All women, one way or another, pay attention to their weight, but if ordinary life diets, physical activity and other activities are designed only for your body, then with the onset of pregnancy you are responsible for the health of both. And, therefore, in a special state the norms will be different. In our article we will use the terms “weight” and “body weight”, in this context they are the same thing.
Total weight gain during pregnancy- This is an indicator of weight gain from the moment of diagnosed pregnancy until childbirth.
The biological value of weight gain during pregnancy is to provide additional protection for ovum and fruit containers. During pregnancy, adipose tissue is deposited mainly in the area of the mammary glands, buttocks, thighs and abdomen. In addition to mechanical protection, fat plays an energy-storing role in case of hunger; it happened evolutionarily and your body simply performs its assigned task.
Why control your weight during pregnancy?
Optimal weight gain is one of the indicators of a normal pregnancy.
When registering you will be asked:
Do your blood relatives (mother, grandmother, Native sister) obesity, diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome (complex metabolic disorder),
Have you been overweight before?
Have you had any sudden weight gain or loss and, if so, how did it affect your menstrual cycle?
How much weight did you gain during your previous pregnancy (if this is not your first pregnancy), did you regain your weight and how quickly.
They will also measure your height and weight.
Weight control is carried out every appearance and helps to suspect the development of various pathological conditions. At home, body weight control is carried out weekly, in the morning you weigh yourself on an empty stomach, after the morning toilet, in the same clothes. It is expected that when you come to your appointment, you will weigh yourself in approximately the same clothes to avoid diagnostic errors.
Initially, a woman has a certain weight indicator; the body mass index is used to objectively assess it.
Body Mass Index (BMI)– a relative value that allows us to assess the degree to which a person’s mass corresponds to his height.
To calculate BMI, the height in meters must be squared (for example, 1.75 × 1.75 = 3.06). Then divide the weight in kilograms by the square of height (for example, 67 ÷ 3.06 = 21.9 and this is the norm).
BMI< 16 – выраженный дефицит массы тела (истощение)
BMI = 16-18.5 – underweight
BMI = 18.5-25 – normal weight
BMI = 25-30 – overweight
BMI = 30-35 – first degree obesity
BMI = 35-40 – second degree obesity
BMI = 40 or more – third degree obesity or morbid (pathological, painful).
Taking into account the initial body weight, the permissible weight gain will be calculated.
Women with a BMI less than 16
Young pregnant women (under 18 years of age) who are still growing and need optimal nutritional intake
Women with multiple pregnancy(especially if these are triplets/quadruples, etc.).
For other patients the following is given: table of total body weight gain during pregnancy.
Body weight gain by week.
Weight gain occurs unevenly, about 40% of the increase occurs in the first half of pregnancy, and 60% in the second.
Not all women experience weight gain from the very beginning of pregnancy. In the first weeks, there may even be a decrease in body weight caused by toxicosis, vomiting during pregnancy, and loss of appetite. For some women, the increase begins only at 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Weight gain occurs not only due to the accumulation of fat mass in the mother and increased weight of the fetus. Weight gain is a collective concept and includes several components:
1) Full-term fetus (indicators from 2500 to 4000 grams are considered normal, average weight 3500 grams)
2) Placenta (weight about 600 grams)
3) Umbilical cord and membranes (about 500 – 600 grams)
4) Amniotic fluid or amniotic fluid (approximately 1 liter)
5) Uterus (during pregnancy, the uterus stretches significantly, muscle fibers are rearranged, it receives a massive blood supply, and its weight is about 1 kg)
6) The volume of circulating blood in the “mother – placenta – fetus” system (or “third circle of blood circulation”, which is 1.5 – 2 liters)
7) Deposition of subcutaneous fat, gradual development of mammary glands (about 2 - 3 kg)
We bring a table showing approximate weight gain by week of pregnancy. However, you should always discuss this issue with the obstetrician-gynecologist caring for your pregnancy.
