Pregnancy Weight Gain

Weight gain is something every woman should expect when she becomes pregnant. However, it is essential that a woman gains only the right amount of weight to ensure that the baby will grow as healthy as possible. Too much pregnancy weight gain can hamper the development of the growing baby. On the other hand, too little weight gain may mean the child in the womb is not getting all the nutrients that he needs to grow.

This Pregnancy weight gain calculator will help you monitor your weight during pregnancy and keep it within healthy limits

In order to make sure the baby gets all the nutrition he needs, a pregnant woman should ideally increase her daily calorie intake by 100 to 300. Due to variations in physical conditions and medical histories, pregnant women may have different calorie requirements so it is best if you discuss the matter with your obstetrician before you plan your pregnancy diet.

When a woman of healthy weight becomes pregnant, she should gain anywhere from 25 to 35 pounds in the course of her pregnancy. For expectant mothers who are normally underweight, their pregnancy weight gain should be between 29 and 40 pounds. There are several other factors that can determine the amount of weight that a woman should gain while pregnant. Thus, you need to consult with your obstetrician regarding how much weight you should gain as you progress in your pregnancy.

There are usually not much visible signs of weight gain during the first three months of pregnancy. The expected weight gain during this period is only 2 to 4 pounds. Starting from the 13th week, however, a pregnant woman should gain approximately one pound each week until she gives birth. These pregnancy weight gain requirements only pertain to single births. If you're expecting twins or triplets (or more!), your weight gain should be a little bit higher.

The weight that a woman gains during pregnancy comes from many different sources: the baby (8 lbs.), the placenta (2 to 3 lbs.), amniotic fluid (2 to 3 lbs.), mammary glands (2 to 3 lbs.), blood supply (4 lbs.), fat deposits throughout the body (5 to 9 lbs.), and enlarged uterus (2 to 5 lbs.) These different areas of weight gain account for 25 to 35 pounds that any healthy woman is expected to gain during the nine months of pregnancy.

If you notice that you are losing weight instead of gaining weight, this is a serious reason for alarm and you should consult with your doctor right away in order to remedy the situation. And while you are pregnant, the last thing you need to be concerned about is your figure. Don't try to fight the weight gain as doing so will have an impact on your baby's health. While you are pregnant isn't the time for you to go on a slimming diet or even restricting your food intake.

Keep in mind that when you are pregnant, you are taking care of not only your own body but that of your unborn child as well. You should therefore do all that you can in order to ensure that you get all the nutrients necessary for a healthy pregnancy. See your obstetrician regularly throughout your pregnancy to ensure that you are having a healthy pregnancy weight gain.

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