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| |    Weight Gain during Pregnancy by Lisa Rodriguez, R.N. and Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. reviewed by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. The meaning of weight gain Many women spend much of their adult lives struggling to lose weight or avoiding extra pounds. No wonder that it's sometimes hard for women to allow themselves to gain appropriately for a pregnancy. It is important to remember that this weight gain is for a purpose--your body needs to accomplish a miracle! If you are worried about your weight gain or diet, discuss your concerns with your healthcare practitioner. Sometimes a consultation with a dietitian can also be helpful. General guidelines Most mothers-to-be have concerns about their weight gain, ranging from "Am I gaining too much weight?" to "Am I gaining enough?" Current guidelines recommend that you gain somewhere between 25-35 pounds during your pregnancy if you are an average-size person. A woman with a smaller frame should gain closer to 25 pounds, and a woman with a larger frame should gain closer to 35 pounds. If a woman already is overweight when she becomes pregnant, most practitioners suggest that she gain between 15-20 pounds. Your healthcare professional can help determine the appropriate weight gain in your particular case. Follow your appetite Don't use pregnancy as an excuse to eat, and, conversely, don't go crazy worrying that you're racking up the pounds. The main objective is to consume a healthy, well-balanced diet based on a variety of foods. A woman who is not pregnant needs between 1,800 and 2,200 calories per day. When you are pregnant, you need to increase your calories by about 300 per day. You will probably gain the right amount of weight if you generally eat healthy foods, and let your own appetite be your guide. Distribution of weight gain An ideal pregnancy weight gain starts with the addition of seven to 10 pounds in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Subsequently, during the second half of the pregnancy, you would gain around a half pound to a pound each week. Wondering where all those extra pounds are going? Here's how the weight gain is ideally distributed: Baby: 7 pounds Placenta: 1 pound Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds Blood volume: 4 pounds Body fluids: 3 pounds Uterus: 2 pounds Breasts: 1 pound Fat & protein storage: 7 pounds What if you are gaining more or less than the recommendations? The amount of weight you gain is important. Although many women worry that they are gaining too much, your practitioner will probably be more concerned if you are not gaining enough. Poor weight gain increases the chances that the baby will not get adequate nutrition or grow properly. Excess weight gain is not usually a medical problem. The biggest negative about gaining too much weight is that it may be depressing to contemplate trying to lose those pounds after the baby is born. Rapid weight gain, more than four pounds in a week, can be a sign of severe fluid retention from pre-eclampsia. If you notice rapid weight gain, discuss this with your practitioner. Special circumstances: twins or more If you are carrying a multiple gestation, of course you should gain more weight. Your physician will discuss your ideal weight gain with you. Typically for twins, the weight gain should be 35-45 pounds, and for triplets or higher gestations, even more.
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