To begin with, it is important to accept the fact that you are going to face some weight gain during pregnancy! You have to, as your body is growing and providing a space for your baby to grow in it.
The weight gained may vary from person to person depending on a number of factors like height, pre-pregnancy weight and the type of pregnancy.
Women carrying twins or triplets or more must have more weight than that of a woman carrying single baby. An increase of 15-35 pounds in weight is more common during pregnancy.
Weight gain during pregnancy depends mostly on the weight before conceiving. For women who are underweight before pregnancy, weight gain of approximately 34 pounds is a must whereas 25-35 pounds will do for a woman with normal weight. For overweight women, 15-20 pounds sounds good.
But have you ever thought where all these mass go?
The baby growing inside the body may weigh between 6-8 pounds and the uterus carrying it may weigh 2 pounds. The placenta which is important for the nourishment of the baby weighs about 1.5 pounds.
The blood volume and fluids may tally to a total of 8-10 pounds. You will also gain about 7-8 pounds of weight due to the nutrient stores and development in muscles.
Most women may put on some fat which provides energy in the proper development of the baby.
So it is clear that the weight gain during pregnancy may differ from person to person. In many cases, pre-existing health conditions like diabetes and other genetic factors also affect the weight. So the only way to know the right range of weight gain is consulting your health care provider.
They can give you the appropriate range considering your height and pre-pregnancy weight. This relationship between height and weight is expressed as a number called ‘body mass index’ or simply BMI.
It is important to stress on how you gain your weight, not how much. Supposing you gain some 25 pounds of weight, but you eat some junkies, chips and soda, then the weight gained is neither good for you nor for your baby.
On the other hand, it sometimes become tough to put on some more weight, if you take proteins, low fats, fruits and vegetables and avoid sugar and junk items.
Weight gain during pregnancy changes as the pregnancy trimester changes. In first trimester, women usually gain around 1 pound in each month.
This reduces to half a pound per week in the second trimester and becomes 1 pound per week in the third trimester. This is the average weight gain taken into consideration. However, it varies from woman to woman.
Some women gain more weight in their second trimester of pregnancy as much as compared to all the trimesters combined.
It is therefore necessary for them to take a proper balanced diet containing food from all the food groups.
A well planned diet including adequate amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins will ensure that you are providing your baby the best of nutrients.
Talking of diet during pregnancy is certainly not welcomed. All you need to do is eat sensibly taking some 2500 calories per day, which is required.
The weight in pregnancy is just a timely gain. Once the baby is out in this world, you can always go back to your normal weight.
Hence that should not be a matter of worry. However, if you are not comfortable with that, better to consult your doctor.
Light exercises like walking and yoga are also recommended, as long as you don’t stress out too much walking or exercising.
They are just to keep your body fit and active and give you more strength to bear the pain, especially during delivery.
Having appropriate weight gain during pregnancy is important. If you gain more than required, you are at a risk of caesarean delivery.
This weight gain may tend to remain after delivery and in subsequent pregnancies as well. This can be a problem as overweight women are at higher risk for complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
Their babies may also become too large during birth which can cause problems during labour. However, mothers who are underweight have the fear of delivering a preterm infant or an underweight baby. This can cause health problems for the baby.
Hence the best thing for you and your baby is to remain healthy when pregnant, which means you have to undergo the required weight gain during pregnancy.
Try not to compare yourself with others considering your weight and all because every pound you add to your body will help your baby develop safely!
