It is evident that women gain weight during pregnancy but it is not evident why they gain so much. You may gain about 30 pounds through your pregnancy. Of course your baby won’t weigh so much. So why all the weight gain? Why does the scale tick during pregnancy? Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
There are numerous reasons behind weight gain during pregnancy. Know that, however, weight gain is considerably good because it is an indication that your body is preparing for the baby and the nine months of gestation.
You should know how much weight gain is healthy during pregnancy. It is not all about eating everything you find and gaining a lot of weight. Too much weight gain will harm your health as well as your baby.
Thus, knowing how much weight gain is normal is important. This will vary from one woman to the other based on how much she weighed before pregnancy. For example, if your BMI was in the normal range before you got pregnant, you can gain anywhere between twenty-five to forty-five pounds.
If your BMI was in the underweight range, you should gain at least three pounds more than the average healthy weight gain for a normal woman.
If your BMI was in the overweight range, you should be more careful. Yes, you should gain weight even if you are overweight but the weight you gain must not exceed twenty-five pounds. It can be anywhere between fifteen to twenty-five pounds for overweight women.
If you are obese though, your doctor may ask you to reduce your weight. This has to be done only when your doctor asks you to. Don’t take decisions on your own and decide that you need to lose weight. You might harm the baby. Only when the doctor decides that weight loss is important for you in order to reduce complication risks during pregnancy should you go for it.
Only about six pounds to eight pounds of the weight you gain is because of baby. The remainder can be attributed to the changes that your body goes through in the nine months of pregnancy. Say for instance breastfeeding. To prepare you for breastfeeding, you may gain at least seven pounds of fat. This fat is then used for breastfeeding preparation and nutrient storage.
The size of your breasts will also increase by about two pounds. You can relate a few more pounds to the placenta, uterus, and the amniotic fluid. Remember that even the volume of body fluids and blood will increase in your body. This will contribute to weight gain too.
It is not necessary to face complications in pregnancy if you are overweight or underweight. If you take good care of yourself, you will sustain your pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby for sure. Underweight women must eat healthy. Include fruits and vegetables in your diet. If you are overweight, watch what you eat and talk to your doctor.
You can’t control most aspects of weight gain during pregnancy but you can control the amount of fat you gain. Make sure you don’t overeat even if you have cravings. Eat only when you are hungry and if you feel full, stop eating. Don’t stuff yourself. Eat lean meats, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and so on.
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