Pregnancy weight gain is important, not just to supply sufficient nourishment to the baby, but also to gather adequate reserves for breast-feeding, since it takes about 1000-1500 calories to produce milk.
Pregnancy weight gain calculator estimates your ideal weight gain for each month of your pregnancy.
The amount of weight to be gained by an expecting mother depends on her pre-pregnancy weight.Ideal weight gain:- In women with normal BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, recommended pregnancy weight gain should be 25 to 35 lbs. (11 to 16 kg)
- In underweight women with BMI less than 18.5, recommended pregnancy weight gain should be 28 to 40 lbs. (13 to 18 kg)
- In overweight women with BMI between 25 and 29.9, recommended pregnancy weight gain should be 15 to 25 lbs (7 to 11 kg)
- In obese women with BMI 30 or more, recommended pregnancy weight gain should be 11 to 20 lbs. (5 to 9 kg)
In case of multiples (twins) the weight gain should ideally be 40-50 pounds (18-22.5 kg).
Obese women run the risk of being diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, which can at times be life-threatening to both mother and child.Here are some key points to remember on weight gain during pregnancy:
- Weight gain should be at a steady pace
- Sudden increase or loss in weight should be reported to the obstetricians
- Erratic weight gain may have adverse effects on the baby
- Sudden increase in weight may be a warning of pre-eclampsia
What are the effects of excessively high or low gestational weight gain?Excessive gestational weight gain can put the mother at perpetual risk of obesity post pregnancy. This is called postpartum weight retention. If you cannot lose pregnancy weight within 6 months, post-pregnancy, it puts you at high risk of further weight retention in the long run. This is harmful to the woman’s health.
Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), pre-eclampsia, varicose veins,
gestational diabetes, feeling more exhausted than normal, post-menopausal breast cancer risk are some of the risks of
excess weight gain during pregnancy. Moreover, women who have more than the recommended weight during pregnancy have higher chances of giving birth to obese children.
Similarly, being
underweight during pregnancy can lead to a low birth weight baby, and can increase the risk of premature birth. It also heightens chances of neo-natal death, that is, mortality with first few weeks of life. Women with less than the recommended weight during pregnancy also have an increased risk of having obese children.
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