Worried about Pregnancy and Weight Gain?

Achieve a Healthy Weight and Stay on Track?

Before we start, you need to know that it’s a common pregnancy myth that when you are pregnant, you are eating for two. In reality, a pregnant woman on an average – needs to eat only just a few hundreds of calories in a day which is equal to two or three small snacks. 

When you eat more than the quantity recommended can lead to weight gain. It can cause complications for both mom and the baby. 

With time, as your pregnancy progresses, it is essential to provide your body with the needed nourishment. The key is to ensure that you are getting enough nutrients that help your baby grow while eliminating unwanted weight gain. 

Some studies suggest that only about one-third of women gain the right amount of weight during pregnancy. And, about half of them gain too much. 

Gaining too much weight is common for women of all sizes, but it is especially prevalent for the women who start their pregnancies overweight or obese. 

How much weight should you gain during pregnancy?

The answer depends on the body mass index. It is a measurement of body fat considering height and weight. If you want to calculate yours, you need to divide your body weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. 

Here are some guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy – 

Risks of Gaining Too Much Weight

When you don’t do any physical activity, eat excessive food, or ignore certain health conditions – these can lead to gaining too much weight during pregnancy. 

Putting on more weight than recommended is linked with gestational diabetes. It is a type of diabetes that occurs only in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. The condition increases your risk of – 

• Having a large baby can cause complications during delivery or Cesarean delivery. 
• High blood pressure problems during pregnancy
• Low blood sugars can cause lightheadedness, sweating, shaking – or confusion or lost consciousness if you are treated on time. 
• Developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy, later in life. 

In your baby, gestational diabetes can cause – 

• Premature birth, which means born before 37 weeks
• Diabetes or obesity in the later life
• Breathing Problems

Even if you don’t have gestational diabetes, being overweight can create too many complications, such as premature birth or a C-section.

It can also lead to back pain, leg pain, and varicose veins. Additionally, it can be even more difficult to lose extra weight during pregnancy such as high-blood pressure and diabetes.

Risks of gaining too little

Gaining less weight than needed comes with a lot of risks. There are various reasons someone may not gain enough weight during pregnancy, it includes – 

• Morning sickness
• Less appetite
• Low pre-pregnancy weight
• Fast metabolism
• Other medical reasons

If your weight gain does not match the guidelines, your baby can be small for their gestational age or born prematurely. 

Small babies may face breastfeeding troubles, they miss developmental milestones, and have an increased risk for illness. 

Where does the weight actually go?

It’s not just the baby that leads to the greater number on the scale. When your pregnancy ends, you can expect even more – 

• 2-3 pounds for the placenta, which is the temporary organ that delivers oxygen and nutrients to your baby. 
• 4 pounds of blood. 
• 2-3 pounds of breast tissue. 
• 2-3 pounds of amniotic fluid, the fluid that protects your growing baby
• 5-9 pounds of stored fat for delivery and breastfeeding. 
• 2-5 pounds for your uterus

During pregnancy, fluctuations are common. For instance, blood volumes and amniotic fluid typically surge in the second trimester before gradually declining in the third trimester.

Conclusion 

It’s normal to see numbers on the scale that you’ve never encountered before, which can feel overwhelming.

But don’t worry. When you continue to make smart food choices and stay physically active, you can fit into your pre-baby clothes again. 

Be careful with your eating habits.