Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Weight gain during pregnancy is unavoidable. If you are a pregnant woman and you gain weight, there is nothing to worry about. Weight gain during pregnancy is normal.

However, you should not become over-weight and should gain weight gradually. Given below are details how much weight you should gain and why.

When you are pregnant, you need more food and nutrients to nourish your fetus. You need to consume some extra calories so that your baby can grow well.

If your weight is average prior to pregnancy and you gain 25 to 35 pounds of weight during pregnancy it is normal and you don’t need to worry about your increased weight. Your increased weight is distributed in your whole body according to the requirement.

For example 8 pounds of your extra weight goes to your baby; 2-3 pounds weight goes to placenta; 2-3 pounds weight goes to amniotic fluid; 2-3 pounds weight goes to breast tissue; 4 pounds weight of your increased weight goes to your blood; 5-9 pounds weight is stored for the delivery and breastfeeding; and uterus is increased in weight with 2-5 pounds. Thus you see how your increased weight is distributed in your body.

Women, who are expecting twins, but have average weight, need to gain 35 to 45 pounds during their pregnancy. However, if you are under weight before pregnancy you need to gain more weight to fulfill the requirements for the distribution of weight.

If you don’t gain required weight, your baby will not be healthy and you may have to face complications during your delivery. If you are underweight; you need to gain 28-40 pounds during your pregnancy. But if you are already overweight before pregnancy, you should gain very less weight (15-25 pounds) during your pregnancy.

However, if you gain more weight than what is mentioned above; it’s not good for your health and your baby. You need to lose weight, but it should be done strictly under the supervision of health professionals. However, you can do walking and lose weight. Walking is one of the best exercises to reduce weight.

Avoid fried foods and foods that are highly rich in fats. Consume fiber rich foods such as cabbage, oatmeal etc which are good for weight loss. Drink plenty of water. Enjoy your pregnancy period without worrying about a slight weight gain.