Total energy expenditure of healthy Swedish women during pregnancy and lactation.

Total energy expenditure (TEE) was estimated in healthy Swedish women by the doubly labeled water method in a longitudinal study during pregnancy and lactation. Measurements were made before pregnancy (A); in gestational weeks 16-18 (B), 30 (C), and 36 (D); as well as 2 (F) and 6 (G) mo after delivery. When the results were interpreted, earlier published data regarding resting metabolic rate (RMR), energy intake, and energy in breast milk were also considered. TEE (MJ/d) and TEE/RMR were 10.5 +/- 2.2 (mean +/- SD) and 1.87 +/- 0.42 (n = 28), 9.6 +/- 2.8 and 1.65 +/- 0.67 (n = 22), 12.5 +/- 3.4 and 1.82 +/- 0.45 (n = 22), 12.2 +/- 4.1 and 1.66 +/- 0.52 (n = 19), 10.6 +/- 2.0 and 1.82 +/- 0.41 (n = 23), and 10.8 +/- 2.7 and 1.79 +/- 0.42 (n = 23) at A, B, C, D, F, and G, respectively. The results indicated that physical activity tended to be decreased during early pregnancy. Taking changes in body energy stores into consideration, it was estimated that subjects recorded 86% and 77% of their energy intakes at A and F respectively.