Calories for Twin Pregnancy: Do You Know the Increased Energy Intake?

A new U.S. study estimates the amount of extra calories women pregnant with twins need in their second and third trimester. The results were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in October 2018. The study included 20 healthy women who were pregnant with dichorionic-diamniotic (di-di) twins. All fraternal twins are di-di twins. About one third of identical twins are di-di twins as well. It has to do with whether or not twins share a placenta. Di-di twins have separate placentas.

Increased energy intake of 700 calories

The study found that women pregnant with di-di twins need to have an increased energy intake of 700 calories per day in the second and third trimester. That’s compared to the first trimester. The decrease in most women’s physical activity throughout pregnancy is not enough to compensate. Women pregnant with twins need to gain an extra 700 calories a day to meet the weight gain recommendations for twin pregnancies.