During your first trimester, which begins at conception and goes through your 13th week of pregnancy, you can expect to gain between 1 and 4.5 lbs., depending on your pre-pregnancy weight and the degree to which you experience symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. By the end of the 12th week, the average woman has gained about 2 lbs., according to MayoClinic.com. Losing weight in early pregnancy may or may not be cause for concern, depending on certain factors. If you experience weight-gain issues at any point in your pregnancy, seek the advice of your healthcare provider.
Pregnancy Weight Gain
The amount of weight you should gain over the course of your pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy body mass index, or BMI, score. It’s recommended that underweight women gain between 28 and 40 lbs. A healthy weight gain for overweight women is between 15 and 25 lbs., and it is less for obese women. Research suggests that 25 to 35 lbs. is the best weight-gain range for women of a healthy pre-pregnancy weight.
Not surprisingly, you’ll gain the least amount of weight during the first trimester. During your second and third trimesters, you might go through a couple of periods of rapid weight gain, or growth spurts. Likewise, you might also experience intermittent weeks of minimal weight gain.
Unintentional Weight Loss
The physiological changes you experience during early pregnancy include increased blood volume and new demands placed on your energy systems, both of which can result in persistent fatigue. Other first trimester symptoms include nausea and vomiting. Even though these symptoms are commonly known as “morning sickness,” they can occur any time. Losing weight in your first trimester due to a lack of appetite or the inability to keep food down isn’t usually cause for concern. Even if you do manage to eat through your nausea, it’s not likely that you’re eating a balanced diet. Your nutritional reserves will supply your baby in early pregnancy if you have a hard time getting the calories you need.
Intentional Weight Loss
Some women limit their calories during pregnancy in an effort to minimize weight gain or keep the baby on the small side, for what they imagine will be an easier delivery. Calorie restriction or dieting of any kind during pregnancy not only results in weight loss but also may seriously compromise the health of your baby. Undernourishment during pregnancy usually means an undernourished baby. A baby that’s smaller because it’s been deprived of nutrients has an increased risk of complications upon delivery and later growth and developmental issues. Further, babies that are denied nutrients in the womb have weaker, compromised organs.
Considerations
Healthy weight gain is an important part of every pregnancy. Just as gaining too much weight puts you at risk for gestational diabetes, pregnancy-related hypertension and delivery by cesarean section, gaining too little weight increases your risk of preterm delivery, or delivery before week 37. If you’ve unintentionally lost a few pounds in your first trimester, your body will likely make up for it in your second and third trimesters. Slow and steady weight gain is best during pregnancy, but losing a few pounds in the first trimester, going through a couple of rapid growth spurts and leveling off from time to time is generally fine, as long as your overall weight gain is on target.
References
- “Healthy Moms Perinatal Fitness Instructor Training Manual”; Sheila Watkins; 2007
- “Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy”; Roger W. Harms, Editor in Chief; 2004
- AskDrSears.com: Pregnancy & Childbirth: Gaining Weight
- BabyCenter; Plus-size and Pregnant: How to Manage Your Weight During Pregnancy; December 2009
Member Comments