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Calorie needs

Calorie needs during pregnancy

During pregnancy, needs rise gradually: little in the 1st trimester, then about +260 kcal/day in the 2nd and +500 kcal/day in the 3rd (WHO/EFSA benchmarks). Never try to lose weight while pregnant.

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Estimated calorie needs during pregnancy

TrimesterEstimated needAdjustment
1st trimester≈ 1,900–2,100 kcal/day+0 to +70 kcal
2nd trimester≈ 2,100–2,400 kcal/day≈ +260 kcal
3rd trimester≈ 2,300–2,600 kcal/day≈ +500 kcal
⚠️ Indicative benchmarks (WHO/EFSA), not medical advice. Needs vary with starting weight and how the pregnancy goes. Never follow a weight-loss diet while pregnant: ask your doctor or midwife.

The increase mainly concerns the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Quality matters as much as quantity: iron, folate, iodine, calcium and protein are especially important (often supplemented on medical advice).

These benchmarks are general; prenatal care personalizes intake to the recommended weight gain.

Tools: calorie calculator · deficit calculator · count from a photo.

See also

Calorie needs for a woman→Calorie needs for a man→How many to lose weight?→

Frequently asked questions

How many calories per day when pregnant?＋

Little change in the 1st trimester, then about +260 kcal/day in the 2nd and +500 kcal/day in the 3rd, often 2,100 to 2,600 kcal by profile.

Can you lose weight while pregnant?＋

No, it's not recommended: pregnancy is not the time for a weight-loss diet. Follow your health professional's advice.

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