An increase in the amount of subcutaneous fat layer of the expectant mother is an essential condition for the safe and full development of the baby throughout the entire embryonic period. Typically, younger pregnant women gain less weight than older women. But carrying, for example, twins or even triplets will significantly increase the weight of mothers of any age. In each of the listed cases, a pregnant woman in one way or another observes changes in her body weight, which is not always the norm.
To determine the weight indicators of a pregnant woman, you need to get used to properly organized weighing:
- It is recommended to measure body weight once a week; you should try to get into the same time period before breakfast, which increases the accuracy of further calculations and dynamic assessment of results.
- Weighing is done after the bladder and large intestine have been emptied.
- The same scales are used.
- Each time, it is best for a woman to weigh herself in clothing specially allocated for this (with subsequent deduction of her weight) or without it at all.
- To facilitate calculations and track body weight levels, it is better to record the results in a special notebook.
The above tips are only advisable if you weigh a pregnant woman at home with her own scales. But if the expectant mother undergoes this procedure only at an appointment with a leading obstetrician-gynecologist, you should visit it at approximately the same hours, and immediately before getting on the scale, empty your bladder again.
Body Mass Index Table
When assessing the results of the obtained body weight values, all specialists and trained pregnant women use body mass index calculation. This technique allows you not only to simplify all calculations, but also to identify excess or underweight with the same ease. Special calculators have been created to calculate body mass index. They contain the following values:
- weight before pregnancy (in kg);
- height (in cm);
- presence or absence of twins;
- date of start of last menstruation;
- weight at this weighing (in kg).
In this way, the increase in body weight produced over a certain period of time from the start of pregnancy is calculated.
In the case we are considering, weight consists not only of the mass of all human organs and biological fluids, but also body fat reserves. In addition to the usual formation of a certain amount of subcutaneous fat tissue, in the body of the expectant mother there is growth of a new organism, which has a constant increase from week to week of its intrauterine development.
Do not forget that to ensure normal fetal development the uterus increases in size, human milk is formed in the mammary glands, the placenta is born and grows, and is constantly present amniotic fluid, fetal membranes and umbilical cord, which also contributes to the level of body weight.
Factors influencing weight gain during pregnancy
- Body weight during gestation is affected by the presence and severity of the fetus, because with it there is an active loss of fluid through frequent vomiting, which leads to dehydration and weight loss.
- Such pathological variants of the course of pregnancy, as well as the presence of severe edema syndrome, contribute to weight gain.
- Gestation two or even three fruits at the same time provides a more pronounced increase in body weight than during a singleton pregnancy.
- , the mode and amount of fluid absorbed during pregnancy has a strong impact on a woman’s metabolism, which indicates a direct influence of these factors on the formation of the fat layer, the growth of the placenta, uterus, the fetus itself and the formation of milk.
Normal weight gain during pregnancy
Normal weight gain during pregnancy by week
How much weight does one gain during pregnancy? In women who have a usual normal physique and correct build, the increase in body weight over the entire period of gestation, according to the obtained dynamic data for assessing the mass index, including the child, should be 10-15 kg. For cases with reduced weight, a normal gain level is considered to be from 12 to 18 kg, with class 1 obesity – from 6 to 10 kg, with class 2 obesity – from 4 to 9 kg.
If a woman is waiting big addition to the family, then the scale of normal weight gain during pregnancy is slightly different from the scale indicated above. For normal body weight, the increase ranges from 15 to 25 kg, for class 1 obesity – from 14 to 24 kg, for class 2 obesity – from 10 to 19 kg.
Thus, the thinner a pregnant woman is, the more weight she can gain while carrying a baby. On the contrary, ladies who are overweight are prone to smaller increases.
Weight gain during pregnancy by week: table
Table of weight gain during pregnancy by week
For the convenience of assessing the results and analyzing the weight gain of a pregnant woman, experts have developed indicators norms of weight gain during pregnancy by week.
They still depend on the type of constitution of the mother and her personal body mass index, but most importantly, they reflect in detail the weight gain for each stage of pregnancy. This greatly facilitates not only the work of leading obstetricians and gynecologists, but also the understanding of her pregnancy by the expectant mother herself.
The change in the weight of a pregnant woman in any case depends on the characteristics of her metabolism, the nature of nutrition and the needs of the fetus, which only confirms the strong individuality of these weight parameters.
For women of normal body weight:
1-17 weeks – gain 2.35 kg;
17-23 weeks – gain 1.55 kg;
23-27 weeks – gain 1.95 kg;
27-31 weeks – gain 2.11 kg
31-35 weeks – gain 2.11 kg;
35-40 weeks – gain 1.25 kg;
for the entire period – an increase of 11-15 kg.
For women with stage 1 obesity:
1-17 weeks – gain 2.25 kg;
17-23 weeks – gain 1.23 kg;
23-27 weeks – gain 1.85 kg;
27-31 weeks – gain 1.55 kg
31-35 weeks – gain 1.55 kg;
for the entire period – an increase of 7-11 kg.
