Pregnancy health: healthy weight gain

When you are pregnant you will probably hear that now you are eating for two. While there is some truth to that there are also some misconceptions about it that you need to be aware of. While gaining some weight during your pregnancy is perfectly normal you will need to know how to avoid gaining either too much or too little.

One of the ways to help you determine what will be the proper amount of weight for you to gain is by making sure you meet with and obstetrics/gynecologists. This is the doctor that will guide you through proper prenatal care for your unborn child. One of the things your physician will be checking is your pre-pregnancy weight. This is going to help determine the proper amount of weight that you will need to gain for the term of your pregnancy. Your doctor will check your weight at every appointment.

Some of the things your doctor will use to determine the appropriate weight gain for you in addition to your pre-pregnancy weight will be asking question’s about your health history. Your doctor will want to know if you have diabetes, problems with blood pressure or any history of heart problems. These are just a few of the things your doctor will need to know about. Another thing your doctor will use to help to determine the proper weight gain during your pregnancy is your current height and weight. Body structure does play an important factor.

It is important to remember that the total amount of weight you need to gain is going to be anywhere from around 15 to 40 pounds. That is an average and is determined by whether you are at your normal weight prior to your pregnancy or if you are underweight or overweight. It may also be adjusted if you are carrying multiples.

There are some key things to know about proper weight gain. First of all just because you are eating for two does not mean you need to double your portions at mealtime. Eating multiple small meals throughout the day making sure to include lots of fruit and vegetables. Keep in mind you do not have to avoid eating a piece of pie or a cheeseburger if you want one. You just need to make sure you do it in moderation in order to avoid gaining too much weight.

You also need to know that you do not need to diet when you are pregnant. Lots of women are afraid of gaining weight while being pregnant but it is normal. You need to gain weight in order to have a healthy pregnancy. Making sure that you are eating healthy during your pregnancy will also help to shed the pounds you have gained once the baby is born.

There are some complications you can have if you do not gain the proper amount of weight during your pregnancy. If you do not gain enough you are at risk for having a low birth weight baby. This can be extremely dangerous to a newborn. There are also the risks that go along with gaining to much weight. Gaining too much weight may cause you to develop gestational diabetes or high blood pressure, which can be extremely dangerous to your fetus and to you.

Should you end up with any of these complications you could be putting the life of your baby and yourself in jeopardy. It is not hard to make sure you are gaining the correct amount of weight during your pregnancy. Make sure if you are concerned or have questions about your weight gain that you talk to your doctor. Your doctor will be happy to help you devise a plan to make sure that your pregnancy is a safe and healthy one.