| Gestational age in weeks | Initial BMI<18.5 | Initial BMI 18.5 - 25 | Initial BMI 30 or more |
| 4 | 0 – 0.9 kg | 0 – 0.7 kg | 0 – 0.5 kg |
| 6 | 0 – 1.4 kg | 0 – 1 kg | 0 – 0.6 kg |
| 8 | 0 – 1.6 kg | 0 – 1.2 kg | 0 – 0.7 kg |
| 10 | 0 – 1.8 kg | 0 – 1.3 kg | 0 – 0.8 kg |
| 12 | 0 – 2 kg | 0 – 1.5 kg | 0 – 1 kg |
| 14 | 0.5 – 2.7 kg | 0.5 – 2 kg | 0.5 – 1.2 kg |
| 16 | Up to 3.6 kg | Up to 3 kg | Up to 1.4 kg |
| 18 | Up to 4.6 kg | Up to 4 kg | Up to 2.3 kg |
| 20 | Up to 6 kg | Up to 5.9 kg | Up to 2.9 kg |
| 22 | Up to 7.2 kg | Up to 7 kg | Up to 3.4 kg |
| 24 | Up to 8.6 kg | Up to 8.5 kg | Up to 3.9 kg |
| 26 | Up to 10 kg | Up to 10 kg | Up to 5 kg |
| 28 | Up to 13 kg | Up to 11 kg | Up to 5.4 kg |
| 30 | Up to 14 kg | Up to 12 kg | Up to 5.9 kg |
| 32 | Up to 15 kg | Up to 13 kg | Up to 6.4 kg |
| 34 | Up to 16 kg | Up to 14 kg | Up to 7.3 kg |
| 36 | Up to 17 kg | Up to 15 kg | Up to 7.9 kg |
| 38 | Up to 18 kg | Up to 16 kg | Up to 8.6 kg |
| 40 | Up to 18 kg | Up to 16 kg | Up to 9.1 kg |
Of all the indicators that add up to total body weight gain, we are especially concerned about fetal growth, since low birth weight is associated with a greater risk of many diseases.
| Gestational age in weeks | Fruit weight in grams |
| 11 | 11 |
| 12 | 19 |
| 13 | 31 |
| 14 | 52 |
| 15 | 77 |
| 16 | 118 |
| 17 | 160 |
| 18 | 217 |
| 19 | 270 |
| 20 | 345 |
| 21 | 416 |
| 22 | 506 |
| 23 | 607 |
| 24 | 733 |
| 25 | 844 |
| 26 | 969 |
| 27 | 1135 |
| 28 | 1319 |
| 29 | 1482 |
| 30 | 1636 |
| 31 | 1779 |
| 32 | 1930 |
| 33 | 2088 |
| 34 | 2248 |
| 35 | 2414 |
| 36 | 2612 |
| 37 | 2820 |
| 38 | 2992 |
| 39 | 3170 |
| 40 | 3373 |
All indicators given here are of an average nature, and you should not thoroughly check your ultrasound data with our table. The main thing in monitoring the growth of the fetus is not even the absolute body weight, but the dynamics of its increase. At the beginning of pregnancy, the rate of increase is about 10–60 grams per week, and in the third trimester it is already about 100–300 grams per week. We have provided approximate values, and if you are worried about the baby’s weight, you should additionally ask your obstetrician-gynecologist.
Normally, weight gain during pregnancy is smooth, without sudden jumps, and ultimately falls within the given norms. However, this is not always the case.
Excessive weight gain
Excessive weight gain can be diagnosed for a certain period (for example, if the weight gain in 1 week was 4 kg) or for the entire period of pregnancy. The earlier the tendency to pathological weight gain is identified, the more effective the treatment.
Criteria for excess weight gain:
More than 2 kg in 1 week at any period
- more than 4 kg in total in the first 3 months
- more than 1.5 kg monthly during the second trimester
- more than 800 grams in 1 week in the third trimester
Causes:
Overeating/poor nutrition (excessive consumption of salt, simple carbohydrates, fatty foods, foods with preservatives, fast food)
Excessive fluid intake
Sedentary lifestyle
Chronic diseases that existed before pregnancy (diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, varicose veins and others)
Complications or what are the dangers of being overweight during pregnancy?
For mother:
1. Increased blood pressure
2. Development of edema
3. Development of preeclampsia
4. Gestational diabetes mellitus
5. Varicose veins
6. Urinary tract complications (gestational pyelonephritis)
7. Symphysiopathies and other complications of the musculoskeletal system
8. Premature aging of the placenta
9. Threat of premature birth (the main reason will be hormonal imbalance)
10. Risk of post-term pregnancy, weakness of labor or incoordination of labor
11. Risk of PIV (premature rupture of amniotic fluid)
12. Technical difficulties during caesarean section
First of all, women with excessive weight gain are at risk for developing preeclampsia. If alarming weight changes are detected, the patient will be examined by a doctor more often, and according to indications, further examination will be prescribed or hospitalization will be suggested.
