Weight gain during Pregnancy

When one thinks about a healthy pregnancy, the first and foremost factor that comes to mind is weight. Weight gain is necessary for the gestation process to occur, however, being underweight or overweight can have major implications.

How you manage weight gain during your pregnancy determines the extent of you and your baby’s well-being. To illustrate, if the mother‘s weight is less than normal during pregnancy, the baby is born too small. Small babies face difficulty while breastfeeding and their overall development might occur at a slower pace than normal.

Also, they might be more susceptible to illnesses. Conversely, when mothers become overweight during pregnancy, the baby, when born, is too large which leads to complications in delivery. They might even become obese during childhood, leading to increased chances of developing hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases when they reach middle age. Thereby, it should be noted that for the baby to remain healthy before and after birth, management of weight gain should be highly effective throughout the pregnancy period.

Furthermore, pregnant women must regulate weight gain in accordance with their BMI. A lady with average weight [BMI: 18.5–24.9] before pregnancy should gain 25 to 35 pounds during the course of her pregnancy i.e., 2–4 pounds each week in the first trimester and only 1 pound per week for the remaining period. On the other hand, an underweight woman [BMI less than 18.5] needs to gain 28–40 pounds, and an overweight woman [BMI greater than 30] must gain not more than 15- 25 pounds during pregnancy.

It should be noted that most of this weight gain doesn’t contribute to fat; instead, it plays a paramount role in the child’s development. Here’s the breakdown of weight gain for an average weight woman during pregnancy:

• Weight of the baby — 8lb.

• Weight gain due to breast enlargement- 2–3 lb.

• Weight gain due to uterine enlargement- 2–5 lb.

• Placenta- 2–3 lb.

• Fat stores- 5–9 lb.

• Amniotic fluid- 2–3 lb.

• Increased blood volume- 4lb.

In order to meet the weight gain limits, pregnant mothers must stringently abide by a few important steps.
They are:

Maintain Everyday Calorie Requirements

• In the first trimester, no extra calorie intake is required. In the course of the second trimester, a woman of average weight must increase her daily calorie consumption by 340 extra calories, whereas, in the third trimester, 450 extra calories are required per day.

Proper Balanced Diet

Your baby requires ample nourishment. Eat loads of vegetable [especially greens] and fruits. You must also consume lean protein and low-fat dairy products for the overall development of your child. Avoid eating fried foods or other food items with a high amount of carbohydrates. Additionally, make sure to eat a total of six to eight small meals in a day at regular intervals.

Consult a nutritionist

Set your goals [for weight gain] and make routine trips to the nutritionist. Make a food diary and consistently write down everything that you eat in a day.

• Keep a record of your pregnancy weight gain during each stage.

• Avoid desserts and say ‘no’ to solid fats. Instead of drinking soft drinks and soda, increase your water intake. If you wish to consume anything sweet, go for naturally sweet food items and resist items that contain artificial sweeteners.

• Finally, exercise is very important to maintain weight. 150 minutes of brisk walking or any other aerobic activity is advised for pregnant mothers.

Moreover, those suffering from Gestational Diabetes Mellitus are prone to grave complications, for instance, worsening of diabetes in the mother along with congenital malformation issues in the fetus. Therefore, such mothers should strive to attain normoglycemia to assure fetal wellbeing. Their daily meal plan must provide the appropriate level of nutrition from sources that lack sugars. Starchy foods and foods rich in carbohydrates must be avoided.

To conclude, proper weight gain is the most imperative step you can take to ensure your child’s welfare during gestation. If you adhere to all the steps given above, you can definitely make the pregnancy period more smooth sailing and healthy for yourself and your baby.