Weight Gain

 
During pregnancy, weight should be gained slowly and gradually, and not in excess or lacking. A steady gain means that the mother's body is able to adapt to the changes occurring in it while the baby receives a steady stream of nutrients. It is accepted that average sized women should gain 26 to 35 pounds. Underweight women should gain between 30 and 37 pounds, and overweight women should gain no more than 15 pounds. Individual recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy will vary depending on medical history, health, pre-pregnancy weight and fetal development. The baby's weight is linked to and determined partially by the mother's weight gain during pregnancy. Thus proper nutrition and weight gain are vital to the baby's health.

During pregnancy the mother should attempt to gain 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per month in the first trimester; 1/2 to 3/4 pound per week in the second trimester; and 3/4 to 1 pound per week in the third trimester. In order to gain extra weight without eating unhealthy foods, the mother should increase her caloric intake while staying inside the nutritional guidelines that are provided below. During the first trimester the mother will need to consume an additional 200 calories per day above her normal intake. During the second and third trimester a 300 and 500 calorie per day increase is recommended respectively.

Not only is healthy weight gain a concern for the eventual health of the baby, but for the mother as well. Prenatal weight gain is often very difficult to lose after pregnancy. Thus eating a nutritious diet during pregnancy, and minimizing weight gain while keeping it at an essential level, is important to the mother's health. Eating a nutritious and balanced diet will ensure that the mother's maternal weight gain is kept at a minimum.

For an average sized woman who is at her ideal pre-pregnancy weight can expect her prenatal weight gain to look similar to this:

The baby	6. 5 to 9 pounds
Placenta	1. 5 pounds
Amniotic Fluids	1. 5 to 2 pounds
Increased Fluid Volume	2 to 3 pounds
Increased Blood Volume	3 to 4 pounds
Fat Stores and Muscle Development	4 to 8 pounds
Uterus Enlargement	2 pounds
Breast Enlargement	1 to 3 pounds

Print this page