For women with reduced body weight:
1-17 weeks – gain 3.25 kg;
17-23 weeks – gain 1.77 kg;
23-27 weeks – gain 2.1 kg;
35-40 weeks – increase 1.75;
for the entire period – an increase of 12-19 kg.
When carrying a multiple pregnancy:
1-17 weeks – gain 4.55 kg;
17-23 weeks – gain 2.6 kg;
23-27 weeks – gain 3 kg;
27-31 weeks – gain 2.35 kg
31-35 weeks – gain 2.35 kg;
35-40 weeks – gain 1.55 kg;
for the entire period – an increase of 15-20 kg.
Weight loss during pregnancy
Weight loss in pregnant women should be considered by trimester of pregnancy.
- In the first trimester Weight loss is most often an obvious sign of early-onset toxicosis, in which a pregnant woman loses kilograms due to dehydration and the woman’s frequent refusal to eat a full meal.
- For the second and third trimesters The reasons for weight loss are very similar and are expressed in poor nutrition of the pregnant woman (most often due to the fear of gaining extra pounds, which is a completely unjustified and dangerous desire for the unborn baby) or the presence of somatic pathology of any organs or systems.
In any case, a woman should be sure to consult with the gynecologist leading her pregnancy.
Large weight gain during pregnancy is far from safe. The reasons for its occurrence can be considered due to the weakening of fluid excretion from the body, the aforementioned polyhydramnios pregnancy and the presence of hypothyroidism with a reduced release of thyroid hormones into the blood.
If a gynecologist detects the presence of such a large weight gain during pregnancy, untimely and irrational assistance may lead to the development of gestosis in pregnant women and Rh conflict between the baby and the woman.
Of course, these reasons are pathological for both the mother and the fetus. But physiological reasons (for example, the mother’s advanced age and a genetic predisposition to obesity) are no less dangerous in this regard.
Adequate treatment pathological increase in weight during pregnancy is:
- without high-calorie foods;
- in limiting water intake;
- in the most complete laboratory, instrumental and hardware examination of a woman;
- in regular walks and reasonable home physical activity of the expectant mother.
- in the introduction of fasting days.
This type of therapy and prevention of excess weight in a pregnant woman is recommended to be carried out no more than once or twice a week.
A fasting day consists of eating products of the same type and water in an amount of about 1 liter. The expectant mother can experiment and independently decide on the menu for fasting days, however, it is still worth discussing her plans with a leading gynecologist.
Examples of fasting days:
- Vegetable(zucchini or pumpkins with a little sour cream added).
- Apple(a kilogram of fresh apples or baked for 6 meals).
- Fruit(using the same apples, but all fruits according to the mother’s wishes and the doctor’s recommendations).
Video about weight gain during pregnancy
For a more complete overview of the topic weight gain during pregnancy You can watch a video that popularly covers the causes of increased body weight, rules and recommendations for weighing and calculating mass indices, as well as normal values for weight gain during each week of the embryonic period of the fetus.
A general discussion will only help you fully understand the pregnancy weight gain schedule, so feel free to ask and share your own experiences with other people. Your reasoning will help not only you, but also girls and women planning pregnancy, which is important for their moral preparation for pregnancy.
The body of any pregnant woman undergoes a number of important changes that help to bear and then safely give birth to a healthy and fully developed child. The first trimester is easy for almost everyone, and many people notice that they “bloom” during this period.
Hair gains shine, nails grow quickly, and skin glows. We need to thank for this “pregnant” beauty. They are also involved in less pleasant changes, for example, excessive sensitivity or an uncontrolled desire to absorb foods that are incompatible with taste in large quantities.
Unfortunately, excess weight is becoming a frequent companion for expectant mothers. After all, many pregnant women lack food control. In addition, most people reassure themselves that if they want it, it means it’s necessary for the child’s body.
In a normal (uncomplicated) case, by the end of it, body weight increases by about 10-15 kilograms, everything above these indicators is unnecessary. As you know, excess weight entails serious health problems, which cause a lot of trouble.
Weight gain during pregnancy
We outlined above how many kilograms women gain during their entire pregnancy, during its normal course. Let's talk in more detail about these numbers and what influences them. To begin with, we note that weight gain depends on many individual indicators of the expectant mother. Moreover, it does not increase immediately.
Therefore, if you are tormented by the question “why am I not gaining weight?”, and your interesting situation is only a few months old, then rest assured, everything is going according to plan. The first trimester is like an introductory period, during which the pregnant woman’s body is just beginning to rebuild and prepare for subsequent changes.
After all, the future baby has just begun to grow and develop. Therefore, you should not worry about how to gain the missing kilograms. After all, there are no visible changes yet and cannot be, there are only maternal sensations.
It happens that the opposite picture is observed, and the woman loses weight. This is typical for those who, because of this, cannot eat as before. But this must pass over time, otherwise medical attention is required.
Many people mistakenly believe that weight increases during pregnancy only because intrauterine development of the fetus . However, this is not true, because In addition to the child itself, the woman’s internal organs also increase in size, which gives a certain weight gain.
