Not gaining weight during pregnancy? Here are the reasons why

If a pregnant woman doesn't gain enough weight, it could lead to health problems for both the mother and the child.

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Most women should gain between 11.5 to 16 kilograms during pregnancy. The majority of women gain 1 to 2 kilograms during the first trimester and half a kilogram per week for the balance of the pregnancy. How much weight you gain will depend on your circumstances.

Weight in pregnancy

Image from Shutterstock

A balanced, nutrient-rich diet and frequent exercise are the foundations of a good pregnancy. Most expectant mothers should consume the following number of calories each day:

  • In the first trimester, 1,800 calories per day.
  • The second trimester requires 2,200 calories per day.
  • In the third trimester, 2,400 calories per day.

The majority of your weight gain, which is not entirely fat, is caused by pregnancy. 16 kilograms is equal to the following:

  • Baby: 3.5 kg
  • Placenta: 1 to 1.5 kg
  • Amniotic fluid:  1 to 1.5 kg
  • Breast tissue:  1 to 1.5 kg
  • Blood supply: 2 kgs
  • Fat stores: 2.5 to 4 kg
  • Uterus growth: 1 to 2.5 kg

READ MORE: 

Weight gain during pregnancy: How quickly will you gain weight during pregnancy

Dieting during pregnancy? All you need to know about vegetarian, pescatarian, and gluten-free diet

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Not gaining weight during pregnancy

If a pregnant woman doesn’t gain enough weight, it could lead to health problems for both the mother and the child. Here are some reasons you may not be gaining enough weight during pregnancy.

  • Underweight pregnant women

Pregnant women who were underweight may need to gain more weight than those who were medium to overweight during pregnancy. 
Extra nutrients will be needed for pregnant women with a history of eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia nervosa who may have had nutritional deficiencies prior to getting pregnant.

What you can do is to make sure you are getting the necessary nutrients. A high-quality prenatal vitamin is especially important when eating is hampered by nausea, vomiting, or food intolerances.

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Nevertheless, as your pregnancy goes on, gaining weight becomes more and more important for the growth of your unborn kid.
Another reason is due to morning sickness. Many expectant mothers find it difficult to gain weight in the first trimester and worry about how this may affect the development of their unborn child. 
Fatigue is a common indicator of inadequate weight gain. In addition, Mitchell notes that “women who struggle to gain weight throughout pregnancy have a longer postpartum recovery and may be endangering their bone health, as well as the risk of developing dietary shortfalls, including anemia.
It’s essential to maintain a steady rate of weight gain throughout pregnancy. If a woman does not gain weight during her pregnancy, complications including low birth weight or an early delivery may arise.
Small for gestational age (SGA) is the idea that infants born to mothers who do not grow more than 20 pounds may have been malnourished all through their development.

Not gaining weight during pregnancy sign of down syndrome

A 2014 research entitled “Maternal obesity and risk of Down syndrome in the offspring”, determined whether maternal obesity affects risk estimations for trisomy 21 based on combination screening and whether it is associated with an increased risk of Down syndrome in the progeny (BMI).
The study showed that obese women had a greater chance of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome than normal-weight women.
The observed and projected numbers of women with a risk of Down syndrome >1/300 were comparable in each BMI category based on the combined 1st-trimester screen and maternal age.
This means that pregnant women who are obese seem to have a higher chance of having babies with Down syndrome. The risk estimate for Down syndrome with first trimester combined screening is unaffected by BMI.

Not gaining weight during pregnancy but belly getting bigger

Photo by Andres Ayrton

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The physical result of pregnancy is a growing belly. While your belly growing in size is primarily caused by your growing baby, there are other factors at work. 
Each pregnancy is different. Your belly bump’s appearance and size will depend on a few things, and sometimes, some complications.

