Weight gain in pregnancy

During pregnancy, how much should I gain weight? This is one of the questions that most doubts generates pregnancy. Undoubtedly, if there is one of the issues that a pregnant woman gives more turns is the increase in weight in pregnancy, especially when it usually increases in the last trimester of pregnancy.

And it is not surprising: the aesthetic models that society follows leave out overweight people and also, the gynecologist's control of the weight of the pregnant woman, for the good health of the mother and the baby during pregnancy, It can lead to many obsessing about complying with medical recommendations or recovering their pre-pregnancy weight in record time.


What is the ideal weight that a woman should reach during pregnancy?

The truth is that every woman is different, as well as their needs and nutrition habits, both before and during pregnancy. There are those who habitually eat more and like everything and others are more concise in their eating habits.

According to experts, it is recommended that a woman with a normal weight gain between 11.6 and 16 kg, but that does not mean that women who gain more or less weight will not bring healthy children to the world. And is that the issue of weight in pregnancy does not seem to be an exact science.

Do not eat for two, do not eat well

During pregnancy, additional energy is needed to solve the metabolic needs of pregnancy. The pregnant woman has to synthesize many new tissues (such as the mammary glands), at the same time that the uterine tissue thickens, the adipose tissue increases, the fetus and the placenta develop.


The energy needs vary depending on the weight of the woman before pregnancy and the type of physical activity she performs. In any case, with an increase of 300 Kcal. daily they are able to cover the energy needs of the pregnant woman. However, this energy should not be provided in any way, but adapted to the specific needs of each stage of pregnancy and using those foods that contain the right nutrients. Unless the maternal reserves were exhausted at the beginning of pregnancy, it is convenient that the 300 kcal. daily are added only in the second and third trimesters.

It is good to remember that fetal growth "only" is adequate when the mother has sufficient reserves in her bodily deposits. For this reason, the caloric restrictions to which some mothers submit "of their own will" are totally inadvisable, disregarding the advice of specialists and with the sole objective of preserving their figure. Equally erroneous is the popular belief that during pregnancy a woman must "eat for two" and there continue to be cases of gestational weight gain of 20 to 25 kg., Well above 11.6 and 16 kg. recommended in people of normal weight.


How much can I gain in pregnancy?

On the other hand, it is very important to distribute meals throughout the day and not eat only when you are hungry. The disorder in the schedules can give rise to situations of hypoglycemia or of excessive weight gain because of being continually "stinging".

If you were pregnant when you were:

- Low weight you must fatten between 12,7-18 Kg
- Normal weight you must fatten between 11-15,9 Kg
- Excess weight you must fatten between 6,8-11 Kg
- In case of twin pregnancy you must fatten between 15,9-20,4 Kg

Where does the gained weight come from?

Logically, the weight gained during pregnancy is distributed throughout the body. And the approximate distribution is the following, in the case that we take on average a weight gain of 12.6 kg:
- Blood volume: 1.3 kg.
- Chest: 0.4 kg.
- Uterus: 1 kg.
- Fetus: 3.4 kg.
- Placenta: 0.7 kg.
- Amniotic fluid: 0.8 kg.
- Fat: 3.5 kg.
- Retained liquid: 1.5 kg (although it can reach 4.5 kg).

The birth of the baby supposes the immediate loss of five kilos, divided between the small one, the placenta and the amniotic fluid. In addition, subsequent breastfeeding will help the mother burn calories. If the mother eats well and performs exercise, she will recover her normal weight in a short time.

Cristina Murcia

Video: How Much Weight Should You Gain in Pregnancy? | Kaiser Permanente


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