Wondering how much weight will you gain during pregnancy? In this article we will tackle about gaining weight during pregnancy and everything you should know about it.
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Weight gain during pregnancy
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If you eat a healthy, balanced diet, your baby will receive the nutrients required for healthy growth. How many extra calories do you actually require, though?
Even if you do need extra calories, the average pregnant woman only needs about 300 healthy calories per day more than they did before becoming pregnant. This will make it possible for them to gain the right quantity of weight during pregnancy.
According to a previous study, the majority of women gained weight outside of the normal range during pregnancy, with only around a third (32%) of women gaining the appropriate amount (21 percent too little, 48 percent too much).
Babies born to pregnant women who do not gain the necessary weight run the risk of being underweight. Some premature babies may struggle to latch on to their moms, may be more prone to illness, and may have developmental issues (not meeting the milestones for their age).
Underweight pregnant mothers incur the risk of giving birth to kids that are too small. Some premature babies may struggle to latch on to their moms, may be more prone to illness, and may have developmental issues (not meeting the milestones for their age).
On the other hand, pregnant women who overeat are more likely to have babies who are born too big, which can complicate delivery, require a cesarean section, and lead to juvenile obesity. You may retain additional weight after delivery if you gain more weight than is recommended, which could lead to obesity.
Weight gain during pregnancy kg
Some say that one should gain 25 to 35 pounds when you are pregnant.
However, such a range only applies to women who, based on their body mass index, were “normal weight” before to becoming pregnant (BMI). Your height and weight are used to determine your BMI.
Finding out your BMI prior to becoming pregnant is the first step in determining how much weight you should attempt to gain during your pregnancy.
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Weight gain during pregnancy by trimester
Photo by ANTONI SHKRABA
How quickly you put on weight during pregnancy will depend on a number of factors, including your metabolism, level of activity, and heredity.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has the following advice for women who had a normal BMI before getting pregnant. How much weight are you supposed to gain during pregnancy?
1. First Trimester
Your overall weight cannot increase by more than 2 to 4 pounds.
If you have morning sickness, you might not gain any weight or perhaps lose a bit. It’s acceptable as long as you shed those pounds over the following six months.
In this case, keeping a closer eye on the scale over the ensuing two trimesters will aid in limiting your pregnancy’s overall weight gain. You might put on more weight in the first trimester if you have an insatiable appetite while pregnant.
2. Second Trimester
Ideally, you should gain extra weight throughout pregnancy as your baby grows, bringing your whole weight gain to 12 to 14 pounds.
3. Third Trimester
Baby’s weight gain will quicken while yours may start to slow down, adding up to a net gain of 8 to 10 pounds. Because of the shrinking abdominal space throughout the ninth month, eating can be difficult for some women, but for others, their weight stays the same or even goes down. It’s very normal to lose a few pounds at the end of your third trimester.
How is the weight gain distributed?
Have you ever wondered where the weight goes when a woman gets pregnant? Contrary to what would seem to be the case, nothing is actually in your stomach. The general breakdown for a 30-pound pregnancy weight gain is as follows:
- Baby: 3.4 kg
- Placenta: 0.7 kg
- Amniotic fluid: 0.9 kg
- Uterine enlargement: 0.9 kg
- Maternal breast tissue: 0.9 kg
- Maternal blood volume: 1.8 kg
- Fluids in maternal tissue: 1.8 kg
- Maternal fat stores: 3.2 kg
What weight gain can I expect during my pregnancy?
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More often than not, expecting mothers worry about the weight gain during pregnancy in the sense that as easy it is to gain weight, the level of difficulty of shedding the baby pounds may prove to be difficult.
In reality, though, the amount of weight that you gain during pregnancy is largely dependent on your weight before you conceived.
If you weighed a healthy number before getting pregnant, you should ideally only gain 25 to 35 pounds during your pregnancy. If you were underweight, you have the leeway to gain a bit more, about 28 to 40 pounds.
If you were overweight at the beginning of your pregnancy, then weight gain should be lower at 15 to 25 pounds. The ideal weight gain during the first trimester is about one to two pounds.
In the next two semesters, weight gain to be is expected is about one pound every week. Though the numbers seem big, the weight you will put on will not just be the baby’s but will also include the placenta, uterus, increased blood supply, amniotic fluid, and stored fat. It is crucial for you to have a healthy diet during your pregnancy.
Avoid “eating for two” too much, as it might contribute to an unhealthy weight gain. Eating small meals more often may help stave off the hunger pangs.
As everything else that concerns your pregnancy, your doctor will be able to help you set your right weight target. Go to all of your scheduled prenatal checkups so that your doctor can monitor your weight and pregnancy condition.
Not gaining weight during pregnancy
There are many reasons why a pregnant woman may not acquire enough weight. Among the causes of sluggish or no weight growth during pregnancy are:
- rapid metabolism
- Morning sickness
- appetite loss
- appearance-related difficulties
- further medical causes
If you don’t gain enough weight during your pregnancy, you and your unborn child may be more at risk for problems. Babies whose expectant mothers don’t gain enough weight are more prone to:
- premature birth
- Be small for their gestational age.
- face limitations on uterine growth
Some small-born newborns could struggle to latch on to the breast, and they are more likely to become ill and fail developmental milestones as a result.
Consult your doctor
Consult your doctor if you’re having problems with your pregnancy weight gain by the second trimester. Your doctor can give you resources to help you maintain a healthy rate of weight gain during pregnancy.
Updates by Margaux Dolores
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