|
Pregnancy Weight Gain
You need to be careful about how much weight you gain during your pregnancy. Gaining too much or too little can be harmful to you and your baby. How many pounds you need to add depends on how much you weigh when you become pregnant. Women who gain the proper amount of weight are less likely to have a low-birthweight baby (less than 5 1/2 pounds). But try not to gain more than what's recommended. Too many pounds can lead to discomforts—such as backaches and varicose veins and, possibly, health complications such as high blood pressure.
Pregnancy weight gain varies
Weight gain varies from woman to woman. For women who were a bit underweight to begin with, they may actually gain a bit more weight in the begininng. For those who were a bit overweight and have begun to eat a more healthful diet, they may actually see a decrease in weigh, although attempting to lose weight while pregnant is not a good idea. You should only worry if you find that you have suddenly gained 4-5 pounds in a single week, with or without accompanying swelling. It is also important to remember that the more times you have been pregnant the sooner your body is going to respond to being pregnant.
Pregnancy weight gain for normal weight
If you began pregnancy at a normal weight, you should gain 25–35 pounds over the nine months. Adding about 300 extra calories a day to your diet will help you reach this goal. (One extra healthy snack, such as four fig bars and a glass of skim milk, will provide these calories.) Most women gain four to six pounds in the first trimester, and then average a pound a week in the second and third trimesters.
Pregnancy weight gain for underweigh
If you began pregnancy underweight, you should probably gain a little more. That's because underweight women are more likely to have small babies. A 28- to 40-pound gain is usually recommended, so you should try to gain slightly over a pound a week in the second and third trimesters.
Pregnancy weight gain for overweight
If you began pregnancy overweight, you should gain only 15–25 pounds. This means you should put on one pound every two weeks in the second and third trimesters. While you don't want to gain too much weight, you should never try to lose weight during pregnancy because that could harm your baby.
Pregnancy weight gain in case of twins
If you're expecting twins, you should probably gain a total of 35–45 pounds. That translates into about 1 1/2 pounds a week in the last two trimesters.
Pregnancy weight gain slowly and steadily
Putting on weight slowly and steadily is best. But don't worry if you gain less than four pounds in the first trimester, and make up for it later, or vice versa. Also, many women have one or two "growth spurts" during which they gain several pounds in a short time period, then level off. Again, this is not worrisome unless it becomes a pattern. The important thing is to keep an eye on your overall gain. You can use the weight-gain tracking chart to follow your progress.
Chart below shows where the gained weight is distributed:
How will I get rid of all those extra pounds later?
First, follow a healthy diet while you're pregnant and have an exercise physiologist or your doctor or midwife help you set up an exercise program. Both will help ensure you're gaining the appropriate amount of weight at the right rate. They can also advise you on an appropriate way to lose weight after the baby arrives.
Remember, though, that a lot of the weight you've been accumulating will be gone pretty soon after you give birth. The baby accounts for about seven and a half pounds (or more or less, depending on when you give birth), and the amniotic fluid, placenta, and extra body fluids and blood in your body add up to another eight to 12 pounds. Also, your uterus and breasts have gotten bigger--that can add up to four to six pounds. Remember, it took nine months to put on the weight and it can take just as long or longer for it all to come off.
| 
