Third trimester not gaining weight

Have A Healthy Pregnancy - 7 Signs of Pre-Labor

Every woman's labor is unique, even from one pregnancy to the next. Being aware of what to expect can help you to have an enjoyable and safe pregnancy. On average, a full-term pregnancy lasts 40-weeks, and during this time, monitoring your health can establish wellness for you and your baby early on.

Pregnancy Milestones

From the first to the third trimester, you can know what your baby is experiencing while in the womb. In the first trimester (1 to 12 week period), a fetus begins developing their brain, spinal cord, and organs. During the second trimester of pregnancy (weeks 13 to 27), you'll probably start to feel your baby move inside of your uterus. During the third trimester (weeks 28 to 40), you may feel more tired, and your weight gain will accelerate. Your baby's bones are now formed, and they can sense light as well as open and close their eyes. Of course, every pregnancy is different, but developments will most likely occur within this general time frame.

Exercise to Prepare for Labor

Exercise is vital for keeping you fit, relaxed, and ready for labor. You may need to adapt your current fitness routine to accommodate your changing body and lower energy levels.

Yoga-like stretches will help you stay limber. However, it's important not to overdo your stretches, as you could risk injury. Some other good exercises are gentle pilates, swimming, and walking. Work with your provider or a personal trainer to ensure that you aren't overexerting yourself. You can get more ideas for staying fit during your first trimester. Make an appointment with the best Gwinnett OBGYN obstetrical care today.

7 Signs of Pre-Labor

What is labor? How will it feel? How can I be ready? Are prenatal infections common?

Every birth is different — knowing what labor and pre-labor are will help you prepare to meet your baby. Labor starts with contractions of the uterus and ends with the delivery of a baby; it is the process of childbirth. Like most expecting mothers, as your pregnancy nears the end, you'll be anticipating signs of pre-labor. Pre-labor is considered one hour to a full month or more before labor.

1. Your Baby “Drops” If you're a first-time mom, the baby starts to drop or descend into your pelvis. This generally happens a few weeks before labor or two to four weeks before your delivery date, but it can vary. In subsequent births, the baby doesn't "drop" until you're truly in labor — your baby "drops" to position into exiting, ideally with the head down and low.
2. Your Cervix Dilates The cervix starts to dilate (open) and efface (thin out) in preparation for birth in the days or weeks before delivery. Your obstetrician may measure or track dilation and effacement during your weekly check-ups. But be aware everyone progresses differently, so don’t be discouraged if you’re dilating slowly or not at all.
   The cervix starts to dilate (open) and efface (thin out) in preparation for birth in the days or weeks before delivery. Your obstetrician may measure or track dilation and effacement during your weekly check-ups. But be aware everyone progresses differently, so don’t be discouraged if you’re dilating slowly or not at all.
3. You’ll Feel More Cramps and Increased Back Pain In particular, if this isn't your first pregnancy, cramps, and pain in your lower back and groin will increase as labor nears. Cramps and pains come from your muscles and joints shifting and stretching in preparation for birth.
4. Your Joints Feel Looser Before labor, the joints all over your body will feel less tight and more relaxed. Throughout your pregnancy, your ligaments were loosened by this same hormone called relaxin. This is nature’s way of opening your pelvis for the delivery stage.
5. You’ll Have Diarrhea All the muscles throughout your body begin to relax, including those in the rectum. This can lead to diarrhea, which is entirely normal. A symptom meant to prepare the female body for birth.
6. You Stop Gaining Weight At the end of your pregnancy, you might begin losing weight. This is completely normal and won’t affect the baby’s weight. This weight loss may be due to lower levels of amniotic fluid, more bathroom breaks, and increased physical activity.
7. You Feel Extra Tired A good night’s sleep can become harder to get during the last days or weeks of pregnancy. Naps during the day are encouraged during this period. However, some women get bursts of energy as the end of pregnancy draws near. This is also ok, but be careful not to overexert yourself. Especially, in 2020, learn the facts about Coronavirus and pregnancy.

Natural Ways to Help Induce Labor

If you're in full-term and hoping to induce labor, some natural tricks are walking, sex, spicy food, and acupuncture. Although there is no scientific research to back up any of these methods, so be sure to talk to your doctor first before trying to prompt early delivery.  

How to Know If You're Not Gaining Enough

Many women struggle with gaining too much weight during pregnancy. But what happens when the opposite is true, and you’re not gaining enough weight during pregnancy? Here’s what you need to know about weight gain during pregnancy.

