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Women tend to worry about their weight. No wonder – a slim figure has long been a symbol of attractiveness, which is why ladies carefully measure each calorie consumed and take care of the right dose of physical activity every day. Something different during pregnancy. Then the increase in body fat is something natural and obvious, but often future mothers compare themselves with their friends and anxiety about their own dimensions quickly increases. Some seem to have gained too much, others not enough. The answer is one: there is no set ideal weight for a pregnant woman. We are different and nothing will change that – also in this matter!
How much you gain weight depends on many individual characteristics. These factors include your height, weight before conception, and the size of the baby you will deliver. Children are also different from each other, some will weigh little, and others even 4 kilograms.
Under normal circumstances, i.e. when you are not pregnant, you can easily check your weight using your BMI. While waiting for the baby, this type of control is primarily carried out by the attending physician. During each visit, you should be weighed by the gynecologist on the same scale, which allows for quick detection of any abnormalities. Of course, it is important to visit a specialist regularly and, consequently, to monitor the course of pregnancy.
It is impossible not to gain weight during pregnancy
For the entire nine months, you will gain extra pounds. They are related to:
- Macica (1kg)
- Child (3-4kg)
- Breasts (up to 2kg)
- Bearing (0,5 to 1kg)
- Amniotic fluid (1-2kg)
- Blood and other body fluids (3kg).
In total, this gives a sum of 10 to 12 kilograms. About 7 of them are lost immediately after giving birth, the rest over the next few months, e.g. due to breastfeeding. However, there are also cases of mums who indulged a bit too much during pregnancy, so it will take them longer to lose those extra pounds and it will cost them a lot more effort.
… however, it cannot be taken as an excuse
Although pregnancy itself is not conducive and does not cause overweight, people who were already prone to it often become overweight. Pregnancy also often reveals health problems, such as endocrine disorders that promote weight gain. In the first trimester, you should gain about 2 kg, because the baby is still small. Some women lose weight during this period as a result of frequent morning sickness.
In the second trimester, the baby and his needs grow, so he usually gains about half a kilo a week, so 2 kg a month. The last trimester is similar (at the very beginning you gain the most), and before the birth, you don’t gain weight at all.
Women with too low weight during pregnancy (and underweight before) more often give birth to children with various disorders, e.g. developmental delay, hearing and vision defects. On the other hand, being overweight during pregnancy threatens with increased pressure, which impairs the blood and nutrient supply to the baby, back pain, edema, varicose veins, complications during childbirth, as well as difficult communication with the baby (weaker sensations related to fetal movements).
These are, of course, general guidelines, and every woman’s pregnancy may be different. The most ideal pattern is when you are at a healthy weight before you get pregnant, so your BMI is between 18,5 and 24,9. Remember that neither underweight nor overweight in this condition is anything good, and during pregnancy you should especially take care of following a healthy and rational diet.