How To Manage Weight Gain During Pregnancy

If you experience weight gain during pregnancy, you are certainly not alone. More than half of pregnant women are obese or overweight. You are said to be over-weighted in case your pregnancy BMI (Body Mass Index) is between 25.5 and 29.9. Your Body Mass Index reflects the relationship existing between your weight and height, and it is also an estimate for body fat. You are considered overweight or obese in case your BMI or greater than or equal to 30. The amount of weight you gain during pregnancy depends on your Body Mass Index: In case your BMI is 25.5 to 29.9: It is advisable that you gain between 16 and 25 pounds by the end of your pregnancy, or approx. 2 to 3 pounds every month in your third and second trimesters. In case your BMI is 30 or higher: You are advised to gain only 12 to 20 pounds while pregnant. A study which was published in 2010 in the Journal Obstetrics and Gynecology discovered that pregnant women who gained more than the required weight were fifty percent more likely to get gestational diabetes than aspiring moms whose weight stays within the recommended limits.

Can I eat to lose weight while pregnant?

Pregnancy is certainly not the time to go on any weight-loss diet. Minimizing your intake of food is potentially risky to you and your forthcoming baby. However, many overweight women do lose weight during pregnancy without going on any weight-loss diet. It is common during your first trimester, to lose weight due to morning sickness. Nausea could reduce your appetite, and also the vomiting can make you miss out on calories. But even so, your child will still get all the needed calories. Obese women have an additional reserve of calories in preserved fat, thus, as your child grows, it is not hazardous to maintain or even lose a little amount of weight at first. What’s risky is losing weight because you are intentionally trying to cut down on calories.

How to stay on track with weight gain in case you are overweight or obese

Eating healthy food and exercising can assist you in gaining more weight, and both could have a positive impact on your pregnancy, minimizing your vulnerability to pregnancy problems such as preeclampsia. They will also help you feel good during and after your pregnancy. More so, research, planning, and proper tracking help you eat well during pregnancy In case you need some assistance while planning your pregnancy meal, look for a registered dietitian. The United States Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) suggests that all women get counseling to assist them to achieve optimum health (which also has to do with a healthy weight and diet, before getting pregnant.) If you are a relative newcomer to fitness and exercise, begin with low-impact exercises such as swimming, low-impact aerobics, and walking. Do not begin an exercise regime without contacting your healthcare provider. Some women actually lose weight during pregnancy when they make a healthy lifestyle and diet changes. However, it is advisable to always check in with your doctor in case this happens to you.

Final Remark

It isn’t rare to gain much weight when pregnant. What is important is having an understanding of how to control too much weight gain.  If you are a newcomer to the world of motherhood, we recommend you carefully go through the tips discussed in this article, in order to make sure too much weight during pregnancy is regulated.