If you’d like to learn more about this topic in a visual way, check out my Google web stories for 6 tips to help you gain weight during pregnancy.

There may be several reasons that you’re not gaining enough weight during pregnancy—it could be due to excessive nausea, loss of appetite, food aversions, or other digestive concerns. If you’re concerned that you’re not gaining enough weigh, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. Plus, check this out if you’re looking for the ultimate guide to pregnancy nutrition.

In this post you’ll learn:

• How to figure out how much weight you should gain
• Calorie intake during pregnancy (how do I know how much to eat?)
• How to choose calorie and nutrient-dense foods
• Why Smaller more frequent meals might help
• Why you might want to skip the salad
• Why you shouldn’t turn towards junk food for extra calories
• How to combat nausea
• How to notice food aversions

How to know whether you’re gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy

First of all, it’s important to understand what healthy pregnancy weight gain looks like. A common way to calculate your target weight gain during pregnancy is by using your pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI).

Now, I really don’t want to get stuck on the numbers here—especially when it comes to your body mass index (BMI)—because what’s defined as “healthy” according to BMI charts can be a little deceiving or unfair. For example, someone who has lots of muscle may have a higher BMI than what’s considered “healthy,” but may be in great shape and very healthy. Or someone who has a “healthy” BMI due to their genetics may have an unvaried diet and never move their body. BMI is just one assessment tool you can use, but it’s imperfect. Don’t get stuck on it! But for those of you who like numbers, here they are:

To calculate your pre-pregnancy BMI, multiply your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. Or if you want a shortcut, just google “BMI calculator” and plug your numbers in. The recommended weight gain during pregnancy depends on which category the pre-pregnancy BMI lands in.

Pregnancy Weight Gain

Calorie intake during pregnancy

I’m not keen on overemphasizing calorie goals or ranges because I really want to encourage you to listen to your body when it comes to the amount of food you eat at any given meal or snack. And quite frankly, counting calories sucks and takes the enjoyment out of eating! But here’s what I will tell you:

• During your first trimester, it’s not necessary to eat any more than normal. So just eat like you normally would!
• During the second trimester, it makes sense that you’re hungrier than normal, because your energy and nutrient needs are rising. It’s good to eat a little more: about 300 to 350 extra calories. That’s like an extra snack each day.
• During the third trimester is when your nutrient and energy needs are the highest throughout your pregnancy, and it’s advised to eat an extra 400 to 450 calories per day. That could be an extra snack (Greek yogurt, berries, and granola) or maybe a little more at each meal.

How many extra calories do I need (assuming that you’re starting out at a healthy BMI)?

Any additional calories that you take in should come from nutrient-dense foods such as lean protein, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Limit foods that are overly processed with a lot of added sugar, salt, or fat to only once in a while. But do give yourself permission to indulge once a day on something that you absolutely love and can’t live without.

I’m having trouble gaining enough

If you’re having trouble gaining enough weight during pregnancy, know that you’re not alone. This is a common concern and something that can be managed with a little bit of extra knowledge and even some help from a registered dietitian if you and/or your doctor are concerned. Lack of weight gain can happen because of many reasons, including:

• excessive nausea
• loss of appetite
• food aversions
• other digestive concerns
• you might be a small or particular eater to begin with, and may need to pay a little bit more attention to what and how much you’re eating.

To help ensure that you are gaining enough weight throughout your pregnancy, and in a healthy way, here are my top 6 tips:

1.

If you have a small appetite, it’s crucial to make every bite count! That means you want to get the most nutrition (protein, vitamins, minerals etc.)in the foods you choose. Even if you get full quickly or have a small appetite, you know you took in some great nutrition. Foods that are high in calories and chock-full of nutrients are:

• Nuts, seeds, and nut butters
• Avocados
• Olive oil as a topping or dressing
• Whole grain pasta, oats, brown rice, and other whole grains
• Legumes like lentils, chickpeas, and beans
• Fatty fish like salmon

If you’re needing some recipe inspiration for nutrient-dense meals and snacks, check out one of my fave cookbooks, Nourish. On top of this, you should be making sure that you’re taking a prenatal multivitamin, vitamin D and perhaps even an Omega-3 supplement too. Here are some nutrients (and foods) that you should be paying extra attention to during pregnancy.

2. Try smaller, more frequent meals

 You may be turned off of larger portion sizes of foods, and eating might feel overwhelming if your plate is too full (which can actually decrease your appetite). Instead, try having five or six smaller more snack-sized, lighter meals that aren’t so overwhelming. For example, instead of having a big spaghetti dinner, have a piece of French toast with greek yogurt and berries. Or make a batch of homemade protein-rich muffins or energy bites that you can snack on throughout the day or on-the-go. These snack-sized meals can still pack a nutritional punch and provide the calories that you need, but might be less overwhelming and more appealing (meaning, you’ll eat more!).

3. Salads are great but may be too low in calories

Wait, what? Did a dietitian just advise you to skip a salad? While vegetables are super-healthy, they are not calorically-dense and high in fiber. A big bowl of lettuce with cucumber can make you feel full quickly, but is too low in calories. That’s not enough to meet your needs! If you really have a low appetite and can eat only a small amount, it’s better to have more calories with every bite. For example, try whole grain toast with peanut butter and banana slices (yes, you CAN and SHOULD eat peanuts when you’re pregnant), or a pasta salad with avocado, nuts, meat and cooked veggies which would have more calories than a light green salad.

Look at the numbers to see what I mean:

• Whole grain toast with 1 tablespoon peanut butter and a banana: 220 calories
• 1½ cups romaine lettuce and cucumbers: 20 calories
• 1½ cups romaine lettuce, cucumbers, and 1 teaspoon dressing: 60 calories

If you ARE craving salad, what can you add to it? Maybe it means adding a tablespoon of dressing to your lettuce, and topping it with nuts, seeds, chickpeas, quinoa, avocado, or any other calorie-dense foods.

4. Energy dense foods are fine in moderation

We know what you’re thinking: “I need to eat more calories! I can have all of the ice cream I’ve ever wanted!” If only it were that easy! Yes, you need more calories. BUT. You also don’t need tons of sugar and fat. You want the calories to come from nutritious foods (see list above). Of course, you can enjoy ice cream mindfully, but please don’t get your day’s worth of calories from pint after pint of creamy goodness.

5. Combat nausea in pregnancy

Morning sickness can sometimes turn into all-day-sickness. Luckily, by the time you enter your second trimester, when weight gain starts to ramp up, nausea usually starts to wind down. If you’re one of the unlucky (approximately half of all pregnant women) who feels pregnancy-related nausea, here are some tricks that may help:

• Keep a snack on your night table. Have a bite before bed and in the morning. Soda crackers are a popular option!
• Avoid getting too hungry – that can lead to nausea. It might be your first instinct to avoid food when you feel nauseous, but that is the opposite of what you should do. Eating every two to three hours will help keep nausea at bay! Keep high calorie snack options (like nuts) with you throughout the day.
• Don’t take your nutrition supplements on an empty stomach–make sure you combine with a meal or snack.
• Try ginger. This age old-remedy is backed by science too. Try making tea with fresh ginger. You can use ginger in cooking and baking. Ginger snaps anyone?
• Stay hydrated, especially if nausea is accompanied by vomiting. Try drinking your fluids before or after meals, as opposed to with your meal. This is my favourite water bottle (that I carry around always!) to help me remember to stay hydrated.

If none of these tips help and you really can’t keep any food down, you may have hyperemesis gravidarum, and should discuss it with your doctor. They can prescribe medication to help.

6. Notice food aversions in pregnancy

There may be certain smells or flavors that turn your stomach when you’re pregnant – and often they are foods you used to love. Common food aversions are to strong flavors, such as garlic, onion, spice and coffee. If you can’t stand the taste or smell of certain foods, simply avoid them. Know that it’s totally normal, it’s common, and it will pass!

Commonly Asked Questions About Pregnancy Weight Gain

How much weight should you gain while pregnant?

The weight gain ranges below are for a full-term pregnancy:
• Underweight: 28 to 40 pounds
• Normal: 25 to 35 pounds
• Overweight: 15 to 25 pounds
• “Obese”: 11 to 20 pounds

How fast do you gain weight when pregnant?

On average, people gain 1 to 4 pounds in the first trimester — but it can vary. Expect to gain ½ a pound to one pound (. 23 to . 45 kg) per week during the rest of your pregnancy. Ultimate guide to pregnancy nutrition.

How soon do you gain weight when pregnant?

Some initial weight gain will happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The majority of weight gain will occur during the second and third trimester. How much is too much?

If you need some personalized guidance on your nutrition during pregnancy, contact us to book an appointment with our dietitian team (most people have coverage for our services through their health benefits plan). 

Food to Grow On

Food to Grow On is the definitive guide to childhood nutrition, packed with practical advice to support you through pregnancy, and up until your little one starts school.

Laid out in an easy-to-navigate question and answer style, this book provides practical advice and support from Sarah Remmer and Cara Rosenbloom, two trusted registered dietitians (and moms). Food to Grow On is packed with hard-earned parenting wisdom and the very latest research in pediatric nutrition, so you will feel supported, understood, and ready to help your child thrive. 

Buy Food to Grow On Now!

Weight category - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

— What norms of weight gain during pregnancy are doctors guided by today?

- The average increase for all nine months is from 9 to 14 kg. The exact figure depends on many factors, but a sharp deviation in one direction or the other from the norm should be alarming. To calculate the allowable increase, the initial weight of the expectant mother should be taken into account: for example, women of a fragile physique (asthenic type) must gain more than initially obese women. In addition, it is important to consider the trimester of pregnancy.

— How does weight change in different trimesters?

- Weight gain throughout pregnancy is uneven: at the very beginning it is almost imperceptible, increases significantly towards the middle and may begin to decrease two weeks before delivery. In the first trimester, both weight gain and weight loss are considered normal. On average, during this period, the expectant mother is gaining from 1.5 to 2.5 kg. In the second trimester, the baby begins to grow actively and the numbers will be different: about 500 g per week for thin women, no more than 450 g for pregnant women with normal weight and no more than 300 g for full ones. In the third trimester, the weight of the expectant mother should not increase by more than 300 g per week.

— Why do pregnant women gain weight?

- Contrary to popular belief, weight gain is not only due to the mass of a growing baby and body fat - they make up about half of the total figure. For nine months, a woman's uterus increases, the volume of circulating blood and intercellular fluid increases, amniotic fluid and the placenta form.

— Why is excess weight dangerous?

- Rapid weight gain is typical for multiple pregnancies, underweight women and too young mothers whose bodies are still developing. Often it is the result of normal overeating and requires adjustment of the diet. Diets and fasting days (especially the so-called "hungry") during the period of bearing a child are strictly prohibited even if the pregnant woman is overweight. It is very important to ensure that the baby receives all the nutrients, vitamins and trace elements, so you just need to balance your diet accordingly.

Excess weight may occur due to fluid retention, which manifests itself in the form of edema. By the way, this is especially true for working pregnant women: sedentary work provokes stagnation of fluid in the lower extremities and pathological weight gain. In this case, wearing compression stockings, leg exercises and regular walking is recommended.

— Is slow weight gain dangerous, on the contrary?

- Some expectant mothers gain the first kilograms only after the 14th week - usually for petite women who do not have a genetic predisposition to be overweight or women suffering from toxicosis. In the first case, weight gains slowly throughout all nine months, which, if the pregnant woman feels normal, should not cause concern. If we talk about early toxicosis, then by the second trimester the malaise usually disappears, body weight returns to normal and weight gain goes on as usual.

Weight during pregnancy. What increase is considered optimal?

Why is excessive weight gain during pregnancy particularly harmful? What should be the calorie content of the diet? How to build your diet so that you can eat varied (and tasty), but at the same time not gain too much? Let's figure it out.

What makes up weight gain during pregnancy?

An increase in the subcutaneous fat layer during pregnancy is a normal and natural process.

While the baby is growing inside you, he needs energy and external protection. But during pregnancy, weight increases not only and not so much due to the adipose tissue of the mother: there is more fluid in the body, the uterus grows, the fetus and placenta develop, and the breasts increase in preparation for the feeding process.

Interestingly, weight loss during the period of toxicosis can later provoke its increase: the body will try to regain what was lost.

Expectant mothers especially actively gain weight in the second trimester and the beginning of the third, but closer to childbirth, a pregnant woman can even lose 1-2 kilograms.

As long as the weight increases more or less evenly and does not go beyond the upper limit of the norm, there is nothing to worry about. But if your weight is rapidly going up, you should be wary.

How to correctly calculate the weight, and what increase is considered optimal?

In Russian obstetric practice, it is generally accepted that the total gain should not exceed 12 kg. for the entire pregnancy. Of these 12 kg. 5-6 accounts for the fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid, another 1.5-2 - for an increase in the uterus and mammary glands, and only 3-3.5 - for the fat mass of a woman.

But this is a general indicator, a kind of "average temperature in the hospital." The optimal increase is calculated individually and depends on the initial weight of the pregnant woman, her age, the number of fetuses and the size of the child (children), physical activity.

WHO recommends that optimal weight gain be calculated based on Body Mass Index (BMI).

It is determined by the formula: body weight (kg) / height squared (m).

BMI	Recommended weight gain
19. 8-26 (normal body weight)	12.5-15 kg
26.1-29 (overweight)	11.5 - 14 kg
over 29 (obese)	7-9 kg

How to calculate the optimal weight gain?

To do this, use the following chart:

• Calculate your BMI: divide your initial weight in kg. for height in meters squared.

For example, your “pre-pregnancy” weight was 60 kg with a height of 170 cm.

BMI = 60: (170 x 170) = 20.76.

• A BMI less than 18.5 indicates underweight. Indicators from 18.5 to 25 are within the norm, from 25 to 30 are above the norm, and a figure greater than 30 indicates obesity.
• Now that you know your BMI, find the optimal weekly increase in the table and compare it with yours.
  

Week of pregnancy	Underweight before pregnancy (BMI less than 18. 5)	Normal pre-pregnancy weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9)	Overweight before pregnancy (BMI over 30)
4	0-0.9 kg	0-0.7 kg	0-0.5 kg
6	0-1.4 kg	0-1 kg	0-0.6 kg
8	0-1.6 kg	0-1.2 kg	0-0.7 kg
10	0-1.8 kg	0-1.3 kg	0-0.8 kg
12	0-2 kg	0-1.5 kg	0-1 kg
14	0.5-2.7 kg	0.5-2 kg	0.5-1.2 kg
16	up to 3.6 kg	up to 3 kg	up to 1.4 kg
18	up to 4.6 kg	up to 4 kg	up to 2.3 kg
20	up to 6 kg	up to 5.9 kg	up to 2.9 kg
22	up to 7.2 kg	up to 7 kg	up to 3. 4 kg
24	up to 8.6 kg	up to 8.5 kg	up to 3.9 kg
26	up to 10 kg	up to 10 kg	up to 5 kg
28	up to 13 kg	up to 11 kg	up to 5.4 kg
30	up to 14 kg	up to 12 kg	up to 5.9 kg
32	up to 15 kg	up to 13 kg	up to 6.4 kg
34	up to 16 kg	up to 14 kg	up to 7.3 kg
36	up to 17 kg	up to 15 kg	up to 7.9 kg
38	up to 18 kg	up to 16 kg	up to 8.6 kg
40	up to 18 kg	up to 16 kg	up to 9.1 kg

Recently, doctors are increasingly talking about an individual approach and urge not to panic if the increase is slightly beyond the normal range. When assessing the state of health of a pregnant woman, the doctor focuses not only on weight, but also takes into account the results of tests and examinations and other important indicators.

Why is excessive weight gain dangerous?

Gaining extra pounds can lead to gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, or cause a caesarean section.

In addition, excessive weight gain during pregnancy may increase the risk of obesity and associated cardiovascular disease.

What can I do to keep my weight within normal limits during pregnancy?

First of all, consult a nutritionist. If there is no such doctor in the antenatal clinic, it makes sense to contact a specialist on a commercial basis. He will develop an individual diet, which will contain all the useful elements, and will offer to keep a food diary. It will also tell you how to eat right and weigh yourself.
To prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy, it is enough to follow simple rules of a healthy diet:

• Eat often and in small portions;
• Always keep a “healthy snack” on hand: fresh apple wedges, unsweetened crackers, dried fruit, or sugar-free yogurt;
• Refuse soda, chips, sausages and sausages;
• Minimize sweets;
• Avoid fast food;
• Limit the use of condiments, especially salt, which retains water in the body;
• Choose steamed dishes;
• Eat more fiber-rich foods such as whole grain bread, bran, vegetables;

The diet of a pregnant woman should be varied. Include grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat and fish, legumes, or nuts.

It must be remembered that expectant mothers should never starve and adhere to extreme diets.

How many calories per day do you need during pregnancy?

It is difficult to calculate the energy value per day on your own, and then strictly adhere to a certain number of calories, and it is not necessary, unless it is recommended by a nutritionist or endocrinologist. On average, you can aim for 2000-2500 calories per day, but it is important to understand that the need for calories depends on many factors: age, initial weight, health status and level of physical activity.

When should I be on the alert?

Strictly speaking, it is better for a pregnant woman not to worry and entrust her condition to a doctor who will monitor the development of pregnancy, analyzes and monitor weight. It is important to take tests to determine the level of fasting blood glucose once a trimester.

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