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I have no idea how many calories I should be eating but I did stop caring so much about calories when I got pregnant and it seems to be working out for me. Like, 2% yogurt instead of fat free, not measuring out my peanut butter or cheese, etc.

I never counted my calories during pregnancy. I ate when I was hungry (and I was hungry more often), didn't when I wasn't, & made sure to ask about my weight gain at each Dr.'s appointment. I'd check with your doctor on your next visit, but otherwise not worry too much about it

Since I have extremely sick pregnancies, I don't worry a thing about calories--more just about trying to get anything in, and staying down. I still managed to gain an amount that made my doctor happy both times.

A nutritionist once told me that to gain weight I absolutely had to have between-meal snacks and that almost everything I put in my mouth needed to be high in calories/nutritionally dense. She told me that every snack needed to have at least 300 calories, and if I had to do something less than nutritionally "perfect" like a milkshake or ice cream cone or fast-food fries once and a while to meet that, so be it. Every circumstance is different, so if you're concerned, I would go talk to a medical professional. Also, I'd check to make sure your doctor/midwife thinks you're off-track for weight gain. Being at the low end of the recommendations isn't necessarily a cause for concern.

To answer your question, the very dense stuff I like includes: full-fat dairy, nut butters, smoothies (use whole yogurt, add honey, and don't use water or ice cubes), olive oil (as a condiment or in a salad dressing), crackers/breads with cheese/butter, dried fruit, chocolate, and um...milkshakes! Things like Larabars and Clif Bars are also good for getting calories in when you can't lug around a lunchbox or cooler for your snacks. Look for the bars that are at least a couple hundred calories.

I discussed this was my midwife at my last appointment. Because I was/am overweight, she said the important thing is that I am eating well-rounded meals. She said there is no reason to push myself to eat more than I am hungry for, as long as I am not trying to lose weight, or losing a lot of weight all at once. I am currently still about 6 lbs under my pre-pregnancy weight (and over 18 weeks pregnant).

I've been so nauseous and vomity that I haven't even been thinking about calories yet. I'm just trying to eat whatever bland food I can keep down. I've actually lost 2 pounds since getting pregnant.

I'm only 11 weeks, though, so it's not that big a deal yet.

Honestly, I don't pay attention to calories. I eat when I'm hungry and what sounds good at the moment.