Added: 04/13/2007 |
So What Is All This Talk About Pregnancy Weight About?Most women are concerned over gaining pregnancy weight. About how much should a woman gain during her pregnancy? Of course the first person you should ask is your doctor. It is important to always discuss concerns such as these with you doctor. You can research these things on your own if you choose. No matter what anyone tells you though, your doctor should be the one you turn to for definite answers.
There are many charts on the internet that discuss pregnancy weight, about how much you should gain and at what point in your pregnancy you should be gaining it. One of the main factors discussed in these articles, is first establishing what you weighed before your pregnancy. This will help you to establish your body mass index prior to pregnancy. Basically, this tells you where you rate in comparison to your ideal weight with regards to your height and build. This tells you if you are beginning you pregnancy at a healthy weight or if you may be over or underweight. These articles and charts try to explain pregnancy weight, about healthy levels of weight gain and where you should be. Once you’ve established your weight standing before pregnancy, you can use these charts to determine these things.
If you were overweight prior to pregnancy then you should try to gain less pregnancy weight, about fifteen to twenty pounds is considered healthy weight gain. In order to achieve this goal however, you must consider healthy means to do it. Never starve yourself. If you are depriving yourself of food you are doing the same to your unborn child as well. It’s more important to eat healthier. You need to eat, just remember, “eating for two” does not mean you need to eat twice as much. It means that the nutrients and vitamins you take in need to be enough for you and your child.
If you were considered at a healthy weight prior to pregnancy then you should increase your pregnancy weight about 25-35 pounds. You should gain two to five pounds in the first trimester. After that you should be gaining approximately, one pound per week. It is suggested, in one article, that you should add an additional 300 calories to your daily caloric intake. However, you need to do this in healthy ways. Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, increase your milk intake and find ways to add to your protein intake that does not including eating foods containing extra fat.
Those women who were considered underweight prior to pregnancy need to gain a bit more pregnancy weight. About 28-40 pounds is your ideal weight gain. Most underweight women are that way because they are afraid of being fat. This is not true for all underweight women but in many cases it is. Gaining weight is very important to your pregnancy. As your child gains weight so should you. If the thought of gaining pregnancy weight scares you, then there is one thing I can tell you that may help alleviate some of your fears. During the first six weeks after giving birth you will loose approximately half of that weight without any effort. Remember your body had to store more fluids as well as the child and that weight will go away, because those fluids are no longer essential to maintain your child’s health. Another thing to consider is that your breasts have gained weight as well.
It is ok to gain weight during pregnancy. It doesn’t make you fat; it makes your child healthy. If you feel you are not gaining weight the way you should you need to consult your doctor. Keeping a food diary can be very helpful as well. With this information your doctor will be better informed and can suggest healthier ways to maintain the weight you should gain. Remember to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. Whether you are concerned about weight or anything else that may pertain to the health of your unborn child don’t be afraid to ask your doctor. Try to listen carefully to what he or she might say and follow through with their suggestions.
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