In general, a woman should consume an extra 300 calories per day during the last six months of pregnancy. This usually works out to about 2500 calories a day, since an average active, non-pregnant woman should have about 2200 calories daily. Every woman is unique and your caloric needs may be slightly different due to your pre-pregnancy weight, you activity level, and the number of fetuses you are carrying. Your health care provider will likely suggest the number of pounds you should gain during this pregnancy. You should gain weight gradually throughout your pregnancy.
All women gain weight at different rates during pregnancy, but there are general recommendations.
During the first trimester, you should gain about 2-5 pounds. Then, during the second and third trimesters, expect to gain about a pound a week. Gaining the proper amount of weight is very important. Your baby depends on adequate nutrition to grow and develop properly. Excessive weight gain is also unhealthy for you.