." Other snacks that add up to 300 calories include an 8-ounce glass of juice with a bagel and a couple slices of cheese; 2 ounces of sliced turkey on two slices of whole grain bread with lettuce, peppers and mustard; and one cup of whole grain cereal with berries and a cup of skim milk.

"That may not seem like much, but remember you're not feeding two full-sized adults," she says. In fact, those extra 300 calories amount to about a 13 percent increase for the average woman who consumes 2,200 calories a day.

Exactly how many pounds pregnant women should be gaining depends on their pre-pregnancy weight, but there are some general guidelines, Dr. Trester says.

An average woman should gain about 25 pounds, while someone who is overweight should limit that to 15 pounds, and someone who is underweight should gain 30 to 40 pounds. That weight should be spread out over the pregnancy, with most being gained in the second and third trimesters, according to Dr. Trester.

"You really don't need to increase calories or gain more than 4 or 5 pounds, at the most, during the first trimester, unless you're underweight," says Pratt. "And at any time during the pregnancy we don't want to see a sudden surge in weight gain."

"About 1 pound a week in the second and third trimesters is ideal," says Dr. Trester. "Two pounds is still acceptable. But if you're gaining 3 to 4 pounds a week, that should be a red flag. You could be simply overeating, or it might signal another problem, like preeclampsia," he says. "You don't have to be obsessive if you gain a little more one week than another week, just keep your eye on the scaleand try to be mindful of what you're eating."

Want to see more?

• Eating for Two
• Pregnancy Pyramid
• What to Expect in Weight Gain
• Is Seafood Safe During Pregnancy?
• Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy
• Talk about it!

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