Pregnancy is a joyful period for any woman. The weight of an expectant mother doesn’t change much in the first trimester while it starts notably increasing in the period of active growth of the fetus. It is very important to manage your weight and keep up to that healthy weight during pregnancy. The overweight during pregnancy can complicate the process of pregnancy and, therefore, the childbirth itself. However, being underweight and not gaining some extra kilos may affect the post-partum period.
The mother needs a fat reserve for the period when the baby will become her only concern and she will barely have time to eat. Thus, it makes healthy pregnancy weight gain an essential topic. Some women just let it go and gain over the healthy limits, and some are terrified by the idea of never getting back into shape and torture themselves and the baby with strict dieting. Read on to discover more about healthy weight gain in pregnancy.
How To Weigh Properly
Weighing is a crucial ritual for every pregnant woman. A correct result may be obtained before breakfast in the morning. For this purpose, you need to choose clothes that you will not change when weighing. Another option is weighing in the underwear only. This is the best way to see your weight change. Write down the results in your special diary.
Moreover, before a pregnant woman goes to the doctor, she should be weighed in women’s consultation once a month (twice after the 28th week).
The Average Weight Gain Index During Pregnancy
A woman should gain from 9 to 14 kg (from 20 lbs to 30.8 lbs) of weight during the pregnancy period. If she is expecting twins, the weight should increase from 16 to 21 kg (from 35 lbs to 46 lbs). However, such an index is calculated on the basis of the average data and can vary on a smaller and larger side.
In the first trimester, the weight doesn’t change very much: a woman gains up to 2 kg (4.4 lbs). But it starts to change from the second trimester: 1 kg (2.2 lbs) per month or 300 g (0.7 lbs) per week; after 7 months – up to 400 g (0.88 lbs) per week. The full absence of weight gaining or rapid jump in weight can be a bad sign.
Such calculation doesn’t always show the real situation of the weight change because some women can gain weight at the beginning of pregnancy, but others can get it before even being pregnant.
Why a Woman Gains Weight During Pregnancy
The biggest part of all weight gain is the weight of a baby, the average of which is 3 – 4 kg (6.6 – 8.8 lbs). The uterus and amniotic fluid weigh up to 2 kg (4.4 lbs), and the increases blood volume – about 1.5 – 1.7 kg (3.3 – 3.7 lbs). At the same time, breast enlargement should be taken into account (0.5 kg (1.1 lbs) each piece). The extra fluid weight in pregnant women may be between 1.5 and 2.8 kg (3.3 – 6.1 lbs).
Looking at these calculations, a prospective mother can gain up to 14 kg (31 lbs) and she doesn’t need to worry about it.
The Factors That Can Influence The Weight Gain
The weight gain depends on a number of factors:
The original weight of the expectant woman
Surprisingly, lean girls gain weight much faster than the ladies who have a bit of extra weight. Surprisingly, early toxicoses in pregnancy may contribute to fast weight gain in the second trimester of pregnancy – the body feels like the lost pounds should be immediately restored to that healthy level and this is where the woman can barely stop eating. the tendency to corpulence
Even if you adhere to a strict diet and perform effective exercise before pregnancy, during your happy expectations nature will grant you two-three extra kilos anyway.
The Height
It is believed that the higher the woman is, the more kilos during pregnancy she will gain.
A big fetus
It is a natural indicator. The woman who expects a big baby gains more than her norm.
Dropsy pregnant
Swelling indicates the accumulation of a large amount of liquid in the body that also can make a woman heavier.
Toxicosis in the first trimester and gestosis in the third trimester of pregnancy
Nausea and vomiting, which are often accompanied by these states may lead to weight loss.
Good appetite
A pregnant woman should take this factor, which is directly connected with increases in estrogen, under serious control. Otherwise, she may gain absolutely unnecessary and even damaging weight.
Polyhydramnios
Increasing the amount of amniotic fluid also affects the weight, which the scales reflect.
Age
A mature pregnant woman is more likely to exceed the pregnancy weight standards set by the doctors.
The Formula For Calculating The Norm of Weight Gain During Pregnancy
Every woman can independently calculate her weight gain during pregnancy. For this purpose, first, she needs to find out her Body Mass Index. It is so easy to count: you need to divide your weight by the square of your height in meters. For example, your height is 1,7 meters and your weight is 56 kg. The formula will look as follows:
56/(1,7*1,7)=19,38
There is a convenient classification of women’s figure types, based on the body mass index:
1 type (up to 19.8) – lean women
2 type (from 19.8 to 26) – women with medium body
3 type (more than 26) – overweight women
If you know your BMI you can compare your results after weighing with the numbers in this table:
| The week of pregnancy | BMI<19.8 | BMI=19.8 – 26.0 | BMI>26.0 |
| Weight gain, kg | |||
| 2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| 6 | 1.4 | 1 | 0.6 |
| 8 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.7 |
| 10 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| 12 | 2 | 1.5 | 0.9 |
| 14 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 1 |
| 16 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.4 |
| 18 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 2.3 |
| 20 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 2.9 |
| 22 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 3.4 |
| 24 | 7.7 | 6.4 | 3.9 |
| 26 | 8.6 | 7.7 | 5 |
| 28 | 9.8 | 8.2 | 5.4 |
| 30 | 10.2 | 9.1 | 5.9 |
| 32 | 11.3 | 10 | 6.4 |
| 34 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 7.3 |
| 36 | 13.6 | 11.8 | 7.9 |
| 38 | 14.5 | 12.7 | 8.6 |
| 40 | 15.2 | 13.6 | 9.1 |
In calculating the permissible weight gain, you can also use the scale of the average physiological weight gain, which is used by the doctors, ranging from the 7th month of pregnancy. Based on the data from the scale, the mother-to-be should gain about 20 grams (0.7 Oz) per each 10 cm (4 inches) of height weekly
Some pregnant women start to limit themselves in food consumption when they see that they gain weight too fast. It is strictly prohibited to do this because they lack calories can lead to health problems in the baby. The best choice is to visit a doctor or start making exercises for the pregnant, yoga, walking.
Born in Belarus, 1985, a pedagogue and family psychologist, mother. Taking part in procedures of social adaptation of the foster children in new families. Since 2015 is a chief editor of the motherhow.com project, selecting the best and up-to-date material for those, who are planning, expecting, and already having babies.