How many extra calories do I need to eat?
Obviously you're going to gain weight during pregnancy – it stands to reason, considering you have a baby growing inside you! But if you have a good pre-pregnancy weight and a healthy metabolism, a reasonable weight gain during pregnancy is about 11.5-16kg , but this can vary between women.
As for the extra calories you need, this really only comes into play when you get to your third trimester. Your energy requirements will only increase by approximately 12% about 300-450 extra kcal per day should be enough for women who were a healthy weight before their pregnancy.
But put aside those visions of double dinners! Just something like two extra slices of wholemeal toast can supply those extra calories.
What you should eat during pregnancy
How much you eat isn't as important as how well you eat. Your baby is getting their nourishment directly from you, so try and eat a well balanced diet, avoiding too many sugary snacks (which get your blood sugars up and then rapidly down again, confusing your metabolism and probably leaving you feeling quite low or lightheaded at times).
The main thing is not to be too hard on yourself. Some days you'll feel ravenous, others you'll just want to graze. If you have morning sickness, eating little and often will help too. Just go with your instincts. You'll be amazed how well your body is designed for pregnancy!