Pregnancy and eating: How much and what should you eat when you are pregnant?

Many women view pregnancy as a time to eat whatever they want guilt-free.

Not so fast, doctors say, as a study reveals that two thirds of women have mistaken beliefs about how much they should eat while carrying a baby.

In the first six months, women don't actually need any extra calories, the BBC reports. Health Watchdog NICE recommends only stepping up the portions in the last trimester, when you should eat an extra 200 calories a day (on top of the recommended daily 2,000 calories for women).

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That's equivalent to just one glass of whole milk, an avocado, or four slices of flax bread.

Out of 2,100 UK women surveyed, however, one third believed they should eat 300 or more extra calories daily. Of 140 pregnant women, three-fifths believed they should start eating more in the first or second trimester.

Over a quarter of those surveyed admitted to using "eating for two" as an excuse to eat unhealthy food whenever they liked.

The news was given a cautious welcome online, although some expressed concerns about increasing the pressure yet further on expectant mothers.

The National Charity Partnership (NCP), composed of Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation and Tesco, said "eating for two" was a "very unhelpful" myth for mums-to-be.

"Eating healthily and consuming healthy portion sizes are important before, during and after pregnancy to increase the chances of conceiving naturally, reduce the risk of pregnancy and birth-related complications and stave off health problems like type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease in the long-term," said Alex Davis, head of prevention for the NCP.

So what should you be eating?

The NHS recommends eating healthily all the time, but especially during pregnancy. That means five-a-day of fruit and veg, for the vitamins and also the fibre, which aids digestion.

Starchy foods are a good way of filling up without consuming too many calories, so just over a third of your diet should consist of carbohydrates - but don't go for the refined or "white" foods. Instead pick wholegrain options like brown rice and whole wheat pasta, and leave the skin on potatoes. You should also eat enough dairy and protein, and swap fatty foods for healthy snacks.