It is up to you as the mother to make sure you are eating adequate calories for your baby’s growth. The fetus is not a parasite. I always remembered that phrase from nutrition 1010, and it always reminded me that the baby cannot take what it needs from you. You eat your nutrients first, and then the baby takes the extra available nutrients from you. If you are not consuming enough calories, the baby will not either.
When your nutrient intake falls below the optimal levels, the baby’s growth and development are compromised more than your health. Again, the nutrients that you intake will be used first for your health and physiological changes, and then for placental development.
Here are some examples:
- Underweight women who gain the same amount of weight as normal weight women tend to deliver smaller infants and retain more of the weight gained at the expense of fetal growth
- Fetal growth tends to be reduced in pregnant teens who gain height compared to fetal growth in teens who do not grow during pregnancy
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies and toxicities in newborns have been observed in women who showed no signs of deficiency or toxicity diseases during pregnancy
It is important to know that the fetus is harmed more by poor maternal nutritional status than is the mother. Please make sure you eat enough calories during pregnancy, because the fetus will be harmed if you do not. Of course you have to make sure you do not consume too many calories to avoid unnecessary weight gain and health complications.
This is my last post on my blog. I hope everyone learned a lot and enjoyed my site. Thanks for your comments everyone 
Another informative post Emma. I don’t remember that phrase from NUTR*1010 but it really helps explain the important concept of eating additional calories and nutrients during pregnancy. I think I’ll always remember it now from your blog!