Baby weight table by week of pregnancy
To clearly illustrate the statement that weight gain depends not only on the increase in the size of the baby, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the norms for fetal weight by week of pregnancy, presented in the table below.
| Duration, weeks | Weight, grams | Height, centimeters |
| 11 | 7 | 4,1 |
| 12 | 14 | 5,4 |
| 13 | 23 | 7,4 |
| 14 | 43 | 8,7 |
| 15 | 70 | 10,1 |
| 16 | 100 | 11,5 |
| 17 | 140 | 13 |
| 18 | 190 | 14,2 |
| 19 | 240 | 15,3 |
| 20 | 300 | 25,8 |
| 21 | 360 | 26,7 |
| 22 | 430 | 27,8 |
| 23 | 500 | 28,9 |
| 24 | 600 | 30 |
| 25 | 670 | 34,6 |
| 26 | 760 | 35,6 |
| 27 | 875 | 36,6 |
| 28 | 1000 | 37,6 |
| 29 | 1150 | 38,6 |
| 30 | 1320 | 39,9 |
| 31 | 1500 | 41,1 |
| 32 | 1700 | 42,4 |
| 33 | 1900 | 43,8 |
| 34 | 2150 | 45 |
| 35 | 2380 | 46,2 |
| 36 | 2500 | 47,4 |
| 37 | 2800 | 48,6 |
| 38 | 3000 | 49,8 |
| 39 | 3300 | 50,7 |
| 40 | 3400 | 51,2 |
As can be seen from this table, the child’s height and weight increases gradually over the weeks. Ultrasound or measurements of the height of the uterus and abdominal circumference at a later date helps to calculate these indicators. It is possible to measure the unborn child already in the fifth week of his intrauterine life. The child begins to grow rapidly only in the middle of the second trimester, for example, the normal weight of the fetus at 20 weeks of pregnancy is 300 grams, and by 28 weeks it increases more than three times (1000 grams).
The development of a child, first of all, depends on how well the placenta, the organ that is responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen to the child’s body from the mother, nourishes it. In addition, amniotic fluid plays an important role, i.e. amniotic fluid that contains the fetus until birth.
Table of the amount of amniotic fluid by week
If the doctor records deviations from the norm in the fetal weight by week or there are signs of insufficient intrauterine development, then the reasons for this may be:
- poor or unbalanced maternal nutrition;
- chronic diseases;
- constant stress;
- bad habits;
- genetic failure.
Normal weight gain during pregnancy by week
It is believed that the average rate of weight gain during pregnancy is 250-300 grams per week or one kilogram per month. In the third trimester, the baby grows at an accelerated pace and an increase of 400 grams per week is considered normal. This is where the previously indicated 10-15 kilograms or 16-21 kilograms for twins come out in nine months.
It is this average weekly rate of weight gain during pregnancy that doctors focus on. If the body weight significantly exceeds or, on the contrary, does not reach the average, the gynecologist will look for the cause in the patient’s health condition. The optimal situation is one in which the weight increases gradually as the fetus develops.
Insufficient weight gain may be due to toxicosis or a woman’s poor diet, which leads to delays in the development of the child, because he does not receive important beneficial elements from food. Normal weight for newborns should be between 2.5-4.5 kilograms.
Children with less weight are at risk of developing congenital abnormalities of mental and physical development. In addition, the lack of nutrients also negatively affects the health of the mother, thus increasing the risk of premature birth or early miscarriage.
Excess weight is dangerous And . Moreover, it affects arterial pressure , contributes to the development of late toxicosis , leads to fetal hypoxia , as well as to premature aging of the placenta (the tissue that nourishes the baby). It happens that a lot of weight is a consequence of hidden or obvious swelling due to a malfunction of the urinary system.
Fluid accumulates in organs and tissues, resulting in swelling. And this is a good reason to seek medical help, because... This condition is fraught with the development of kidney hydronephrosis and late toxicosis.
Weight is considered overweight if you have gained:
- in any trimester over two kilograms per week;
- in the first trimester over four kilograms;
- during the second trimester over four and a half kilograms;
- in the third trimester over eight hundred grams per week.
Let's talk about how much you can gain and how to calculate optimal weight gain. To find out your norm, i.e. For a “healthy” increase, you first need to calculate an indicator such as BMI (the full name is body mass index), which is calculated using the formula I=m/h2.
Where m is the weight in kilograms, and h is height squared in meters. For example, your weight is 60 kilograms and your height is 1.7 meters. It turns out that BMI = 60/(1.7*1.7) = 20.76. The gain table below shows the optimal weight indicators based on body mass index.
As you can see, the initial weight of women has the greatest influence on how many kg they gain by the end of pregnancy. Skinny women gain weight faster and immediately, which, in principle, will be within the norm for them. Another thing is the weight of overweight mothers, which will have to be constantly monitored.
The age of the pregnant woman is also important. The thing is that as a person ages, he becomes prone to becoming overweight. At a younger age, the fight against extra pounds is much easier. Body type is another factor to consider.
