Even women who are overweight before getting pregnant need to gain at least some weight during their terms, according to both Women’s Health and the March of Dimes. But gaining too much weight can hurt both mother and baby, even if the expectant mom was underweight before conception. Learning more about the average weight gains during pregnancy can greatly help expectant moms before, during and after delivery of a new son or daughter.
Average Weight Gain Statistics
Most women should gain an average of 25 to 30 lbs during pregnancy, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. However, moms who were underweight before conception should try to gain about 28 to 40 lbs; on the other hand, moms who were overweight before conception need to limit their weight gains to about 15 to 25 lbs.
Recommended Time Frame
Most of your pregnancy weight should be added during the last trimester, according to Women’s Health. On average, you should gain only about 2 to 4 lbs during the first three months of pregnancy and try to stick to adding about 3 to 4 lbs to your weight each month for the remainder of your term.
Types of Foods Recommended
Eating junk food might soothe a craving during pregnancy but should not be a common part of your pregnancy diet, according to the March of Dimes and Women’s Health. Generally, you should add about 300 calories a day to your diet during the second and third trimesters through eating healthy foods. Great choices for expectant moms include low-fat or fat-free milk and yogurt, whole grains, vegetables, fruits and lean protein. If you can’t eat at least 1,000 mg of calcium each day, then you should ask your doctor about taking a daily calcium supplement, advises Women’s Health.
Identification of Weight Gain
Only about 6 to 8 lbs of pregnancy weight gain is your actual growing baby, according to Women’s Health. The rest of the average weight gain sustained during pregnancy comes from increased breast size, fluid retention, the placenta and amniotic fluid and the increased size of the uterus during a term.
Losing Weight After Pregnancy
Taking off that pregnancy weight gain as soon as possible is critical toward your future health, warns Women’s Health. Moms who don’t immediately try to drop that pregnancy weight are at heightened risk of becoming obese later in life. Breastfeeding can be a great way to safely help shed pregnancy weight gain, as well as regularly drinking water and limiting junk food choices even after delivery.
Photo Credit
- pregnancy image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
