How to Control Weight Gain during Pregnancy

By: Gerald Fitz
Submitted: 2009-08-31 17:53:47
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It’s a fact that women gain weight during pregnancy.  You are growing another human being who, in the end, usually weight anywhere from six to nine pounds when he or she is born.  The saying “eating for two” is a myth.  You only really need to eat a few hundred more calories than you did before you were pregnant.

Most women who have an average weight will should gain 25-30 pounds when they are pregnant.  Where does all that weight go?  Well, the baby weighs about eight pounds and the placenta and amniotic fluid weigh about 4 pounds.  We are up to 12 pounds.  The breasts get bigger and the fat stored for breastfeeding and delivery equal to about seven pounds.  Your blood supply will add about four pounds and your uterus increasing weighs anywhere from two to five pounds. 

That right there is 25 to 28 pounds of added weight during pregnancy.  Experts say women generally gain two to four pounds during their first trimester and one pound a week through your second and third trimesters.  Of course if you are having twins, you will gain just a bit more because of the additional fetus.

Eating a healthy diet is a great way to not gain more weight than is necessary.  Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.  It is important to eat just as healthy as you did before you became pregnant.  Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains.  Choose low-fat dairy products and control those cravings for sweet snacks and other high calorie foods.  Exercising is another great way to control the weight gain.  Walking and swimming are good low-impact exercises to do while you are pregnant.    Be sure to talk with your doctor about starting an exercise routine, so nothing goes wrong.

Often weight gain during pregnancy scares many women and they try to lose the weight.  This is not safe.  Both mother and baby need certain nutrients to stay healthy. One way to ensure that you and your child are getting proper nutrition is to take a multivitamin or prenatal vitamin while you are pregnant.  Multivitamins give you added nutrients that are sometimes missed n our diets.  Folic acid is especially important to women who are pregnant.  It reduces the chance of the baby getting spina bifida, where the brain and the spine do not form correctly.  Make sure you talk with your doctor about which type of multivitamin is good for you.

Gaining a bit of weight during pregnancy is natural.  There are risks involved if you gain more than you should.  The baby could become too large or trouble with breastfeeding.  You may also retain that weight after giving birth and have higher weights with your later pregnancies.

If you stick to a healthy diet and moderate, low-impact exercise you will stay within the healthy range of weight gain.  Once the baby is born, most women want to shed those extra 25 pounds.  The best way to do this is eat a healthy, balance diet and continue with an exercise program to build lean muscle.  Building lean muscle will help you to burn more calories and get back to the weight you were before your pregnancy.

Article source: Expert Articles