Mothers of asthenic type, i.e. those who are not inclined to be overweight become “visually pregnant” faster. In contrast, the interesting position of women of the hypersthenic type, i.e. those prone to obesity are visible only when the stomach begins to bulge strongly.
According to statistics, in the first trimester a woman gains 0.2 kilograms every day. However, these are very average indicators, because It is during this period that many suffer from severe toxicosis. It is believed that the first half of pregnancy accounts for only 40% of weight gain.
More intense weight gain occurs in the second trimester. This is the “golden time” when everything in the body settles down, hormones do not go wild and new strength comes. Toxicosis is receding and now you can eat for two. The lion's share of weight gain occurs during this period of pregnancy.
The weekly weight gain calendar is a guideline that doctors rely on during routine examinations of pregnant women. The expectant mother herself must exercise control over her body weight so that, if necessary, she can make adjustments to her lifestyle and diet. To do this, you need scales and a notepad in which you can take notes.
It is enough to weigh yourself once a week in the morning on an empty stomach, after emptying your bladder and intestines. For accurate measurements, it is better to take off your clothes or stay in your underwear.
How to calculate pregnancy weight by week?
Calculating weight gain during pregnancy is not difficult and it is quite possible to do it yourself. In addition, you can resort to the help of special programs. They are freely available on the Internet and for convenience they can be installed on your smartphone.
Body weight increases gradually and depends on many individual factors that must be taken into account when calculating. As we said earlier, in the first trimester, a situation in which the weight increases by 1-3 kilograms is considered normal, but in case of severe toxicosis, a woman can lose weight.
Starting from the second trimester, individual weight gain can be determined using the following formula: height in meters (remove the comma) multiplied by 22 grams. Example of calculations: a pregnant woman’s height is 1.60 meters, which means 16 x 22 = 352 grams. This is the optimal weekly weight gain.
To make your task easier and get rid of mathematical calculations, you can resort to help pregnancy weight gain calculator by week . Using such a program is really easy, fast and convenient. You just need to enter the indicators necessary for the calculation - height, weight before pregnancy, current body weight at the time of calculations and gestational age in weeks. The calculator itself will calculate the body mass index (abbreviated BMI), create a chart of weight gain during pregnancy and make a forecast for weight gain by 9 months.
If the result you get is on the normal line in the graph, then there is no reason to worry. And if it is higher or lower, then your weight deviates from healthy levels and there is an excess or, on the contrary, a deficiency. This cannot be left to chance and appropriate measures must be taken urgently.
Nutrition during pregnancy
This topic requires separate consideration, so in this material we will give only general recommendations on how to eat properly. We’ll also talk about which foods are acceptable for pregnant women and vice versa are prohibited. To begin with, we note that the diet of the expectant mother should be adjusted taking into account the needs of her body.
For example, you are a 100% meat eater and don’t like vegetables or prefer sweets to fruits, and so on. Then you will have to reconsider your preferences so that the child grows and develops harmoniously.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that pregnancy is stress for the body and it requires powerful support to ensure the life of two at once.
A balanced diet provides:
- proper functioning of the body;
- meeting the needs of the developing embryo;
- formation and growth of the placenta;
- swelling of the mammary glands and prolonged lactation.
If the balance of vitamins, beneficial compounds and other nutrients is disturbed, then there is a risk of:
- development of intrauterine pathologies in the fetus;
- reduction of all important vital signs of the newborn;
- insufficient child;
- undeveloped intellect;
- hereditary diseases;
- low life expectancy.
Bad habits (smoking, alcohol, etc.) destroy the baby’s body no less than poor nutrition. Therefore, you should give up all this, at least for the duration of pregnancy, if you don’t have the willpower to “quit” forever.
The main nutritional mistakes during pregnancy:
- Irregular meals. The lack of a full breakfast, an erroneous eating schedule, snacks and evening gluttons - all this affects the health of mother and child. Therefore, during pregnancy we adhere to the rules and principles of a healthy lifestyle. The largest meal that provides an energy boost in the morning is breakfast. After it (a couple of hours should pass), you can have a light snack. Eat soup for lunch, cook steamed meat and porridge for second, and fish and vegetables for dinner.
- Overeating at night harms metabolic processes and strains the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, you sleep poorly, and food is not digested normally. Excess calories are instantly transformed into excess fat, which in turn negatively affects weight.
- Eating dry food with your favorite cookies, rolls and other flour products not only adds kilograms, but also increases the risk of developing or.
- Overly spicy food, which pregnant women sometimes crave, also causes harm and also stimulates appetite.
- Sweets and confectionery are acceptable, but only in moderation. Excess blood sugar not only leads to extra pounds, but also significantly increases the risk of developing .
During pregnancy, it is important to eat meat, fish and seafood, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits, sour and dairy products, whole grain bread, cereals and durum wheat pasta. These products will provide the necessary levels of important beneficial compounds. It is better to cook food by steaming, baking or boiling. If possible, it is advisable to avoid salt and sugar or significantly reduce their content in ready-made dishes.
