Weight Gain during Pregnancy

Concerns of weight gain in pregnancy

Among all the things that happen to the body of a woman during pregnancy, the most obvious is the weight gain. The size of the body increases with an increase in weight. This may be concerning for those who have worked hard their entire life not to put on too much weight. They may also be concerned about losing all this weight once their child is born.

Normal weight gain during pregnancy

The number of pounds you gain during pregnancy depends on your weight before conception. Healthy weight gain during pregnancy is somewhere between 15 to 40 pounds. If your BMI (Body Mass Index) before the start of pregnancy was less than 18.5 then you are underweight and a weight gain of 25 to 40 pounds is reasonable. In case you are overweight, you should not exceed the limit of 15 to 25 pounds weight gain during pregnancy. Of all the weight you put on during pregnancy, 6 to 8 pounds of it is that of the baby and the rest of it is placenta, amniotic fluid and extra tissue.

Should you try and lose weight in pregnancy?

If you talk to your doctor and seek his/her opinion for dieting during pregnancy, you will always be advised against it. The only thing your doctor will tell you is to take a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. You need an extra 300 calories per day during pregnancy and it is better if these come from healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.

Keeping a control over body weight

It is recommended that you change your perspective of weight gain from ‘losing weight’ to ‘limiting weight gain.’ Eating a healthy diet and enjoying light exercises on daily basis can help you achieve this goal. Strenuous exercise is prohibited during pregnancy and you should avoid those activities that put you at a higher risk of falling or injury.