Weight Gain
Did you know that your baby's birth weight is influenced by your pre-pregnant weight and the weight you gain during pregnancy? Current studies have shown that your baby’s weight has influence future risks, including development of diabetes, high blood press and heart disease. Because a mother’s weight gain during pregnancy is critical to her health and the health of her baby it is important to understand more about weight gain. So how much weight should you and your baby gain during your pregnancy?
"Where does all the weight I gain go during pregnancy?"
Baby: 7 to 8 pounds
Fat: 6 to 8 pounds
Increase in blood: 3 to 4 pounds
Water retention in your tissue: 2 to 3 pounds
Bag of water (amniotic fluid): 2 pounds
Breast enlargement: 1 to 3 pounds
Uterus: 2 pounds
Afterbirth: 1.5 pounds
"So how much weight should I gain?"
Determining what is a normal amount of weight to gain during pregnancy is individual to each mother. The recommended weight gain depends on if you start your pregnancy underweight, overweight or at a normal weight. You can use any BMI table (Body Mass Index) to calculate your beginning weight classification. You just need to know your weight and height to calculate your current weight classification.
Based on your BMI weight classification you will want to try to achieve the following recommended weight gain goals:
Underweight - weight gain of 28-40 pounds
Normal Weight - weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds
Overweight - weight gain of 11 to 20 pounds
Obese - weight gain of 11 to 20 pounds
Facts about your weight gain
- Your risk of having a cesarean delivery increases when you gain more weight than recommended.
- Your chances of delivering early are higher if you gain less weight than recommended.
- If you do not gain the recommended amount of weight, you may deliver a smaller baby.
- If you gain over the recommended amount of weight, chances are you will deliver a larger infant (greater than 8lbs 10oz).
- If you gain over the recommended amount of weight, you will have water retention longer after delivery.
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