Pregnancy Calorie Needs Calculator

Work out pregnancy calorie needs instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Pregnancy Calorie Needs Calculator

Adds the trimester-specific energy increments of 340 and 452 kcal a day, with a further allowance for twin pregnancy.

Formula

Pregnancy energy increments

No increase in the first trimester, +340 kcal/day in the second and +452 kcal/day in the third; the protein reference intake rises to 71 g/day

Worked example

With the default values below, Pregnancy Calorie Needs Calculator returns Daily energy needs of 2,340. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Pre-pregnancy energy needsaccepts 1,200–4,000 kcal/day: 2,000 kcal/day
Trimesterone of First, Second, Third: Second
Pregnancy typeone of Single, Twins: Single

Results

Daily energy needs: 2,340 kcal/day
Additional energy for pregnancy: 340 kcal/day
Protein reference intake in pregnancy: 71 g/day
Additional energy per week: 2,380 kcal

Step by step

1Values used
2Pregnancy energy increments
3Daily energy needs= 2,340 kcal/day
4Additional energy for pregnancy= 340 kcal/day
5Protein reference intake in pregnancy= 71 g/day
6Additional energy per week= 2,380 kcal

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to whole numbers, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.
This is an estimate for general information and not professional medical advice. See the full disclaimer for the limits that apply to this kind of calculator.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why nothing extra in the first trimester?

Fetal tissue deposition is minimal early on, and nausea often reduces intake anyway.

Do these increments assume normal weight?

Yes. Recommended gain and energy needs differ by pre-pregnancy BMI and should be individualised.