Excess Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Excess Weight Gain During Pregnancy

July 15th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Many of us believe that during pregnancy, we are eating for two. This isn’t entirely accurate. While after the first trimester a pregnant woman does require more calories, remember that the second person of the “two” in that statement is quite small.

Some women take pregnancy as an opportunity to eat as much as they would like, whenever they would like, and this is bad for both mom and baby. Not only will you have more difficulty losing the baby weight afterwards, excess weight gain puts a strain on your heart as well as your back.

How Much Weight Is Too Much?

For a woman who was of an average, healthy weight for her height prior to pregnancy, the recommended weight gain is 25-35 lbs. An underweight woman should gain a little more, while overweight women should gain a little less. This should of course be adjusted for women carrying multiples, who will naturally gain more weight due to supporting more than one baby. Weight gain during pregnancy is absolutely normal, but gaining more than the recommended amount is not.

How to Prevent Excess Weight Gain

The number one key to healthy weight gain during pregnancy is a carefully monitored diet. Make sure that you are not taking in more calories than you need to. Focus your intake on nutrient rich foods and not empty calories that will leave you hungry and lead to weight gain.

Weight loss diets are never a good idea during pregnancy. Your baby needs you to take in the appropriate number of calories comprising all of the necessary vitamins and minerals. However, making healthy changes to your diet is acceptable, as long as it does not cause weight loss or prevent you from gaining the right amount of weight.

The Discomfort of Weight Gain

If you eat right and keep your diet healthy and balanced, you should not have any difficulty with gaining too much weight. However, even the normal amount of weight can be very uncomfortable to a body that is not used to the strain.

Carrying around all that extra weight, especially in the midsection, can make many women uncomfortable. It is hard on the back and the joints and may also make sleep difficult. This level of weight gain, however, should not usually happen until the last months of pregnancy. If you are having trouble with pain or discomfort, talk to your doctor. You may need physical therapy or take your maternity leave early in order to rest.

Wearing comfortable shoes and clothing, and sleeping with a special maternity pillow can help to ease some of the discomfort caused by weight gain. If nothing else, you can at least take heart in knowing that you are nearing the end of the pregnancy and will soon be able to shed those extra pounds.

If you are having trouble with large amounts of food due to the pressure of the baby on your stomach, try eating smaller, more frequent meals. This can reduce the difficulties of trying to fit enough food into an already crowded abdomen, especially towards the end of your pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes

Around the end of the second trimester, most pregnant women will be tested for gestational diabetes. This temporary form of diabetes can cause extra weight gain in both the mother and the baby. If you suspect you have gestational diabetes, talk to your doctor. You will need to be put on a special diet to control the condition.

Work with your doctor to ensure healthy weight gain from a nutritionally sound eating plan, and find ways to relieve the discomfort of your growing belly. Soon, it will be in the past!

Ensuring That You Stay Within a Healthy Pregnancy Weight Gain

Ensuring That You Stay Within a Healthy Pregnancy Weight Gain

May 20th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Though you may not want to admit it, you are going to gain some weight during your pregnancy. Even the healthiest and most fit woman will gain weight. This is a time in your life when it’s a good thing to gain weight. You don’t want to focus on dieting or any weight loss efforts. It’s actually desired that you gain weight for the good of your pregnancy and your baby. This may come as a very difficult adjustment for some women who focus so much of their time and attention on losing weight and staying fit and trim.

When it comes to pregnancy though, this is a time to focus on what’s best for you and your unborn child. If you limit yourself with your calories or work hard to avoid weight gain, you are going to regret that decision later on. Gaining the proper amount of weight ensures that your baby gets all the nutrients that it requires. It also ensures that the baby grows to a healthy and suitable size for delivery.

So What’s the Proper Range Anyhow?

The average weight gain that should be expected during a pregnancy is around 25-35 pounds. As you can see though that is due in large part to what your body type was before pregnancy. If you were underweight before you got pregnant, then you may be required and encouraged to gain a bit more weight than that. If you were overweight before you got pregnant, then you may be encouraged to gain a bit less weight. If you are carrying multiples, then the amount of weight gain will be all together different and may be double the average. If in doubt talk to your doctor and compare where you should be with where you started from pre-pregnancy.

How Do You Keep the Weight In a Healthy Range?

The problem is that many women consider pregnancy to be a time for going crazy with their eating. They have it ingrained into their heads that they are “eating for two” and this somehow gives them a license to get a bit crazy with their eating habits. It’s important to remember that while you do want to eat a healthy number of calories, you’re not necessarily eating for two per se. You should increase your calorie count by about 300 calories per day. This really isn’t much when you think about it as it can be consumed in a half of a sandwich and a cup of yogurt. So think about that the next time somebody says that you are eating for two.

This should also be a time where you are focused on eating the right foods. Though you may have cravings or hankerings for a whole plethora of unhealthy and sabotage foods, you can’t give in to all of these. You want to eat foods that are healthy and which provide your baby with all the right nutrients. Eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals that is well balanced and comprised of lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and whole grains is the preference. Rather than giving into every single craving for ice cream and french fries that you have, make that more of a treat than a staple. Learn how to enjoy eating during pregnancy, but ensure that it is still a healthy affair for you and your baby overall.