Gaining weight during pregnancy is healthy and necessary to support your baby's growth. However, your need to gain weight doesn't exempt you from getting exercise or eating a well-balanced diet. Failing to monitor your weight during your pregnancy could endanger you and your baby. Alternately, you will help give your baby the best start in life if you focus on gaining some healthy pounds.
Weight Gain Goals
Not all pregnant women should gain the same amount of weight. Generally, you should gain about 25 to 35 lbs. if you were in a healthy weight range prior to pregnancy, 28 to 40 lbs. if you were underweight, 15 to 25 lbs. if you were overweight and 11 to 20 lbs. if you were obese, according to BabyCenter.com. However, if you're pregnant with twins you should gain 35 to 45 lbs. depending on your weight prior to pregnancy. Communicate with your doctor to determine a goal based on your individual criteria. Also, keep in mind that you won't gain weight in an even fashion. You should only gain about 1 to 4 lbs. total in your first trimester and then 2 to 4 lbs. each month in the second and third trimesters.
Weight Gain Distribution
Your baby will only weigh about 6 to 8 lbs., which is just a fraction of the weight you can expect to gain during pregnancy. The rest of your weight gain will come from other body changes. Larger breasts will add on another 1 to 3 lbs., a larger uterus will add 2 lbs. or so, the placenta will weigh about 1 and ½ lbs., the amniotic fluid will weigh another 2 lbs., increases in blood and fluid volumes will add 6 to 8 lbs. and fat stores will add another 6 to 8 lbs., according to MayoClinic.com.
Risks of Gaining Too Little or Too Much
You are at increased risk of giving birth before term or having a baby with a low birth-weight if you begin your pregnancy underweight or don't gain enough weight during your pregnancy. On the other hand, you are at increased risk of needing a Cesarean section if you gain too much weight during your pregnancy. You are also more likely to have trouble breastfeeding, hold onto too much weight after your pregnancy, be at a higher weight in subsequent pregnancies and have a child who is overweight or obese, according to BabyCenter.com.
Supporting Healthy Weight Gain
Although it may seem like you need to gain a lot of extra weight, you don't truly need to "eat for two." Most pregnant women need about 300 extra calories every day. While you don't need to eat double the calories, you do need to consider that your baby eats what you eat. Pregnant women should consume about three servings of dairy products, three servings of protein, four servings of veggies, three servings of fruits and nine servings of whole grains every day, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Keep in touch with your health care provider to ensure that you are gaining weight at a healthy pace.
