Transcript: It’s hard not to think about dieting when your body is ballooning, but is it a wise move to cut calories during your pregnancy? Most doctors agree that pregnancy is a time for gaining weight, not losing it. The average woman should gain between 25 and 27 pounds when pregnant. While women who are morbidly obese should gain less weight during pregnancy – about 15 pounds – all women should gain some weight. That’s because, when you go hungry, so does your fetus. In fact, that little passenger has a big appetite. He or she requires that you eat about 2,500 calories every day! Since most diets recommend consuming between 1,500 and 1,700, it’s easy to see why dieting during pregnancy is a no-no. If you want to drink diet shakes, as some nauseous women do during pregnancy, that’s generally fine. But never rely on a these shakes as a meal replacement—it’s not enough for your baby, and it’s not enough for you right now, either. So keep eating throughout your pregnancy and worry about weight loss afterwards.