How Much Extra Can Moms Eat?
By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. Whether you're hosting your favorite pregnant woman for dinner or are pregnant yourself, don't let the "eating for two" myth tyrannize your menu. When you look at adequate calorie consumption for growing a healthy baby, the more accurate principle is "eating for 1.1."
Essentially, that means that pregnant women only need to eat only 10 percent more than the number of calories they ordinarily eat to maintain their weight (sorry!). During the first trimester, women only need to increase calories by about 100 a day! During the second trimester, you'll need an extra 250; during the third, about 300 extra. Of course, these are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, but our point is this, well-meaning people who want to contribute to the next generation: Don't force-feed your pregnant guests!
Don't starve them, either: women need to gain enough to build the infrastructure to support the baby. Here's where a 29-pound weight gain (for a 7.5-pound baby) really goes:
Baby: 7.5 pounds
Placenta: 1.25 pounds
Uterus: 2 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds
Breasts: 1 pound
Blood volume: 4-5 pounds
Fat: 5 pounds
Tissue fluid: 6 pounds
Try lugging a 30-pound weight around for months, and you'll see why we think you should give up your seat on the bus to women who are pregnant, and why women who are planning on starting a family should start a regular weight-training program beforehand.
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The YOU Docs, Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen, are authors of "YOU: Having a Baby." Want more? See "The Dr. Oz Show" on TV (check local listings). To submit questions, go to www.RealAge.com. (c) 2009 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Read more about By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. at ArcaMax.com.
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