Normal Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Weight gain during pregnancy is a common feature associated with pregnancy. Although there are some women, who do not show any signs of weight gain during pregnancy. Very often people tell a pregnant women, that she has to eat for two when she is pregnant. However, what is healthy weight gain during pregnancy?

Pregnancy Weight Gain Chart

The average weight gain in pregnancy is 1 pound per week, which makes it 40 pounds through the whole pregnancy period. The pregnancy weight gain chart can be used as a guideline to determine the amount of healthy weight gain during pregnancy. What is the healthy weight gain during pregnancy for you will depend on many factors, including body mass index (BMI). Therefore, it is advisable that you speak with your health care professional to know what is the ideal weight gain for you. In case you are carrying twins or triplets the healthy weight gain will increase from what is mentioned in the pregnancy weight gain chart below. It is suggested to speak to the midwife or your health care professional about it.

Pre-pregnancy Weight	Healthy Weight Gain During Pregnancy
Underweight (With BMI less than 18.5)	28 to 40 pounds
Normal weight (With BMI 18.5 to 24.9)	25 to 35 pounds
Overweight (With BMI 25 to 29.9)	15 to 25 pounds
Obese (With BMI 30 or more than 30 )	11 to 20 pounds

Excessive Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Many complications may arise due to excessive weight gain during pregnancy. If the weight gain during pregnancy is excessive, there are chances of the baby being a large baby. The chances of early delivery also increases manifold. The cause of gestational diabetes is often linked to excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Excessive weight gain can also cause high blood pressure. It has been observed that women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy are at a higher risk of having a cesarean delivery. These women also retain a lot of this weight after delivery, which can give rise to a lot of health complications and also cause trouble during the next pregnancy. Children, whose mothers started their pregnancy being overweight themselves, are likely to develop childhood obesity. Therefore, it is important to keep the weight gain during prenatal care under check. You can, with the help of your health care provider, design an exercise schedule for yourself, to avoid excessive weight gain thus maintaining your health and wellness.

Insufficient Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Insufficient weight gain during pregnancy can also lead to you delivering your baby pre-term. If you gain less than what is recommended in pregnancy, there are chances that your baby will be born underweight. Usually underweight or pre-term babies suffer from health complications such as, like breathing problems, etc. right after they are born, at times it can also prove to be fatal for your baby. Sometimes, these babies also develop learning and motor function disabilities, as they grow old.

Tips to Average Weight Gain in Pregnancy

• The first step is to speak with your health care professional about the ideal weight gain for you.
• Ideally, 200-300 calories are to be added to your diet to achieve an ideal weight gain ratio.
• Chart out a plan for yourself, so that your diet has a healthy mix of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean protein and whole grains.
• Ask your health care professional if you can exercise. If they give you the permission, get a plan chalked out from them and follow the pregnancy exercises religiously.
• It is very important to keep yourself well hydrated. Drink plenty of water, milk and juices all through the pregnancy period.
• Get enough sleep and rest.

As mentioned in the tips, eat healthy for healthy weight gain during pregnancy, and there won't be any complications due to the weight. Avoid consumption of fatty foods. It is just going to add to your weight without adding any nutrient value to your diet.