Pregnancy health: weight gain during pregnancy

Weight gain during pregnancy is essential to the delivery of a healthy baby.

Now that you are pregnant you may have several questions about weight gain. How much weight should I gain? Where does the weight go? Is it safe to diet or lose weight while pregnant? Proper weight gain during pregnancy is very important for both the mother and the baby. The health of the baby is dependent on the health of the mother. Good eating habits along with proper nutrition and weight gain can help to ensure the delivery of a healthy baby.

How much weight should I gain?

Depending on the woman’s pre-pregnancy weight, the mother may gain up to thirty-five pounds. It is best to keep an eye on weight gain during pregnancy. However, it is never a good idea to stress over weight gain or try to lose weight while pregnant. The baby will need every pound gained to develop both mentally and physically while in the womb.

While there is the recommended weight gain for women during pregnancy, it is best to discuss your weight gain with your doctor. As each woman is different with different needs. Weight gain also differs in each trimester. During the first trimester, the woman will normally gain a pound per month. In the second trimester, half a pound is gained per week. And, in the third trimester, weight gain tends to speed up causing the woman to gain a pound per week.

Where does the weight go?

While the baby will benefit the most from the weight gain, not all of the weight will go directly to the baby. Instead the weight is distributed throughout the woman’s body during her pregnancy. Usually the extra pounds will contribute to lactation and to support the changes a woman’s body undergoes during the pregnancy.

Is it safe to diet or lose weight while pregnant?

Dieting to lose weight during pregnancy is never a good idea. Losing weight during pregnancy can hurt both the baby and the mother. Good nutrition and weight gain are essential to delivering a healthy baby. The lack of proper nutrition from the mother can cause the baby to be born at a low birth weight or stillborn. Also, newborns that suffer from lack of proper nutrition are more prone to suffer from physical, mental, and emotional problems. A mother, who diets or loses weight during pregnancy, puts the overall health and development of her unborn child at risk.

Aside from jeopardizing the health of her unborn child by dieting or losing weight, the mother jeopardizes her own health as well. The lack of proper nutrition can cause the mother to be constantly fatigued from lack of energy. She may also suffer from depression during her pregnancy and postpartum. Also, her lack of energy can cause her to be too tired to properly care for her newborn. The mother should never neglect to take care of her nutritional needs.

Weight gain is very important to the development of the baby during pregnancy. It is up to the mother to ensure the health of her baby by keeping her weight under control. Following a healthy, nutritional diet that includes fruits and vegetables as well as other healthy snacks can help the mother to gain the proper amount of weight needed. However, going a few pounds over or under the recommended weight gain for pregnant women is okay. It is best to talk with your doctor about any concerns on weight gain.