Weight Gain During Pregnancy is Essential

Weight gain during pregnancy is natural, but there is a limit to what is healthy and what is simply too much.
The right amount of weight gain singles that a mother is getting all the foods and nutrients she needs and that the baby is receiving what is needed for healthy development and growth.

Most of us have heard the expression, “eating for two.” Well, this is true in a sense, but it should not be an excuse to double the intake of food. Generally, a pregnant women needs only to increase her caloric intake by 100 to 300 calories per day to satisfy the nutritional requirements of her baby.

Here are some numbers that should give expectant mothers a good idea of what to expect in terms of extra weight.

On average, you can add eight pounds for the actual weight of the baby. The placenta will weigh between two and three pounds. Add another two to three pounds for the amniotic fluid. The breast tissue should also be in the neighborhood of two to three pounds. Add four pounds for the additional blood supply and another five to nine pounds for stores of fat that will be used for delivery and breast feeding. The uterus can see an increase of two to five pounds. Do the math and the total gain will be between 25 and 35 pounds.

Anything significantly over this amount should not automatically be excused as part of the natural process, though it may not be a serious problem. A doctor can give a woman a better idea of what she can expect in this area based on her normal weight and body type. Actual weight gain may vary anywhere from 15 to 40 pounds with a single birth. Multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.) may involve more weight gain during pregnancy.