How much weight you gain during your pregnancy has a marked impact on the baby's size and health at birth, as well as on your own "size and health".  Careful weight gain, based on a healthy nutritional diet, will make for easier weight loss after delivery. 

Your diet should include:
Plenty of fluids
Whole grains and whole grain breads
Fruits and vegetables (which help your metabolism through pregnancy)
Meat and other sources for protein
Milk products (which supply you with the calcium you need for the baby's bone structure)

Consult you health care taker or a dietitian, in order to build a diet plan which includes all of these ingredients.

Why are you gaining weight?
The weight you gain during pregnancy includes:
6-8 pounds of the baby's weight
Around 4 pounds due to larger breasts and uterus
Around 4 pounds of placenta and amniotic fluid
7-8 pounds due to higher fluid volume
And finally, your body does need the extra stored fat (around 7 pounds)

Gaining this weight is what your body needs to support your baby's growth and to keep its strength through pregnancy, labor and breastfeeding. It might be the most useful weight ever gained!

Suggested weight gain
In general, as long as you are feeling healthy and your baby is growing at a good pace, you are probably gaining the right amount of weight. These are the official weight gain ratios that specify the amount of weight you should gain:

Average weight women should aim for a weight gain of 25-35 pounds.
Overweight women should aim for a weight gain of 15-25 pounds.
Underweight women should aim for a weight gain of 28-40 pounds. 

During the first trimester you should gain around 4 pounds, after that it should be about a pound a week. These recommended weight gain ratios have been set by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).  Research shows that woman who gain more than the suggested weight and who don't lose it in the months after pregnancy are more at risk of being obese up to 10 years later.  This doesn't mean you should deprive yourself of food during pregnancy - that would be the worst possible solution.  But these statistics emphasize the importance of a balanced and healthy weight gain.  Being pregnant doesn't mean that all hell breaks loose, and that you can eat your favorite candy and chocolate all day long. On the contrary, you have entered a period in which you have the best reason to take good care of yourself and your body.  Sadly, the good care doesn't include mountains of chocolates or chips…
 

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed