What week do you start gaining weight in pregnancy
Pregnancy Weight Gain: How Much Should You Gain?
Putting on weight during pregnancy is not only normal but also healthy. However, when it comes to how much and when, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as everyone experiences pregnancy weight gain differently. Factors like your body type, your pre-pregnancy weight, whether you’re having multiples, and your general health status all play a role. Read on for more information about pregnancy weight gain and what’s healthy for you and your baby.
Where and Why Do Women Gain Weight During Pregnant?
Where do you tend to gain weight during pregnancy, you may wonder? Some but not all of your pregnancy weight gain consists of body fat around your tummy. But it is helpful to know that the average baby weighs around seven to eight pounds when born, which can be a significant portion of the average weight gain during pregnancy and contribute to your baby bump.
Besides your baby’s weight, other sources of pregnancy weight gain include:
Growing uterus (2 pounds)
Placenta (1.5 pounds)
Amniotic fluid (2 pounds)
Growing breasts (1 to 3 pounds)
Increased blood volume (3 to 4 pounds)
Increased fluid volume (2 to 3 pounds)
Extra stores of fat, protein, and other nutrients (6 to 8 pounds).
Of course, fat stores contribute to normal weight gain during pregnancy, and they play an important role. In your first trimester, you may notice some added fat in your lower abdomen, accumulating to protect and support your developing baby. After delivery, you’ll need those extra fat stores to fuel breast milk production. For the most part, however, you’ll gradually lose much of your pregnancy weight gain after your baby is born.
How Much Weight Should You Gain During Pregnancy?
Weight gain during pregnancy is ordinary, healthy, and necessary, but how much weight someone “should” gain is different for each person.
Your body and situation will help you set goals for pregnancy weight gain.
Healthcare providers use a measurement known as body mass index (BMI) to determine a healthy and appropriate weight gain range for each individual, keeping pre-pregnancy weight in mind. BMI is a ratio derived by calculating your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in meters), squared. Although not perfect for every individual body, it estimates a measurement of body fat in most cases.
The general rule is that those with a lower "starting" BMI will have a greater recommended pregnancy weight gain than those with a higher starting BMI. Regardless of your pre-pregnancy BMI, the goal is to gain weight gradually, week by week.
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Recommended Weight Gain During Pregnancy
To help promote a healthy, gradual pregnancy weight gain during each trimester, you and your healthcare provider may rely on the following guidelines:
First trimester. During your first 13 weeks of pregnancy, a healthy weight gain generally ranges from no gain at all to about five pounds. It’s also possible to lose weight during these first few months, especially if you’re dealing with morning sickness. You don’t necessarily need to include any extra calories in your diet during your first trimester.
Second and third trimesters. Not all women need to add extra calories, but your provider may recommend including about 340 extra calories a day during your second trimester, and about 450 extra calories a day in your third trimester.
With your baby growing steadily, it’s possible to gain between one-half and one pound each week if you started your pregnancy at a healthy weight.
The guidelines may vary depending on your BMI and other factors, such as if you’re expecting twins or multiples. It’s always best to talk to your healthcare provider before adjusting your diet during pregnancy.
Important Reminders for Healthy Pregnancy Weight Gain
A few additional points to keep in mind concerning pregnancy weight gain and calorie increases or decreases:
Listen to your body. There’s no need to force yourself to exceed your calorie intake if you’re not hungry. Instead, listen to your body, follow a healthy pregnancy nutrition plan, and discuss your calorie needs with your healthcare provider if you’re still unsure.
Don’t actively try to lose weight. Dieting while pregnant isn’t generally healthy, but still, be mindful of the foods you consume. Try to include lots of nutritious, healthy food rather than falling victim to the “eating for two” mentality that may lead to unhealthy food choices.
Talk to your healthcare provider. If you’re overweight or underweight, your healthcare provider can offer advice on proper nutrition and other ways to keep you and your baby healthy throughout your pregnancy. Your provider will consider your unique body and situation before advising how much weight you should gain during pregnancy.
Pregnancy Weight Gain Chart
To help you visualize the general recommendations above, we’ve created a pregnancy weight gain chart for singletons and twins by week. Talk to your healthcare provider about using the chart to help guide and manage your pregnancy weight gain.
Your healthcare provider will check your weight at your first prenatal care visit. You’ll also discuss your BMI and what it means for your individual pregnancy. At each visit after that, you’ll track your pregnancy weight gain together, and you can use the above chart as a general guideline.
You can also use the graph below to track your pregnancy weight gain:
Most likely, you’ll gain weight gradually, but your provider will help you along if you gain too little or too much, which could cause issues for you and/or your newborn as follows:
Women who gain too little weight during pregnancy tend to deliver smaller babies, who might suffer from specific health problems. If you fall into this category, your healthcare provider may suggest adding extra, healthy calories to your diet.
Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy risk developing health issues, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypertension. If you’re overweight, your provider may suggest adjusting your diet and adding light exercise to your routine.
Actively gaining or losing weight while pregnant may not be necessary, even if you start your pregnancy underweight or overweight. It’s best to consult your healthcare provider, who can offer ways to adjust your diet and daily routine.
Pregnancy Weight Gain: Week by Week
Gradual weight gain during pregnancy is ideal, and you can track your weight by weeks within individual trimesters. By doing this, you can get a general idea of how much weight you’re gaining. This article provides guidelines for weight gain within an average pregnancy (with a single baby starting at a normal BMI). If you’re having multiples or start with a lower or higher pre-pregnancy BMI, discuss your ideal weight gain with your healthcare provider and use this guide for general knowledge.
Pregnancy Weight Gain: First Trimester
Your first trimester typically includes weeks 1 to 13. Remember that during these early weeks of pregnancy, you probably won’t see steady weight gain. So, how much weight should you gain in the first trimester? Everyone is different, but the average weight gain for a normal pregnancy could be up to five pounds during the first three months—although it’s also possible to lose weight during this initial period.
Weeks 1 to 4. During your first month of pregnancy, it’s possible not even to know that you’re pregnant! You might not feel any symptoms or notice any weight gain. This has to do with the way many healthcare providers track your pregnancy, using the Last Menstrual Period (LMP) method.
If your pregnancy starts at the beginning of your last menstrual period, then you wouldn’t have ovulated (and, therefore, conceived) until after 14 days (assuming you have a 28-day cycle).
Because you wouldn’t be technically pregnant until week 3, it’s rare to gain any weight during your first month of pregnancy.
Weeks 5 to 8. Although your body will be going through quite a bit of change during these weeks, you still might not gain much weight. In fact, if you’re experiencing morning sickness, it’s possible to lose weight during this time.
Hormonal changes might cause digestive issues, prompting nausea, vomiting, or specific food aversions.
However, these same hormones might cause your breasts to get bigger as milk-producing glands enlarge, which could contribute to some minor weight gain.
Weeks 9 to 13. If you do gain any weight in your first trimester, it’s likely to occur during these weeks as your morning sickness, and other digestive issues, may start to subside.
Your breasts continue to get bigger due to growing milk-producing glands, so they may feel fuller or heavier.
It’s possible to have gained up to five pounds, thanks to your growing breasts, placenta, and uterus, plus an increased volume of amniotic fluid and blood.
Pregnancy Weight Gain: Second Trimester
When do you truly start gaining weight in your pregnancy? Your second trimester, which typically includes weeks 14 to 27, is when you might begin to see that gradual weight gain. During your second trimester, you could be adding half a pound and then a pound of weight a week.
As mentioned above, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should start increasing your daily calorie intake.
Weeks 14 to 17. You may start to gain half a pound a week, up to two or three pounds in total. It’s not unusual to see more weight gain one week compared to another.
Weeks 18 to 22. During these weeks, it’s possible to see up to one pound of pregnancy weight gain per week (or up to four pounds in total). In particular, you might notice your breasts have grown one or two cup sizes. By the end of week 20 of your pregnancy, you might see up to 10 extra pounds on the scale, or more!
Weeks 23 to 27. Your baby’s development is starting to impact your weight gain, as your little one will probably hit the one-pound mark by 24 weeks! Though you may gain about four pounds in total during this period, what you put on each week may vary. You may continue to add about one pound on average.
Pregnancy Weight Gain: Third Trimester
The third trimester typically consists of weeks 28 to 40 and beyond.
At this point in your pregnancy, your weight gain may start to look fairly consistent at about one pound per week. So, how much weight do you gain in the third trimester? It’s possible to gain an extra 12 pounds or so, but keep in mind that healthy weight gain is different for each person.
Weeks 28 to 31. As you settle into your third trimester, you might start to gain weight more consistently—at a rate of about one pound each week.
This weight probably won’t include fat, though. Instead, weight gain in these weeks of pregnancy is usually from your developing baby, growing placenta, and increased fluids (amniotic and body tissue fluids).
Weight gain could also cause aches and pain or other sensations, like tingling, numbness, or swelling in your joints, wrists, and hands. These symptoms typically subside once you deliver your baby and lose your pregnancy weight.
Weeks 32 to 35. You’re in the home stretch of your pregnancy, and you may gain about a pound a week.
You don’t want to gain too much during these final weeks, especially if you had a higher pre-pregnancy BMI. Continue to work with your healthcare provider and keep an eye on your weight.Weeks 36 to 40. During your final weeks of pregnancy, your baby is nearly fully developed. This means that you might not notice as much weight gain or even gain any at all. In fact, you may even lose a pound or two during this time!
To help you visualize your pregnancy weight gain week by week, we’ve included a general breakdown of trimester weeks in the chart below. Of course, any weight gain during pregnancy is related to your pre-pregnancy BMI and individual situation. For example, if you’re experiencing a twin pregnancy, you can expect to gain more weight. The chart below provides estimates for women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI and expecting one baby.
Pregnancy Weight Gain Tracker
To make sure you’re gaining an appropriate amount of weight, as advised by your healthcare provider, it may help to use a tracker.
You can start with our Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator to find the ideal weight gain range for your unique pregnancy. Then, after talking to your provider, track your pregnancy weight gain week by week. This will help you understand if you’re on the right path, gaining too much or gaining too little.
Download our pregnancy weight gain tracker to help you along the way!
To know what to anticipate as your pregnancy progresses, including body changes and baby development, check out our pregnancy calendar.
How to Maintain a Healthy Weight During Pregnancy
It’s not easy to depict appropriate pregnancy weight gain in a chart or graph because everyone is different. Your pre-pregnancy BMI will impact how much weight you are advised to gain, as will other factors. Here are some general tips for maintaining a healthy weight while gaining those necessary and inevitable pounds during pregnancy.
Enjoy a healthy, varied diet.
Maintaining a balanced diet during pregnancy is important to your health and the health of your baby. Include healthy carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in your daily diet, focusing on foods that offer a range of vitamins and minerals. Essential nutrients for your pregnancy include vitamins A, B, C, and D, plus calcium and iron, and, of course, folic acid. Plan meals. When you're dealing with cravings, aches and pains, or morning sickness, it can be extra challenging to prepare healthy choices on the spot. Instead, spend some time planning and preparing meals and snacks ahead of time. Ask your partner, family, or friends to help!
Add calories little by little. If extra calories are needed, you can support gradual weight gain by increasing your calories slowly. If you’re having a single baby and start your pregnancy with a normal BMI, you may add about 340 daily calories during your second trimester. Then, add about 450 a day during your third trimester.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you have any questions, are having multiples, or started with a low or high BMI. Get moving and stay active. Exercise may be the last thing you want to do while pregnant, but it can help you maintain an appropriate weight and support gradual weight gain. Plus, exercise can help ease aches and pain, prepare your body for labor, and increase energy and mood! As a bonus, exercising now might make losing weight postpartum a little bit easier.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you notice any rapid weight gain early in your pregnancy or want to know how to slow down unhealthy pregnancy weight gain. Every individual body and pregnancy is unique, so your best source of support is your provider, who can help you navigate your individual experience.
The Bottom Line
Although gaining weight during pregnancy is normal, healthy, and expected, it’s not the easiest thing—emotionally or physically—to navigate.
We hope you'll find it more manageable with the help of this guide and our pregnancy weight gain chart and tracker. A few key takeaways include the following:
Everyone is different. Most pregnancy weight gain guides, charts, and trackers are general because every pregnancy is different. Our resources function as a foundation and guide but talk with your healthcare provider to understand your personal pregnancy weight goals.
Weight gain should be gradual. Above all else, your pregnancy weight gain should be gradual and somewhat consistent. If it’s not, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider. This means you can focus less on how much you might be gaining at one time and more on your pregnancy as a whole.
Consider your BMI. Although BMI isn’t the best indicator of overall health, it’s helpful when determining your ideal pregnancy weight gain. If you have a lower pre-pregnancy BMI, your healthcare provider may advise you to gain more weight throughout your pregnancy, whereas if yours is higher, you may need to gain less.
Enjoy a varied diet and light exercise. Help maintain a healthy pregnancy weight with a balanced diet and light exercise.
Speak with your healthcare provider. Pregnancy is a long journey, and your healthcare provider is your best source of support, advice, and guidance for your unique situation.
And remember, once your little one is born, you’ll start to lose that baby weight and enjoy time with your sweet newborn! All those cuddles, baby sounds, and diaper changes will quickly distract you. Download the Pampers Club app as you prepare to stock your nursery, earning rewards after purchasing all those newborn baby essentials.
How much weight should I gain while pregnant?
Weight gain is essential for a healthy pregnancy
Learning to eat well and manage your weight gain are key components to a healthy pregnancy. Weight gain helps your baby to grow and develop properly, and allows your body to make physical changes to support pregnancy, such as growth of your uterus, development of the placenta and an increase in blood volume.
But how much weight is the right amount to gain? When determining a weight-gain range, some important things to consider are: your pre-pregnancy weight for height, commonly referred to as your Body Mass Index (BMI), your medical history, and whether you're carrying one baby, twins or multiples.
How much weight should I gain?
There is no set amount of weight gain that is right for everyone. Yet over time, some general guidelines have been accepted. For women carrying one baby, the first trimester is typically considered a time of minimal weight gain, regardless of your pre-pregnancy BMI. As you near the end of your first trimester, and begin the second, weight gain is expected to increase. Some providers like to see women with a "healthy" BMI prior to pregnancy, gain 10 pounds by 20 weeks. During the second and third trimester, guidelines often suggest gaining 1/2 to 1 pound per week. Whatever weight-gain range is determined to be right for you, try to gain the weight gradually.
Below are some generally accepted total weight-gain guidelines based on pre-pregnancy BMI.
BMI below 19 prior to pregnancy
Of all categories, underweight women are at highest risk for delivering low birth-weight babies. If you were underweight before becoming pregnant, it's especially important to gain an adequate amount of weight during your pregnancy - 28 to 40 pounds is often recommended.
BMI of 19 to 25 prior to pregnancy
Your pregnancy is off to a healthy start if you're in the "recommended" BMI category. It's typically advised that you gain 25 to 35 pounds over the course of your pregnancy.
BMI of 25 to 30 prior to pregnancy
If you start your pregnancy in this BMI group, your weight gain range is slightly less, however, it's still important to gain weight to support a healthy pregnancy and provide your baby with adequate nourishment – 15 to 25 pounds is often recommended.
BMI above 30 prior to pregnancy
If your BMI is above 30 before you become pregnant, strive for a modest weight gain of 15 pounds – and remember that pregnancy is not a time to lose weight!
Pregnant with twins or multiples
Women who are pregnant with more than one baby typically need to gain additional weight to provide adequate nourishment for the babies.
It's best to discuss your weight-gain range with your provider.
My baby only weighs 7 pounds – what makes up the rest?
Rest assured – it is not all fat. Most of the weight will go away gradually after delivery. Here's what you're carrying and approximately how it adds up:
- Amniotic fluid and placenta: 4 pounds
- Increase in blood and other fluids: 8 pounds
- Fat reserves: 7 pounds
- Enlarged uterus and breasts: 4 to 6 pounds
How do the calories add up?
You may have heard the saying, "you're eating for two." Although it is true that the food you eat is nourishing two, your calorie needs only increase by about 300 per day after the first trimester. So if your goal is a healthy weight gain, keep in mind that your calorie needs don't increase that much. Here are three examples of healthy food choices that add up to 300 calories:
- Whole-wheat English muffin with two tablespoons peanut butter
- One cup of yogurt with one cup fresh fruit
- Bowl of high-fiber cereal with reduced-fat or skim milk
How will I lose the weight after delivery?
When you combine healthy eating with regular activity during your pregnancy, you'll feel better and shed those extra pounds easier once your baby is born.
Gaining the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy can actually help you lose it more quickly afterward. If you're gaining at a faster rate, consult with your health care provider. Try these tips to increase activity and eat healthy during your pregnancy:
- Park further away from buildings; use the stairs instead of elevators.
- Avoid sitting for long periods of time – take short walk breaks.
- Snack on yogurt, string cheese, fresh fruit, or whole-grains (like popcorn and high-fiber cereal) instead of chips, candy and high-fat desserts.
- Eat regular meals and snacks.
In addition, women who choose to breastfeed may find it a bit easier to lose weight because of the extra calories (about 500 per day) it takes for their body to produce milk. However, the best approach to losing weight is always through healthy low-fat eating and regular moderate exercise.
Visit our pregnancy page to schedule an appointment and learn more about our services.
Weight during pregnancy
Weight control during pregnancy is extremely important. Indeed, by the way the expectant mother gains kilograms, one can judge the rate of fetal growth, the formation of the placenta, the quality of its work, and how the woman's body copes with the load. Both excess and lack of body weight during pregnancy is a signal of trouble. Why? And at what pace should I gain weight while waiting for the baby?
Weight gain norms for expectant mother
It is believed that during pregnancy a woman can normally gain about 12 kg. This is an average. “The specific figure for each expectant mother depends on her weight before pregnancy, more precisely on her body mass index (BMI),” says Natalya Radlevich , an obstetrician-gynecologist at the Miracle Doctor multidisciplinary center.
*If BMI before pregnancy was less than 18.
5 (low body weight), then 12.5-18 kg can be added in 9 months without any negative consequences.
*BMI over 19up to 25 (normal values) - 10-15 kg.
*BMI over 26 indicates overweight, over 29 indicates obesity. It is clear that in this case it is undesirable to recover strongly: your norm is 7-11 kg.
The rate of weight gain
No less important than the total number of kilograms that a woman gains over the entire nine months.
*In the first 13 weeks of pregnancy 1-3 kg can be added , and in case of severe toxicosis, no weight gain at all.
* By week 20 body weight should ideally increase by 4 kg .
* After 20 weeks normal weight should be increased gradually: approximately half a kilo every 7 days .
*A woman usually gains about 1 kg in 9 months.
“At the same time, it is important to take into account that life makes many adjustments to this scheme: for example, during the week a woman’s weight may not grow at all, and the next week it may double,” adds Tatyana Boyko , general practitioner of the Center for Immunology and Reproduction. - Some jumps in weight gain may be a variant of the norm. Do not panic because of them prematurely, consult your doctor. However, they should not be left completely unattended.
How to add within the norm
Forget about the fact that during pregnancy you can eat for two. The energy requirement of the expectant mother increases by only 300 kcal per day. And, of course, you need to get them with healthy products - cottage cheese, kefir, fish, vegetables, fruits, and not a piece of cake. In the first half of pregnancy, the total energy value of the diet should be an average of 2500 kcal. It is recommended to include 110 g of proteins, 80 g of fats, 350-400 g of carbohydrates.
In the second half of pregnancy - 2800 kcal: the amount of proteins increases to 125 g, fat - up to 70-90 g, carbohydrates - up to 400-420 g.
“In order not to go beyond the norm, I would advise pregnant women to control the amount of portions,” adds Natalya Radlevich. - For cereals, cereals, cottage cheese and side dishes - no more than 4 tablespoons. For liquids (soups, juices, kefir, etc.) - about 250 ml (glass). Vegetables and fruits - 150 g at a time. And be sure to limit your intake of salt and spicy foods. Such food leads to fluid retention in the body, which causes edema and polyhydramnios.
Excessive weight gain
Carrying extra pounds with every month of pregnancy will be more and more difficult. “Such a load can lead to diseases of the cardiovascular system and spine,” says Tatyana Boyko. - In addition, against the background of high body weight, hormonal disorders often form, which negatively affect the development of the baby.
In the first trimester, busting with weight rarely happens. Most often, expectant mothers experience excess weight gain in the second and third trimesters. There are several reasons for this.
*Large fetus or multiple pregnancy. In this case, the weight of the expectant mother grows at the expense of the baby. Alas, it is impossible to influence this process, the doctor simply must take it into account in the further management of pregnancy and childbirth. Such pregnant women cannot limit themselves in nutrition.
*Polyhydramnios. It can be caused by multiple pregnancies or pathologies such as diabetes mellitus or Rhesus incompatibility. Polyhydramnios is well defined by palpation and ultrasound. If the diagnosis is confirmed, it is necessary to find out the cause and start appropriate therapy.
*Edema. Usually associated with late toxicosis (preeclampsia), against which protein appears in the urine, blood pressure rises.
The doctor must find out the cause of preeclampsia (thrombophilia, kidney dysfunction, etc.) and eliminate it. In addition, the cause of edema can be the use of a large amount of liquid, salty foods: this causes fluid retention in the body. In this case, a high-protein diet and correction of the drinking regimen will help to solve the problem - the liquid in the diet of a pregnant woman should be no more than 1.5 liters per day.
*Nutritional factor. Excessive or unbalanced (high-calorie) diet is the most common cause of excess weight gain. In this case, the body does not gain water, but fat. If a woman enters a pregnancy with overweight and it continues to grow rapidly, simply correcting the diet is not enough. It is necessary to consult an endocrinologist and a therapist in order to exclude chronic diseases and metabolic disorders.
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How to adjust your weight
*After consulting with your doctor, you can reduce your calorie intake by 200-300 kcal a couple of times a week.
Just reduce portions without giving up the whole meal.
*Try to eat at the same time. The diet disciplines your body: it will be ready for each next meal, which means it will absorb it better.
*Eat 5-6 small meals a day (average 200 g). The interval between meals should be 3-4 hours.
*Distribute food properly throughout the day. Breakfast should account for 30% of the calorie content of the diet, lunch - 40%, second breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner - 10% each.
Insufficient weight gain
It is said if a woman with a normal or thin physique has gained less than 7 kg during the entire period of pregnancy. Doctors are also alarmed by the fact that the weight is worth it: the expectant mother does not add a single gram for three weeks in the first half of pregnancy. And within two weeks - in the second. It is also bad if the weight decreases: sharply or by more than 4 kg in the first trimester. Doctors consider any of these situations more alarming than the one when the expectant mother is seriously recovering.
After all, because of her, one way or another, the baby suffers. What are the risks?
*Defective development of the fetus. From a mild degree of intrauterine malnutrition to developmental anomalies.
*Risk of having a small baby (less than 2.5 kg). Such children are often weak, have neurological problems, and are prone to infectious diseases.
*Early abortion. If a woman's weight loss is due to the fact that a woman is malnourished, her synthesis of hormones necessary to maintain pregnancy is lost.
Rapid weight loss is especially dangerous for the unborn baby. In this case, the concentration of ketones, close relatives of acetone, increases in the blood of a pregnant woman. This toxic substance through the placental bloodstream penetrates to the fetus and can cause malformations of its development.
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Causes of insufficient weight gain
In any period
*Undernutrition, unbalanced, irrational nutrition.
The reason for this can be either social factors, or when a woman deliberately cuts her diet, fearing that during pregnancy she can get very fat.
*Chronic diseases of the future mother: endocrine disorders, such as thyrotoxicosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, oncological diseases.
First trimester
*Toxicosis. As soon as the problem is solved, the woman begins to put on weight.
Second and third trimester
They talk about it if the amount of amniotic fluid does not exceed 500 ml. Bacterial infections, insufficient development of the epithelium lining the amniotic membrane, or a decrease in its secretory function, severe forms of preeclampsia lead to oligohydramnios. Therapy of oligohydramnios is the treatment of the underlying disease, against which it developed. *Low fruit weight. This may be an individual feature of a woman if she has already had small children.
Another reason is fetal growth retardation syndrome. It is formed due to hypoxia (oxygen starvation) of the baby, infections, genetic forms of thrombophilia, pathologies of the thyroid gland of a pregnant woman, etc.
How to adjust your weight
Don't torment yourself if you notice that you've lost a little weight: worry will only make the process worse. Talk to your doctor and get started.
*Weigh yourself at least once a week and record your weight in a diary. In it, write down the features of your daily diet. Recordings like this will help you adjust your diet.
*Do not neglect control tests and ultrasound. They can point to the cause that led to the weight loss.
* Solve the problem of toxicosis. Even if you are very sick, you cannot or do not want to eat, try to eat at least in a minimal amount. “Eat when you feel the best,” advises Tatyana Boyko. - Half an hour before a meal and for an hour and a half after it, do not drink any liquid, not even water.
Give preference to well-mashed and cooked food (light soups, purees, smoothies). This will help your stomach digest it faster. Eat a little." If you can’t eat at all or everything you eat immediately returns, toxicosis should be treated in a hospital.
Seek immediate medical attention in case of severe vomiting and fluid loss. If you vomit more than 4 times a day, then most likely you need hospitalization.
*If weight loss is accompanied by anemia, take additional iron supplements - appropriate prescribed by your doctor.
*Track calories, protein, fat and carbohydrates (see above).
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 grows 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 increase 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 of 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 seasonings, 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 control 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.
