Weight gain during pregnancy: norms and how to keep weight under control

Pregnancy is different for every woman. Someone easily endures all nine months and practically does not change their lifestyle, while someone suffers from toxicosis, edema and back pain. An indicator such as weight gain can also be called individual. Still, there are some norms here.

Weight gain during pregnancy by week

According to long-term observations, a schedule was determined by which it is estimated how the weight gain of a pregnant woman is going on. Of course, these numbers depend on many parameters and are just an average. Weight gain is calculated individually for each woman.

To begin with, the doctor assesses the so-called body mass index of the pregnant woman. It is easy to calculate it yourself. It is only necessary to divide the body weight, taken in kilograms, by the square of the height, determined in meters.

For example, take a woman with a height of 1.6 m and a weight of 55 kg, then the BMI will be 55 / 2.56 = 21.5.

Now let's analyze the result. According to the rules, body weight is normal if the BMI is within the range from 19.8 to 26. Anything below this limit is underweight, what is higher is overweight.

Usually, a woman does not get better in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that at this time the body gets used to pregnancy, a woman may experience toxicosis. In the first months, a woman usually gains no more than two kilograms.

In the middle of pregnancy, more intense weight gain begins. Normally, the increase in these weeks should be about 300 grams. An eight kilogram weight gain by the end of the second trimester is considered normal. In total, during pregnancy, a woman should add about 10 or 12 kilograms.

From the very beginning of pregnancy, it is necessary to constantly keep weight gains under control. It is best to have a special notebook and record weight changes in it.

Greater weight gain during pregnancy

Weight gain is assessed based on the BMI of the pregnant woman:

• With a low BMI less than 19.8, an increase of 13-16 kilograms per pregnancy will normally be.
• For a normal BMI from 19.8 to 26, it is permissible to gain up to 13 kilograms.
• With a high BMI over 26, it is allowed to gain only 10 extra pounds.

Overloading in kilograms may not have the most pleasant consequences for the health of the mother and baby. It has already been proven that women who have gained too much weight during pregnancy suffer from numerous health problems during pregnancy and find it difficult to regain their previous figure after childbirth. With a large body weight, the risk of having a baby prematurely increases significantly, it may even happen miscarriage.

Very often, in such cases, doctors do not want to risk and resort to childbirth using caesarean section... Excess weight affects the increased load on the legs and varicose veins. During labor, there can be a variety of infections and severe blood loss.

It is also important for the baby how much the expectant mother is gaining kilograms. Excess weight can cause a variety of endocrine disorders in a child, allergies and neuralgic diseases.

Low weight during pregnancy

Very often, pregnant girls try to limit themselves in food in order to quickly bring their body into the norm... In this regard, they do not gain enough weight. It is very harmful to do so. You can provoke a miscarriage by constant fasting. A baby's low birth weight often causes psychological problems, not to mention physical illnesses.

With a small weight gain, the child's body does not receive enough nutrition, the vitamins and minerals it needs. This can negatively affect the formation of the child's organs.

How to control weight

Long gone are the days when it was considered the norm for a pregnant woman to "eat for two." Now it is necessary to approach the issue of nutrition wisely. The most important principle for weight management during pregnancy is a competent approach. You shouldn't put on too much weight, but you shouldn't diet either.

Try to adhere to the recommendations that we have outlined above. Remember, your weight should increase smoothly. This will make you feel good during pregnancy. You will be able to get back to normal faster after giving birth. A smooth change in weight indicates that the child is developing well and provided with everything he needs.

If suddenly the weight has increased or decreased sharply, then there is a reason to consult a doctor. Most likely, some kind of disturbance has occurred in the body.