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Pregnancy can be a blissful stage, as women can indulge in their cravings but it is also extremely crucial to monitor your weight. It is critical to manage pregnancy weight by adopting good lifestyle habits. The misconception of eating for two after you conceive does not indicate that you should eat twice as much as you already do. Therefore, you do not have to double your calorie intake too. Weight gain depends on your weight before pregnancy and body mass index (BMI).
A part of your weight gain during pregnancy will be because of body fat. The rest of the weight gain will be due to the following factors:
There is no fixed number as to how much weight you should gain as pregnancy is different for all women. However, you must take care that you do not gain “too much” or “too little” to keep you and your baby healthy and nourished.
On average, women should gain around 10-14 kgs during pregnancy to reduce any chances of complications among babies. There are also a few guidelines for different types of pregnancies which you can follow:
1. In multiple pregnancies with twins or more, women with a Body Mass Index of 30 or more must gain around 11-19 kgs
2. In single pregnancies, women with a Body Mass Index of 30 or more must gain around 5-9 kgs.
Also, the calorie intake during the first trimester has to be adjusted around how much you want to gain. The intake will increase during the second and third trimesters. An average pregnant woman will increase calorie intake by taking 300 calories more in a day.
You might also lose weight during the first few months due to normal morning sickness. But you should not lose any weight purposely, as this can impact your baby’s health as well.
If you are overweight during pregnancy, it can increase the chances of several health risks for you like:
Gaining “too much” weight can also affect your baby and pose several health risks like:
If you were overweight before pregnancy, you might need to gain only 6-11 kgs to stay healthy and fit.
If you remain underweight throughout the pregnancy, your baby might be smaller. Therefore, it is crucial to consider gaining weight to keep your baby healthy. Underweight women must gain around 12-18 kgs during pregnancy.
You can ensure a healthy Body Mass Index to eliminate any risks by following a few steps:
You must do regular physical activities during pregnancy, only after consulting your healthcare provider. Try some gentle exercises every day for a few minutes. You can go for a walk and make a few lifestyle changes like using stairs instead of taking lifts or escalators.
Make a few changes in your diet and opt for healthy eating. Increase your calorie intake only to a certain level to manage a healthy weight. You can take the help of a dietician who can give you suggestions for managing a healthy and nutritious diet.
If you are planning a pregnancy, visit your doctor to talk about your current health status and BMI. If you are too overweight or underweight, your doctor can suggest some lifestyle changes which you must follow to reach a healthy weight before you conceive.
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Dr Asha Hiremath is an obstetrician, a gynaecologist and laproscopic surgeon, Motherhood Hospitals. She has over 23 years of experience. She specialises in laparoscopic surgeries, non-surgical treatment for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB), and infertility disorder. She is an expert in dealing with high risk pregnancies, Endoscopic procedures, Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).Her interest lies in Laparoscopic Surgeries, non-surgical treatment for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB), and infertility disorder. ...Read More