In the first trimester it is important to get enough vitamin B9 , i.e. , which is indispensable for the growth of organs and tissues, as well as the development of the nervous system. Cheeses, beets, cabbage, legumes and carrots are rich in it.
Nutrition in the second trimester should be rich in content:
- And calcium (dairy products, fish liver, eggs);
- gland (meat, vegetables);
- (fruits, berries);
- fiber .
How to avoid gaining excess weight during pregnancy
In order not to gain extra pounds, adhere to the following rules:
- Don't overeat. The good old “you need to eat for two” or “if you want it, then the child demands it,” sounding from the lips of kind grandmothers and aunties should not confuse you and justify night gluttons. The body must receive exactly the amount of calories that is required for the normal development of the fetus and no more. You can eat more often, but in small portions, then you will not feel hungry. It is believed that you can increase the calorie content of your diet during pregnancy by a maximum of 200-300 calories without harm to your health. But here it is important to observe the measure, this is especially true for women whose BMI is higher than normal.
- Avoid unhealthy foods that contain excess carbohydrates. All kinds of sweets, chocolates and bars, confectionery and flour are sources of sugar, which is absorbed quickly and gives only a temporary feeling of fullness, disappearing instantly, and you want to eat again. As a result, you absorb harmful sugar along with food additives and confectionery fats.
- Give yourself gentle fasting days. This does not mean that we advise you to fast during pregnancy. Once every two weeks you can give your stomach a break. On this day, replace most of your diet with vegetables or dairy products.
- Walk more, and not only in good and sunny weather in the fresh air. This rule helps maintain health for everyone without exception. Physical activity (of course, within reason) is especially important for pregnant women. The more you move, the better your blood is saturated with oxygen, which means you protect your baby from oxygen starvation .
- Avoid harmful and useless drinks. Give preference to regular drinking water or natural compotes, fruit drinks and juices without sugar. The recommended daily volume of fluid for pregnant women is 1.5 liters. It is better to drink two thirds before 16.00 to avoid swelling.
Foods that pregnant women are allowed to eat:
- dietary flour products, bran or rye whole grain bread;
- vegetable soups (limit potatoes, cereals, pasta) to 200 grams per day;
- meat products and meat, steamed, baked or boiled;
- Fish and seafood;
- milk, dairy and fermented milk products (yogurt without additives and sugar, low-fat cottage cheese);
- eggs (preferably quail);
- cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat are the healthiest);
- fresh or steamed vegetables;
- sauces and salad dressings (sour cream, olive oil);
- fresh fruits;
- butter up to 10 grams per day;
- Refined sunflower oil should be replaced with unrefined olive oil;
- drinks (tea, not purchased packaged juices, fruit drinks, water).
If women eat little and gain weight, they risk giving birth to an underweight baby. Which is fraught with psychological and physical problems for the baby. Undereating during pregnancy can be much more harmful than overeating. Malnutrition during pregnancy damages the baby's brain and metabolism. Also, a woman's level of the hormone estrogen may drop, which increases the risk of miscarriage.
Also, women should not gain excess weight during pregnancy. Large weight gain increases the risk of pregnancy diabetes and late toxicosis. Diabetes associated with pregnancy can lead to an overweight baby (at least 4 kg), while late toxicosis is characterized by life-threatening high blood pressure and has the ability to lead to unwanted disorders. In addition, a woman who is very overweight during pregnancy may experience difficulties during childbirth. Also, excess weight during pregnancy prevents women from losing this weight after childbirth.
Other problems arise if a woman does not gain weight during pregnancy, but, on the contrary, loses it. In such a situation, you need to urgently go to the doctor, especially if you are not yet registered. Weight loss during pregnancy negatively affects the health of the unborn baby.
The best weight gain depends largely on your own weight before pregnancy. In addition, the lower your own weight, the more likely you are to gain excess weight during pregnancy.
- If excess weight is below normal - weight gain, no more than 12 kg
- With own weight - no more than 18 kg.
- With normal weight - no more than 16 kg.
- For obesity - at least 6 kg.
- In case of multiple pregnancy - 21 kg.
There is a special body mass index, it is calculated in this way: body weight is divided by a person’s height squared in meters (consider an example - 1.70 m).
- If the index is greater than 30, then obesity.
- If the index is from 25 to 30, then you are overweight.
- If the index is from 18.5 to 25, then the weight is normal.
- If the index is less than 18.5, then the weight is insufficient.
Where are all the kilos going?
- 4kg - baby.
- 500 g - placenta.
- 1 kg - uterus.
- 1 kg - amniotic fluid.
- 2 kg - water in your body.
- 500 g - increase in breast volume.
- Fat deposits in the female body are about 4 kg.
The pace of weight gain is individual for each woman. In some months you can gain more, in others - less. There are women who begin to gain weight from the first days of pregnancy, and then slow down. It also happens the other way around: they can gain weight after 20 weeks. Each option is normal if it does not go beyond the optimal set. If your weight is normal, then during the first trimester you need to gain approximately 1.5 kg. (800 g - if you are overweight, 2 kg - if you are underweight).
