Eating for Two: Are You Doing It Right?

During your pregnancy, you will have intense cravings and eat a lot more than you could ever have imagined. This behavior is normal, but only when it is not allowed to cross the boundaries of excessive weight gain! Weight gain during pregnancy is not only normal; it is something that is highly encouraged. Your unborn baby requires nourishment and for that, you do need to eat a little extra. There are a few accepted ranges for the weight that a pregnant woman should gain during her pregnancy and these will be discussed shortly. However, excessive maternal weight gain has associated risks for the mother and baby that should not be ignored.

Pregnancy And Weight Gain: The Expected Increase

The weight that you gain during your pregnancy is divided between the weight of the baby, the placenta, amniotic fluid, breast tissue, blood supply, fat stores for delivery and breast feeding, and an increase in size of the uterus. Doctors suggest the following healthy weight gain ranges for pregnant women:

• Women with a BMI of 18.5-24.9 before pregnancy should gain a total of 25-35 pounds during pregnancy.
• Women with a BMI of 25-29.9 before pregnancy should gain a total of 15-25 pounds during pregnancy.
• Women with a BMI of less than 18.5 before pregnancy should gain a total of 28-40 pounds during pregnancy.
• Women with a BMI of more than 30 before pregnancy should gain a total of 11-20 pounds during pregnancy.

To help you keep track of your rate of weight gain, health practitioners believe that 2-4 pounds should be gained within the first 3 months, and 1 pound should be gained every day after the first three months till the end of the pregnancy. If you are expecting twins you should gain a total weight of about 35-45 pounds.

Pregnancy and Weight Gain: Too Much Is Bad!

Gaining too much weight during your pregnancy or entering into your pregnancy in an overweight or obese state can have a detrimental effect not only on your health, but that of your baby’s too! Health complications range from Gestational Diabetes, Birth Defects, Premature Delivery, Caesarean Delivery, Infant Death After Delivery, Late Fetal Death and pregnancy related High Blood Pressure Problems. Moreover, the babies of gestational diabetes sufferers tend to undergo traumatic births and are at a greater risk of child obesity and adult obesity.

Conclusion

Do not psych yourself out over the possibility of gaining too much weight during your pregnancy. All you need to do is consult your doctor regularly to keep a check on your weight, and follow the dietary tips that he/she recommends for you!