For a child:
1. Fetal hypotrophy or, conversely, the birth of large children (over 4000 grams) or giant children (over 5000 grams).
2. Fetal hypoxia due to placental disorders
3. Disproportional development (inconsistency in the development of the sizes of the head, shoulder girdle and pelvis). This point is especially important when the mother develops gestational diabetes mellitus, since in this case diabetic fetopathy develops (“fetos” - fetus translated from Greek “fetus”), which includes many indicators, including obesity in the shoulder girdle, which creates difficulty during childbirth and increases the risk of birth trauma.
4. Increased risk of neurological pathology (convulsive syndrome and others)
5. Increased risk of obesity and diabetes in the future
What to do?
I. Examination
1) Complete blood count (CBC)
2) General urine analysis or OAM (primarily the presence of protein in the urine)
3) Biochemical blood test or BAC (primarily blood sugar)
4) Consultation with a therapist, endocrinologist
5) Daily blood pressure monitoring according to indications
6) Monitoring the condition of the fetus (ultrasound, Dopplerometry, cardiotocography)
II. Treatment
1) Balanced diet.
The simplest recommendation at first glance would be “eat right,” but it is more difficult to implement than buying pills at the pharmacy. You should treat menu planning and meal planning as a regular task that cannot be put off. The time while you carry your baby under your heart is given so that you give him the maximum possible.
The assurances of others that now you have to “eat for two” is a fundamentally incorrect statement. The calorie content of food should increase by an average of 200-300 kilocalories per day, but the consumption of protein, iron, calcium, folate and other macro- and micronutrients actually increases significantly, but these useful elements are usually found in low-calorie foods (liver, low-fat meat, milk and lettuce).
The daily diet should include three main meals and two to three snacks.
Healthy snacks include fruits, vegetables, unsweetened yogurt, and bran bread croutons. You should always have a snack with you.
A pregnant woman should never be hungry!
It is recommended to include in the diet: lean meat in boiled, baked and grilled forms, all types of fish, eggs, all dairy and fermented milk products (limit sour cream, heavy cream and butter), vegetables (limit potatoes, consume them boiled or baked), fruits ( limit grapes, bananas, melon), dried fruits, cereals (limit semolina and polished rice), bran bread/gray bread, legumes (if their consumption does not cause flatulence and does not affect stool), vegetable oils for salad dressing.
In limited quantities: fried foods, marmalade, chocolate, marshmallows, marshmallows, honey, nuts, candied fruits, potatoes, bananas, grapes, melon, butter, heavy cream, sour cream.
Salt provokes the retention of excess fluid in the tissues, which can lead to the development of edema. It is very difficult to calculate the recommended 5 grams of salt per day, but try, at a minimum, not to add salt to prepared foods, use mustard and lemon juice for salad dressings, and avoid foods with a high salt content (sausages and sausages, chips, ready-made croutons, etc. ).
You can also arrange fasting days (kefir, curd, vegetable, apple). On such days, you leave yourself a full lunch, and replace other meals with the selected product. But you should not be hungry; the rule of 5-6 meals a day must be followed.
It is also necessary to observe the optimal drinking regime . On average, the volume of liquid consumed per day should be 1200 - 1500 ml, this includes tea, coffee and other drinks, liquid in soups and cereals, as well as fruits and vegetables. It will not be possible to calculate exactly, but this is not required; it is important to understand the approximate volume. Most of the volume consumed should be clean water.
2) Combating constipation.
Irregular bowel activity leads to the formation of gases and makes it difficult to absorb even the beneficial substances that you consume, so you should strive to ensure that stool retention does not last more than 1 - 2 days.
Eat a salad of white cabbage, carrots and boiled beets at night
- eat 6 dried apricots or prunes daily
- if these products are ineffective during pregnancy, it is allowed to use osmotic laxatives based on lactulose (Normaze, Duphalac, Romphalac, Goodlac, Laktulozashtada), take them 2-3 times a day, 1 tablespoon. Sometimes 1 tablespoon of the drug at night is enough to have stool in the morning.
Fitness for pregnant women is now gaining popularity; in fact, much of the program can be done at home, especially if you purchase a fitball (a soft, large-sized rubber gymnastic ball).
Any physical activity should be consistent with the well-being and tone of the uterus.
4) Herbal diuretics(if weight gain is due to edema).