  • Number of birth

First-time mothers should prepare for a noticeable tummy expansion between 12 and 16 weeks. Pregnancy symptoms like bloating and constipation can cause your waistband to feel tight even before you are 12 weeks along. Because of the swelling of their abdomen wall, pregnant women may begin to show sooner.
With second and subsequent pregnancies, the emergence of the bump is frequently early. The abdominal muscles have become more stretched as a result of prior pregnancies.

  • Number of babies you’re carrying

If you are carrying more than one child, your stomach will probably show sooner.

  • Physical composition

For pregnant women who are underweight compared to those who are overweight, a belly bump may show up earlier. In certain cases, it might not become apparent until the 20th week of pregnancy.
A damaged placenta as a result of fertilization problems leads to molar pregnancies. 
Since the sperm fertilized an infertile egg, the only tissue that grows during a full molar pregnancy is placental tissue. Since the egg wasn’t viable, no fetus developed. 
In a partial molar pregnancy, one egg is normally fertilized by two sperm, and some fetal and placental tissue begins to form. This condition is often diagnosed in the first trimester based on signs including uterine enlargement and atypical bleeding. 
Molar pregnancies frequently result in miscarriages.
Large ovarian tumors can be discovered during ultrasounds carried out during pregnancy. If you are certain you are not pregnant but notice your stomach is growing quickly, your doctor may advise getting an ultrasound to check for major ovarian tumors. 
Bloating, a dull ache and a sensation of weight in the lower abdomen are further symptoms that these tumors may produce. The choice of specific therapy will be determined by the medical professional’s results.

  • Polyhydramnios

Extra amniotic fluid is referred to as Polyhydramnios inside the uterus. This may lead to contractions and preterm labor. Even though congenital fetal abnormalities are the cause of 20% of cases of polyhydramnios, the exact cause is still unknown in close to 70% of these pregnancies. The condition should be closely monitored by a medical practitioner.

  •  Fast-growing benign fibroid tumors

These develop when uterine wall muscle cell fibers swiftly coalesce to create masses. These growths, which are totally safe despite their unfortunate moniker, are regularly spotted on fetal ultrasounds.

Fibroid tumors cause symptoms, such as stomach pain, swelling, and difficulty urinating, that are comparable to those of pregnancy.

The size of a tumor can occasionally have no effect on symptoms. If you’re unsure about the origin of your symptoms, speak with a healthcare provider.

If you are worried about not gaining weight during pregnancy but your belly getting bigger, consult your doctor. He or she will know best how to diagnose and treat you.

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How to gain weight in pregnancy

If your doctor suggests that you gain more weight, the following tips may be helpful:

  • Never skip a meal. Instead of 3 substantial meals a day, eat 5 to 6 smaller ones.
  • Spread peanut butter on bread, crackers, apples, bananas, and celery. One tablespoon (16 grams) of creamy peanut butter contains about 100 calories and 3.5 grams of protein.
  • Add nonfat powdered milk to foods like hot cereal, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes.
  • Boiling, broiling, grilling, and baking are healthful cooking methods that utilize less fat.
  • Olive oil, almonds, fatty fish, avocados, and other foods high in healthy fats should all be consumed more frequently.
  • Prepare food using low-fat cooking methods.
  • Avoid eating fried food. When food is fried in oil or butter, the number of calories and fat in the meal will increase.
  • Consuming real fruit juices rich in beta carotene or vitamin C is advised. Excellent options include orange juice, papaya nectar, apricot nectar, and carrot juice.
  • Don’t eat fast food.
  • Have quick and easy snacks available. Nuts, raisins, cheese and crackers, dried fruit, ice cream, and yogurt are all tasty alternatives.
  • Cheese, sour cream, gravy, cream cheese, butter, or margarine should be a part of every meal.
  • Consult your doctor before taking any supplements or prenatal vitamins. You can also get the advice of a nutritionist or dietitian regarding your diet.

Flo, NCBI, Medline Plus, Very Well Family, American Pregnancy, NHS UK

Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.

Written by

Margaux Dolores