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Your weight during Pregnancy

Many women spend much of their adult lives struggling to lose weight or avoiding extra pounds. No, wonder that it is sometimes hard for women to allow themselves to gain appropriately for a . Most mothers-to-be have concerns about their weight gain, ranging from “Am I gaining too much weight?” to “Am I gaining enough?” Current recommendations are that you should gain somewhere between 10-12kg during your if you are an average-size person. If a woman already is overweight when she becomes pregnant, most practitioners suggest that she gain between 8-10kg. Your doctor can help determine the appropriate weight gain in your particular case.

Do not use as an excuse to eat, and, conversely, do not go crazy worrying that you are racking up the pounds. The main objective is to consume a healthy, well-balanced diet based on a variety of foods. A woman who is not pregnant needs between 1,800 and 2,200 calories per day. When you are pregnant, you need to increase your calories by about 300 per day. You will probably gain the right amount of weight if you generally eat healthy foods, and let your own appetite be your guide.

An ideal weight gain starts with the addition of 3-4kg in the first 20 weeks of . Subsequently, during the second half of the , you would gain around a half kg each week.

The amount of weight you gain is important. Excessive weight gain during may signify that there is some problem. The important factors that should be ruled out includes

induced hypertension: Excessive and rapid weight gain can be an early sign for PIH. Rapid weight gain, more than four pounds in a week, can be a sign of severe fluid retention from pre-eclampsia. Therefore it is important to monitor BP regularly at least once a week and you should visit your gynaecologist regularly.

Anemia: Along with excessive weight gain there may be symptoms like fatigue, tiredness, breathlessness. It is important to take iron regularly and check Hb at least once in month. (In both the above situations fluid retention in body causes weight gain).

Diabetes in : is a “diabetogenic state”. This means that pregnant females are at risk of developing impaired blood sugar. Blood sugar level should be regularly checked in and special tests like Glucose screening test and Glucose tolerance tests are being done to diagnose it early in .

Hypothyroidism in : It can also cause excessive weight gain, more importantly it can lead to congenital anomalies and mental retardation in the baby. Ideally levels should be checked before conception and treatment should be started immediately if hypothyroidism is detected. Similarly levels of thyroid hormone should be monitored regularly in . It has been seen that excessive weight gain may be an indicator for some heart or kidney ailment. It is very important, thus a patient visits gynaecologist regularly so that if any problem is there, can be diagnosed early and treated.

Special circumstances: If you are carrying a multiple gestation, of course you should gain more weight. Your physician will discuss your ideal weight gain with you. Typically, for twins, the weight gain should be 14-18 kg, and for triplets or higher gestations, even more. Gaining too much weight can be a problem. It can make an unpleasant experience, causing backache, leg pain, varicose veins, and fatigue. It may lead to hypertension and diabetes. Excess weight may also be difficult to lose after delivery. Excessive weight gain may also cause problems for the baby. Technically, an overweight baby is one who weighs more than 4500 gm. Large babies do make vaginal deliveries difficult, increasing the risk for caesarean section. Overweight babies may have an increased risk for health problems later in life (eg, obesity, adult rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes). Women who are gaining too much weight during should follow the guidelines for healthy eating; avoid foods that do not have nutritional value; and consult a doctor, and dietitian.

Written by James · Filed Under Pregnancy 

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