During the second and third trimesters, weight gain begins to increase. Between 14 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, women with a completely normal weight can gain approximately 300 g each week. In the ninth month of pregnancy, weight may decrease by 1 kg - this phenomenon is completely normal.
How much should you eat? After all, expectant mothers need to gain a lot of weight during pregnancy in order to later give birth to a normal-sized baby. American researchers have found that the growth of a baby is influenced by the process of increasing lean mass, and not increasing fat mass. Therefore, if there is a large fat mass, then women will have a lot of excess fat after childbirth. Conversely, an increase in lean mass does not affect a woman’s weight after childbirth. It’s absolutely not necessary, during pregnancy there is “for two”.
During the first trimester, you need about 200 additional calories per day, and during the second and third - no more than 300 calories. Make sure that the extra calories come from healthy foods: yogurt, cereal with milk, or fresh fruit. It is possible that you will feel hungry from the 13th week of your pregnancy. During this week, the level of estrogen in the blood increases.
Under no circumstances should you go hungry. If the rate of weight gain increases, then you need to limit your consumption of animal fat and sweets. But don't limit yourself to complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. During a sharp jump in weight (back and forth), blood pressure rises and this is very dangerous during pregnancy. So if you see that you are gaining too much weight, do not suddenly reduce the amount of food you eat, do everything gradually.
Don't eat too much chocolate; it has a lot of calories, fat, and caffeine. It prevents the female body from absorbing folic acid and iron, which is responsible for delivering oxygen to the baby. Also, caffeine impairs the absorption of calcium. For the same reason, limit yourself to coffee and strong black tea.
At the moment of toxicosis, you still need to eat. It is better to eat in smaller portions and often than in large portions and rarely.
Minor swelling is considered normal during pregnancy. If your kidneys are working normally, then you don’t need to limit yourself to fluids. You need to drink a lot of water: at least 6 glasses a day. After all, amniotic fluid can be completely renewed with the help of water.
It will help your baby lose weight after pregnancy.
As a rule, fat deposition during pregnancy is inevitable, this is a completely normal phenomenon and you need to come to terms with it. If you really want to, after giving birth, you can quickly regain your previous weight. If you are breastfeeding your baby, your appetite will increase. This phenomenon is normal, because the baby needs to receive the necessary substances. In fact, you don't need to eat a lot, because the secret is to eat good quality healthy food. Because breastfeeding requires more energy than pregnancy, your body needs 500 more calories each day than usual.
But under no circumstances should you go on a diet or starve yourself. Eat enough calories, plenty of vitamins and minerals, and drink plenty of fluids. It is necessary to drink one glass of liquid before each meal, this will dull the feeling of hunger. Try to eat small meals several times a day. To prevent hunger at night, you need to drink a glass of kefir or milk at night. Be careful with exercise.
Under no circumstances overwork yourself. Especially after a cesarean section, you need to be careful about exercise. Do not carry or lift heavy objects. Avoid any activities that lead to abdominal tension. And if the birth took place without complications, then weeks after the birth, you can perform light exercises - slow bending, stretching and muscle stretching exercises. You can do a Kegel exercise: alternately squeezing and relaxing the vaginal muscles.
Pregnancy: weight gain.
Pregnancy and weight, pregnancy weight gainWomen always monitor their weight. But there comes a time when doctors begin to monitor this indicator. And the aesthetic side of the issue does not bother them.
Until the 30th week of pregnancy, if everything goes well, the doctor examines the patient 2 times a month, and then once a week. Weighing becomes a mandatory procedure for every visit to the gynecologist and part of the “homework”. It is better to perform it in the morning, on an empty stomach and in the same clothes, so that the results obtained can be compared later.
Weight gain during pregnancy.
In the first 2 months of pregnancy, while the baby and mother are just adapting to mutual coexistence, the woman usually does not gain weight. In addition, at this time she may be worried about toxicosis, which often leads to weight loss. So, in the 1st trimester of pregnancy there is no intensive gain; the expectant mother usually gains 1-2 kg. The main events occur later, because the body weight of the expectant mother increases mainly in the 2nd half of pregnancy, when the weekly weight gain averages 250-300 g. If the process goes faster, this may mean the appearance of a problem - hidden, and then obvious edema (hydropsis of pregnancy).
Let's look at the general rules that are accepted among doctors for calculating possible weight gain during pregnancy. So, during the entire 9 months of pregnancy, the expectant mother should gain 10-12 kg. It is believed that starting from 30 weeks of pregnancy, a woman’s weight increases by about 50 g per day, by 300-400 g per week and by no more than 2 kg per month.
To more accurately determine acceptable weight gain and take into account all additional circumstances, the doctor can use the table (see below). In addition, the doctor has at his disposal a scale of average physiological weight gain in the last 3 months of pregnancy. The calculation is as follows: weekly weight gain should not exceed 22 g for every 10 cm of height. This means that a woman with a height of 150 cm can gain 330 g in a week, with a height of 160 cm - 352 g, and with a height of 180 cm - 400 g.
