Final answer:
A lactating mother requires an extra 720 calories per day to meet lactation demands, while during pregnancy, an additional 300 calories per day is generally sufficient. Consuming double the calories can lead to excessive weight gain, potentially harming the baby.
Step-by-step explanation:
Post-Partum Caloric Increases
During pregnancy, it is a myth that a woman needs to double her caloric intake. The reality is that only about 300 extra calories per day are necessary, particularly during the last trimester. Doubling calorie consumption can lead to excessive weight gain, potentially harming the baby and increasing the risk of later-life diabetes and obesity.Post-partum, the caloric needs change again, especially for a lactating mother. Breastfeeding mothers require approximately an extra 720 calories per day to meet the demands of lactation. These calories help produce the 850 ml of milk a baby may require daily. Without this adequate increase, a mother might not have enough energy to produce a sufficient amount of milk. It's also important to note that during the first trimester, no additional calories are typically needed. However, during the second and third trimesters, the advised increase is about 300 calories per day to support the fetus's growth, emphasizing that eating for two is not literally doubling food intake.