A typical pregnant woman should gain between 25 and 35 pounds (11.5 and 16 kg) in weight. In the first trimester (around 2 to 4 pounds, or 1 to 2 kilograms) of pregnancy, most women gain about 1 pound (0.5 kilograms) every week. Depending on your circumstances, you may gain weight.
• Women who are overweight should eat less (15 to 25 pounds or 7 to 11 kilograms or less, depending on their pre-pregnancy weight).
• Women who are underweight will have to put on much more weight to become healthy (28 to 40 pounds or 13 to 18 kilograms).
• It is recommended that you gain weight if you are expecting more than one child. Women who are expecting twins can expect to gain anything from 37 to 54 pounds (16.5 to 24.5 kilograms).
What’s Causing the Weight Gain?
Pregnancy-related weight gain accounts for the majority of the extra pounds you put on throughout your pregnancy. There are 35 pounds (16 kilogrammes) in 35 pounds (16 kilogrammes).
• Baby: 8 pounds (3.5 kilograms)
• Placenta: 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.5 kilograms)
• Amniotic fluid: 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.5 kilograms)
• Breast tissue: 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.5 kilograms)
• Blood supply: 4 pounds (2 kilograms)
• Fat stores: 5 to 9 pounds (2.5 to 4 kilograms)
• Uterus growth: 2 to 5 pounds (1 to 2.5 kilograms)
You may find it difficult to keep to the rules for pregnancy weight gain when your cravings for carbs are out of control and you’re constantly being urged to eat for two. Pregnant women may prevent gaining too much weight by following a few easy rules: You may assist yourself by making good food choices, staying hydrated, exercising, and seeking the advice of a healthcare professional if you need it.
• Try to maintain a healthy weight before becoming pregnant.
• Consume a variety of healthy foods and drink enough of fluids.
• Drink to your heart’s content (water, that is)
• Make good use of your desires
• Rather of relying on simple carbohydrates, go for those that are
• Begin a daily stroll to get your blood flowing.
• Don’t stop if you’re already going.
• Discuss weight on a regular basis.
• If you can, breastfeed.
What if You Gain Too Much Weight During Pregnancy?
If you have gained more weight than your doctor recommended, talk to your doctor about it. In most cases, you’ll want to wait until after delivery to lose weight.
Here are some tips to slow your weight gain:
• When eating fast food, choose lower-fat items such as broiled chicken breast sandwich with tomato and lettuce (no sauce or mayonnaise), side salad with low-fat dressing, plain bagels, or a plain baked potato. Avoid foods such as French fries, mozzarella sticks, or breaded chicken patties.
• Avoid whole milk products. You need at least four servings of milk products every day. However, using skim, 1%, or 2% milk will greatly reduce the amount of calories and fat you eat. Also, choose low-fat or fat-free cheese or yogurt.
• Limit sweet or sugary drinks. Sweetened drinks such as soft drinks, fruit punch, fruit drinks, iced tea, lemonade, or powdered drink mixes have lots of empty calories. Choose water, club soda, or mineral water to skip extra calories.
• Don’t add salt to foods when cooking. Salt causes you to retain water.
• Limit sweets and high-calorie snacks. Cookies, candies, donuts, cakes, syrup, honey, and potato chips have a lot of calories and little nutrition. Try not to eat these foods every day. Instead, try fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt, angel food cake with strawberries, or pretzels as lower-calorie snack and dessert choices.
• Use fats in moderation. Fats include cooking oils, margarine, butter, gravy, sauces, mayonnaise, regular salad dressings, sauces, lard, sour cream, and cream cheese. Try lower-fat alternatives.
• Cook food the healthy way. Frying foods in oil or butter will add calories and fat. Baking, broiling, grilling, and boiling are healthier preparation methods.
• Exercise. Moderate exercise can help burn excess calories. Walking or swimming is usually safe for pregnant women. Ask your health care provider what exercise would be right for you before getting started.
When you’re overweight
Being overweight before pregnancy increases the risk of various pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure disorders of pregnancy — including preeclampsia — the need for a C-section and premature birth.
Although a certain amount of pregnancy weight gain is recommended for people who are overweight or obese before pregnancy, some research suggests that people who are obese can safely gain less weight than the guidelines recommend. More research is needed.
Work with your health care provider to determine how much weight you should gain during pregnancy. Your health care provider can offer guidance on nutrition and physical activity and strategies to manage your weight throughout pregnancy.
When you’re underweight
If you’re underweight before pregnancy, it’s essential to gain a reasonable amount of weight while you’re pregnant. Without the extra weight, your baby might be born early (premature birth) or smaller than expected.
When you gain too much
Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can increase your baby’s risk of health problems, such as being born significantly larger than average, and complications at birth, such as the baby’s shoulder becoming stuck after the head is delivered (shoulder dystocia). Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can also increase your risk of postpartum weight retention.
Putting on the pounds
In the first trimester, most people don’t need to gain much weight. This is good news if you’re struggling with morning sickness.
If you start out at a healthy weight, you need to gain only about 1 to 4 pounds (0.5 to 1.8 kilograms) in the first few months of pregnancy. You can do this by eating a healthy diet — no extra calories are necessary.
Steady weight gain is more important in the second and third trimesters — especially if you start out at a healthy weight or you’re underweight. According to the guidelines, you’ll gain about 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) a week until delivery. An extra 300 calories a day — half a sandwich and a glass of skim milk — might be enough to help you meet this goal. For people who are overweight or obese, the guidelines translate to a weight gain of about 1/2 pound (0.2 kilogram) a week in the second and third trimesters. Try adding a glass of low-fat milk or an ounce of cheese and a serving of fresh fruit to your diet.
Working with your health care provider
Your health care provider will keep a close eye on your weight. You can do your part by eating a healthy diet. Also, for most pregnant women, getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or swimming, is recommended on most days. However, talk to your health care provider before starting an exercise program. And be sure to keep your prenatal appointments. To keep your pregnancy weight gain on target, your health care provider might offer suggestions for boosting calories or scaling back as needed.
People also search
Is it OK to not gain weight during pregnancy?
Pregnant women shouldn’t put on any weight during the first three months of their pregnancy. You could even see some weight loss. If you make up for it later in the pregnancy, that’s typically fine. By the second trimester, though, you should begin to see a noticeable increase in your pregnancy weight.
What is the normal weight of a pregnant woman in kg?
How much weight does a woman typically acquire when pregnant? Pregnant women typically gain between 10 and 12.5 kilogrammes (22 and 28 pounds). Depending on your pre-pregnancy weight, your ability to maintain a healthy pregnancy weight increase may be affected.
What is a healthy weight at 5 months pregnant?
Women who are underweight should gain between 28 and 40 pounds. Overweight women, on the other hand, may only need to gain 15 to 25 pounds during pregnancy. During your first three months of pregnancy, you should gain 2 to 4 pounds on average, and then 1 pound every week for the remainder of your pregnancy.
