Many women love being pregnant. Glowing skin, happy moods, and the excitement and anticipation of a new baby are just a few of the reasons why the majority of women – despite the fatigue and morning sickness – say that their pregnancy was a positive experience. Unfortunately, there is one aspect of pregnancy that even the most positive of women dread: weight gain. This natural consequence of pregnancy can be cause for stress in some women, but, if you understand what to expect, weight gain will be little more than a bump in the road. Below you will find the top three questions and answers about pregnancy weight gain.
“How much weight gain is normal?”
There is no single answer to this question because the answer depends entirely on each individual woman’s specific circumstances. Weight gain is important during pregnancy because it enables you to support your growing child, but too much weight gain is unnecessary and could be unhealthy. Ultimately, only you and your doctor can determine exactly how much weight gain is normal for you, but there are some trends that can help to give you a general idea of what most women experience. Women with a normal body mass index who are in good physical condition, for example, often gain between 25 and 35 pounds during their pregnancy.
“Can I lose weight right now?”
The answer to this question is simple: No. Pregnancy is simply not a safe time to lose weight. In fact, even overweight women stand to gain between 15 and 25 pounds during their pregnancies. Pregnancy is a time to consume adequate calories and to eat as healthily and consciously as possible in order to support your growing child – not to cut calories and risk cutting nutrients as well.
“How long will it take to lose the weight?”
This is probably the question on every expecting mother’s mind. But again, the answer to this question depends on the individual woman. You should try to lose the baby weight within a reasonable amount of time because studies indicate that baby weight not lost within the first year after giving birth is likely to become permanent weight gain. And for many women, keeping their baby weight would mean remaining overweight to an unhealthy degree.
Losing weight too quickly, however, could harm your health and even your baby’s. If you are breastfeeding, in order to ensure that your breast milk remains nutrient rich and capable of providing your nursing infant with the healthy sustenance he or she needs, experts recommend that you avoid severely restricting calories at all during the first six weeks after you give birth.
After that, you can probably safely go about losing weight at a modest pace, using the weight loss methods that are best suited to your lifestyle. Exercise is helpful because it aids in weight loss, promotes overall health, and even (as unlikely as it may seem) increases your energy levels – something every new mother could use. If you choose to restrict calories while still breastfeeding, be sure to pay special attention to the nutrient density of the foods that you eat. If you are eating less, then in order to ensure that your baby receives nutritious milk, the foods that you eat must be as full of vital nutrients as possible – no junk food.
Although the prospect of gaining weight might seem daunting, rest assured that it is both healthy and natural. There’s always hope for losing the weight after your pregnancy, so for now, be patient. Let your appetite increase and your body expand in order to create and sustain a new life, and remember that the healthier you are now, the healthier your son or daughter will be.
Located near the Grandview Hospital’s Emergency Room entrance at the corner of Forest and Neal Avenues in Dayton, Ohio, Women’s Center-Dayton offers free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds, and a myriad of related services. Initial appointments to Women’s Center-Dayton can be scheduled on-line by going to our website: www.womenscenterohio.com/dayton.aspx.
