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Ideal
Weight Gain
I am worried about
becoming fat
Weight gain in pregnancy is not the
same thing as "getting fat". Gaining weight is a positive and healthy
sign that you are giving your baby what it needs to develop. You
need not put on any weight in the first trimester, but in order for you
to have a healthy baby, it is necessary for you to gain the normal pregnancy
weight – a total of 25-35 pounds – over the course of 9 months. Inadequate
weight gain or dieting during pregnancy could have severe ramifications
on the health of the baby.
How much weight should
one gain during pregnancy
The amount of weight gained differs
not only from woman to woman, but also from pregnancy to pregnancy.
The welfare of both, the mother and the child is directly related to this.
If a mother gains less than 20 pounds, then the baby is likely to be premature,
small, and could suffer from growth retardation. There are risks
involved in gaining too much weight as well. Excess weight overworks
muscles and results in backache, leg pain, varicose veins and fatigue.
Assessment and measurement of the foetus becomes more difficult and if
the baby is too large, then vaginal delivery becomes close to impossible.
Besides, all this excess weight will be hard to shed after delivery.
What is considered
optimum weight gain
There are two reasons for the weight
gain during pregnancy: to nourish the developing foetus and to store up
reserves for breastfeeding. The optimum pregnancy weight gain for the average
woman is between 25 and 35 pounds. The average woman's weight gain
pattern should be as follows:
-
First trimester - 3 to 4 pounds
-
Second trimester - 12 to 14 pounds
-
Third trimester - 8 to 10 pounds
What is the ideal
weight gain for a healthy pregnancy
A woman should gain anywhere between
25-35 pounds on average. In order that you have a healthy pregnancy and
a healthy baby, you should aim for the following weight:
| Weeks |
Weight gain (Pounds) |
Weight gain (kgs) |
| |
|
|
| 0-10 weeks |
No weight gain |
No weight gain |
| 10-14 weeks |
3-4 pounds |
1.5 kg |
| 14-20 weeks |
4-6 pounds |
2.5 kgs |
| 20-30 weeks |
10-12 pounds |
4.5 kgs |
| 30-36 weeks |
6 pounds |
2.7 kg |
| 36-38 weeks |
2 pounds |
1.0 kg |
| 38-40 weeks |
Almost no weight gain |
Almost no weight gain |
| |
|
|
| Total |
25-30 pounds* |
12-14 kg |
* You have a buffer of gaining 5
pounds either in the first few weeks or in the last few weeks.
How should the ideal
weight be achieved
First trimester (0-14 weeks):
In early pregnancy, weight should
remain constant (It could sometimes even fall due to lack of appetite and
morning sickness). Real weight gain should begin only in the 10th
week when the circulating blood volume begins to increase. Food intake
will also increase as nausea and vomiting decrease by the 14th week.
You must desist from eating wrong types of foods. Many doctors also recommend
that you take supplements of vitamin B, iron, calcium and folic acid.
Second trimester (14-30 weeks):
Between the 20th and 30th weeks,
you should be gaining approximately 4.5 kg ( or 1 pound a week).
If you gain significantly more than 4.5 kgs in these 10, you could be heading
for a condition called pre-eclamsia.
Third trimester (30-40 weeks):
Although you are still expected
to gain less than 1 pound of weight a week, you may notice a dramatic increase
in weight after the 30th week. This increase in weight is due to
excessive fluid retention, one of the ills of pregnancy. Limited
intake of fluids and salt, and keeping your bed elevated may help mitigate
the fluid retention problem.
Weight gain decreases after the 35th
week, and stops altogether after the 38th week. Many women even lose
weight 7-10 days before labour due to a reduction in hormone levels.
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