Weight during pregnancy.
How many kilograms the expectant mother will gain during pregnancy depends on many reasons.
The first of them is age. The older the woman, the greater the tendency to be overweight.
Initial body weight (that is, before pregnancy). It is curious that the greater the weight deficit, the more kilograms the expectant mother has the right to add.
Weight loss due to early toxicosis. The fact is that, having survived the events of toxicosis, the body will try to compensate for the loss of kilograms
Features of the constitution. In this case, it is important whether the woman has a tendency to be overweight or thin.
Child size. If the patient is expecting a large baby (more than 4000 g), then the placenta will probably be larger than average. Consequently, a woman has the right to gain more weight during pregnancy than if she were expecting the birth of a small child.
Increased appetite. It happens that during pregnancy the expectant mother has an uncontrollable desire to eat, and if she cannot restrain it. Problems arise with excess weight.
Now let's see what those 10-12 kilograms of weight acquired by the expectant mother are used for. Indeed, if she gained 12 kg during pregnancy, as recommended, and gave birth to a child weighing 3 kg 300 g, then where is everyone else? They are distributed like this:
* child – 3300g;
* uterus – 900 g;
* afterbirth – 400 g;
* amniotic fluid – 900 g;
* increase in circulating blood volume – 1200 g;
* mammary glands – 500 g;
* adipose tissue – 2200 g;
* tissue fluid – 2700 g.
Total: 12,100 g.
And what can cause “overkill”? Our calculation shows that excessive weight gain depends on various circumstances: the weight of the child (large fetus), the amount of adipose tissue (weight gain with initial deficiency), amniotic fluid (in case of polyhydramnios) and tissue fluid (if fluid is retained in the body) . If the first two circumstances are normal phenomena, then the last two are deviations from the norm and require the attention of a doctor.
Pregnancy: normal weight gain.
Pregnancy and weight, pregnancy weight gain It happens that the expectant mother decides to follow a strict diet in order... not to gain weight. Some people are afraid of ruining their figure, while others (mostly women with narrow pelvises) believe that eating restrictions will lead to the birth of a small child. In both the first and second cases, these arguments are erroneous. If a woman gains 10-12 kg during pregnancy, then with the help of a reasonable diet and exercise, she will definitely regain her previous size. Think about it, for example, ballerinas quickly get back into shape after giving birth, although they usually gain up to 18-20 kg during pregnancy!
You can calculate the acceptable weight gain yourself. To do this, you need to know your height and initial weight, which then turns into the BMI (body mass index). Calculate your BMI: BMI = weight (kg)/[height (m2)]. Results:
BMI< 19,8 – женщины худощавого телосложения;
BMI = 19.8 – 26.0 – women of average build;
BMI > 26 obese women.
Example:
Height – 1.60 cm, weight – 60 kg, BMI = 60/ (1.60)2 = 2.30
It turns out that the woman has an average build, which means that at 30 weeks the optimal weight gain for her will be 9.1 kg, and at 40 weeks - 13.6 kg.
Weight gain table by
Watch the video “Important facts about weight gain during pregnancy”
You are pregnant, which means you should gain weight. The good news is that for once in your life, those few extra pounds are nothing to worry about. In fact, this is a healthy and necessary part of the process. But what kind of weight gain is considered normal during pregnancy? How much is too much weight gain or too little? What determines how much you add? We will try to answer all your questions that may arise on this topic.
How much weight can you gain during pregnancy, how much is considered normal?
This question worries every woman. Obviously, during pregnancy, weight should increase significantly. However, this does not mean that you should “eat for two.” Some, on the contrary, limit themselves in food because they are afraid of large weight gain. These two extremes are unacceptable. Lack of necessary elements and lack of body weight can lead to numerous problems during pregnancy, difficult childbirth or the birth of low birth weight and weakened children. Overeating and being overweight are also very unhealthy. Keep your weight within normal limits, then pregnancy and childbirth will be easy.
What weight gain during pregnancy is considered normal?
Normal weight gain during pregnancy is 7-16 kg. If a woman is fragile, her weight gain can be up to 12 kg, if large - approximately 17 kg. Women who are pregnant with twins gain from 14 to 22 kg, which is normal.
Weight gain during pregnancy depends on several factors. One of them is your pre-pregnancy weight. Underweight women often gain more during pregnancy, while overweight women gain less.
What causes weight gain during pregnancy?
During the first months of pregnancy, a woman must accumulate a layer of fatty tissue to prepare for milk production and breastfeeding. This fat reserve remains after childbirth. It usually disappears within a few months if the woman breastfeeds and exercises. Weight goes not only into adipose tissue. More than half of the weight goes into the placenta, amniotic fluid and the baby. Let's calculate how the 11-13 kg gained during pregnancy is distributed on average:
- fruit – 3400 g;
- placenta – 650 g;
- amniotic fluid – 800 g;
- uterus (increases in size during pregnancy) – 970 g;
- mammary glands (increase in size during pregnancy) – 405 g;
- increase in blood volume by 1450 g;
- increase in extracellular fluid – 1480 g;
- fat deposits – 2345 g.
