Weight gain during pregnancy 

If you enter pregnancy at a weight you are happy with, then the suggested amount of weight you should gain is about 25 pounds. Only two to four pounds of that goes on during the first trimester, and the remainder is added at about a rate of three-quarters of a pound to one pound per week after that. For underweight mothers, it is important to put on at least 28 to 40 pounds. If it's lots of extra weight you've started with, add only 15 to 25 pounds. Because little weight is gained during the first 14 weeks, you needn't worry if you just don't feel like eating during that trimester. By nature's design, when the nausea has calmed down, you'll gain weight.

CALORIE INTAKE

Usually, caloric intake increases by about 200 calories for pregnancy, but this depends upon your pre-pregnant weight, body type and activity level. You need to take your nutritional history into account. About three to five pounds is generally gained in the first trimester, but up to 10 pounds can be normal. Some women even lose weight if nausea and vomiting persists.


"Excessive" weight gain is not necessarily harmful for either you or your baby, but makes postpartum weight loss more difficult. Also, gains of more than 35 or 40 pounds may result in a large-for-gestational-age infant. 

Nuritional guidelines for pregnancy seem like a lot of food, but the use of skim milk, whole grains and watching the serving sizes (usually a half cup, for example) can help. You may want to get a scale at first so you can see what three ounces of meat is really like (not much!). Also, when you buy eight ounces of cheese, cut it up right away into eight equal pieces and just eat one ounce at a time.

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

Drink lots of water to help fill the stomach and provide help for digestion and elimination. Put a two-quart pitcher in your refrigerator and make sure it's gone by the end of the day. Try to relax, avoid large meals, nibble on anything healthful and start an exercise program. Unfortunately, during pregnancy, there is no room for "extras."