Normal Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Posted on July 16, 2009 in Pregnancy & Labor by little mochi

I had a check up on Monday, July 13th.  I gained another 3 pounds since the last appointment, which was two weeks ago.  So, in total, I have gained 29 pounds.  I am definitely doing a lot better this time around.  I think I was at least 40 pounds over when I was pregnant with Little Mochi around this time frame.  Many of my colleagues comment on how great I look right now.  Isn’t that wonderful?!  I know I have put on a few pounds in places other than my belly.  But hey, if they can’t tell where it’s at, that’s great!

Normal weight gain for someone my size is around 25 – 37.  I may be a little over the “normal” weight gain during pregnancy, but that’s ok!  At this point in my pregnancy, I should be gaining approximately 1 – 2 pounds per week.   At the rate that I’m going, I’d be approximately 44 or 45 pounds.  That’s still much better than 53 pounds over!  Heck, I have heard of people gaining over 70 pounds during their 9 months!  It’s no wonder women opt for tummy tucks and boob jobs.

How much weight gain is considered a “healthy” weight gain anyway?  It really depends on your weight before you were pregnant. 

Regardless of how much weight you should gain, I have always wondered where the weight is during a woman’s pregnancy? I mean, the baby is only 7 or 8 pounds.  So why do women gain 30, 40, 50, or even 70 pounds?  Gaining weight is very important because it provides nutrients for the baby.  But it’s not like all the extra fat in our bodies are “nutrients!”  Well, here is a quick breakdown of the weight you gain:

It’s important to note that weight gain should be steady to avoid increased risk of hemorroids, varicose veins (yuck), stretch marks, indigestion, and shortness of breath.  Losing weight during the first trimester is OK since the baby does not need as many calories and nutrients as the last trimester of the pregnancy.  But if you are gaining weight (or even losing weight) too fast during the last trimester, be sure you talk to you doctor as it could be a sign of preeclampsia.



Comments

One Comment to “Normal Weight Gain During Pregnancy”

  1. Alexandra on December 7th, 2009 7:50 pm

    Very well said, I totally agree with you. Just to add on what you said, healthy living and healthy eating is a common sense guide to nutrition basics and portion control. Eating to lose weight doesn’t have to mean stressful calorie counting and precise measurements. You can lose weight without obsessing about what you can and can’t eat. Often the cravings we get are a result of stress, anxiety or another emotional event. Learning to effectively deal with these moments without tranquilizing yourself with food can make a big difference in your ability to lose weight. Keep writing and more power to your blog.

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