Total: = 11.5 kg
Weight gain relative to Body Mass Index (BMI)
A special Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to determine whether your pre-pregnancy weight is overweight, underweight, or normal for your height.
Body Mass Index = weight in kg / height in meters^2
Example: your height is 1.70 m, your weight is 60 kg, your BMI= 60/(1.7*1.7)=20.7
Normal weight gain during pregnancy:
If your pre-pregnancy BMI was less than 20, it means you were underweight before pregnancy. The recommended weight gain for you is 13-16 kg.
If your BMI before pregnancy is between 20-27, then this corresponds to normal weight. In this case, it is recommended to gain 10-14 kg during pregnancy.
If your pre-pregnancy BMI is greater than 27, you are overweight. If it's over 29, you're obese, but that doesn't mean you should fast during pregnancy while trying to lose weight. Trying to lose weight during pregnancy can negatively affect the baby's intrauterine development. Therefore, even if a woman is overweight, she still needs to gain weight during pregnancy, usually around 7 kg.
Normal weight gain during pregnancy by week
| Week of pregnancy | BMI<20 (итоговое значение в кг) | BMI = 20-26 (total value in kg) | BMI >26 (total value in kg) |
| 2 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| 4 | 900 | 680 | 500 |
| 6 | 1350 | 1000 | 590 |
| 8 | 1590 | 1180 | 680 |
| 10 | 1810 | 1270 | 770 |
| 12 | 1990 | 1500 | 900 |
| 14 | 2700 | 1860 | 1000 |
| 16 | 3170 | 2265 | 1360 |
| 18 | 4530 | 3620 | 2256 |
| 20 | 5440 | 4760 | 2850 |
| 22 | 6795 | 5660 | 3400 |
| 24 | 7700 | 6400 | 3900 |
| 26 | 8600 | 7700 | 4983 |
| 28 | 9740 | 8154 | 5440 |
| 30 | 10200 | 9000 | 5900 |
| 32 | 11330 | 9970 | 6390 |
| 34 | 12460 | 10870 | 7250 |
| 36 | 13600 | 11780 | 7880 |
| 38 | 14500 | 12680 | 8600 |
| 40 | 15200 | 13600 | 9060 |
Weight gain in each trimester of pregnancy
The average weight gain in the first trimester of pregnancy is 1.5-2 kg. It is worth noting that weight loss is also possible at this stage. (Most often the culprit is toxicosis. If you notice weight loss, consult your gynecologist.)
In the second trimester you will gain up to 6-7 kg.
During the 7th and 8th months of pregnancy - 0.5 kg per week.
In the 9th month of pregnancy, you will lose 0.5 kg per week - so your total gain in the third trimester is 4-5 kg.
When neededto consult a doctor about weight gain during pregnancy?
If your weight is within normal limits and there are no sudden jumps up and down, everything is ok! You should consult your doctor if:
- your weight is significantly different from normal;
- you do not gain or lose weight in the first trimester of pregnancy. Especially if you have lost weight suddenly and in a short period of time and all this is accompanied by poor health;
- you gain more than 1.5 kg per week in the second trimester;
- you gain more than 1 kg per week in the third trimester;
- You do not gain weight for two weeks in the second or third trimester.
Important! The figures given are not absolute values or strict rules for assessing weight gain during pregnancy. Only a doctor can determine what is normal for you.
Weight gain during pregnancy questions and answers
Nutrition during pregnancy. How much more should I eat?
During pregnancy, the number of calories consumed should be increased. In the first three months of pregnancy, you need an extra 100 calories per day. During the next six months of pregnancy, your energy needs increase to 300 calories per day in addition to your normal daily calorie intake.
How to lose weight after childbirth? Will it be easier to get back to my normal weight if I gain less weight during pregnancy?
No. Recent studies have shown that the percentage of women who regain their original weight is independent of the weight they gained. It is clear that women who breastfeed their babies lose the weight they gain during pregnancy more easily and quickly.
What determines the size of the belly during pregnancy?
The size of the abdomen and the height of the uterine fundus (the length between the pubic bone and the top of the uterus) depend on the stage of pregnancy. The size of the abdomen also depends on the individual characteristics of the woman. Sometimes anatomical structure matters: petite women with narrow pelvises are more likely to have protruding bellies compared to tall women with curvy hips. The size of your belly also depends on your overall weight during pregnancy.
Weight gain during pregnancy. Why am I gaining weight too quickly?
Sometimes rapid weight gain means you're eating too much. However, moderation in eating does not guarantee normal weight gain during pregnancy. Some women accumulate too much fluid in their bodies, for example due to poorly functioning kidneys. Therefore, if a pregnant woman gains weight too quickly, she should compare the amount of fluid she drinks and the number of urinations per day. In healthy women, more fluid will come out than is consumed. Fluid retention in the body leads to weight gain. Not only external, but also internal organs swell.