Canephron is used (2 tablets 3 times a day), brusniver (brew 1 filter bag 3-4 times a day), the duration of taking both drugs is determined by your doctor.
Also in this case, positional therapy will be beneficial: take the knee-elbow position for 3-15 minutes, up to 6 times a day, depending on how you feel.
Diet with limited carbohydrates, insulin therapy as indicated.
Insufficient weight gain.
Insufficient weight gain means that the pregnant woman’s body does not receive enough nutrients and vitamins. If the mother does not receive enough nutrition, then the unborn baby will soon be deprived.
Causes:
Poor nutrition/malnutrition
Long-term chronic diseases (cardiovascular and bronchopulmonary diseases, diseases of the digestive tract, infectious diseases, including HIV infection and hepatitis)
Bad habits (smoking, alcohol, psychoactive substances)
Poor nutrition is the most common cause, and it does not always affect socially disadvantaged patients. It should be remembered that pregnancy is not the time for dieting. We have given recommendations for nutritious nutrition above. The only difference is that patients with insufficient weight gain do not need to limit themselves to eating bananas, full-fat dairy products and vegetable oil.
The approach to bad habits is obvious; they are incompatible with pregnancy, and you should quit as soon as you find out that you are pregnant.
Complications caused by insufficient weight gain:
For mother:
1) Complicated pregnancy (threat of miscarriage)
2) Complicated course of labor (discoordination of labor, weakness of labor forces)
3) Anemia, hypovitaminosis (manifestations will be weakness, fatigue, dry skin, hair loss)
For a child:
1) Fetal hypotrophy (low weight), fetal growth restriction (lag behind the gestational age).
2) Chronic fetal hypoxia, increases the risk of antenatal fetal death.
3) The frequency of developmental defects increases (with folic acid deficiency, the risk of nervous system defects increases), and the risk of immunodeficiency in the future.
What to do?
I. Examination
1) UAC
2) OAM
3) TANK
4) Ultrasound internal organs and kidneys
5) Screening for STIs according to indications
6) Consultations with specialized specialists (infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist, nephrologist)
II. Treatment
1) Balanced nutrition (see above)
2) Additional food.
Pregnant women with insufficient body weight and/or anemia (starting from moderate severity) are prescribed additional nutrition free of charge, for example, dry instant mixture Juno, which is taken 3 tablespoons per day.
3) Treatment of vomiting during pregnancy
Toxicosis in the first half of pregnancy and vomiting during pregnancy lead to a sharp decrease in appetite, aversion to food and, as a result, weight loss. The nutrition of such patients should be very fractional, in small portions (if this means that you will eat a cracker or a spoonful of yogurt 10-12 times a day, then this means that this is your diet for this period), the food should be gentle in temperature and consistency . It is also necessary to replenish lost fluid and drink at least 1500 ml of fluid per day (weak tea, mineral water, natural juices and clean water). Vomiting of a pregnant woman, which is repeated more than 6 times a day and leads to decreased ability to work, requires medical intervention and fluid replenishment with intravenous saline solutions.
4) Monitoring and treatment of chronic diseases.
Pregnancy in the presence of chronic diseases should be carefully planned, and the diseases should be in the stage of compensation. If pregnancy is unplanned, you should visit a specialized specialist as early as possible.
Pregnancy is a wonderful period in a woman’s life that cannot be repeated, but along with the joy of expecting a baby, you also acquire great responsibility. And, in a sense, pregnancy is work, so menu planning, doctor visits and diagnostic procedures, and regular weight monitoring should be treated as work tasks. And the result will be a successful pregnancy, your good health, uncomplicated childbirth and a healthy baby. Take care of yourself and be healthy!
Obstetrician-gynecologist Petrova A.V.
Pregnancy is a period in a woman’s life when every kilogram gained is perceived joyfully. And if in the first trimester the weight of the expectant mother changes slightly, then from there it begins to grow steadily. During this period, it is important not to go “beyond what is permitted” and not to gain excess weight, which can significantly complicate the process of pregnancy and, accordingly, the birth itself.
Weigh ourselves correctly
Weighing is a mandatory ritual for a pregnant woman. The most accurate readings can be obtained by stepping on the scale in the morning before breakfast. For this procedure, choose one piece of clothing and try not to change it each time you weigh yourself: this way you will see the most accurate indicators of weight change. Write down the resulting numbers in a special notebook.
In addition, once a month (after 28 weeks - 2 times) before going to see a doctor, the expectant mother is weighed at the antenatal clinic.
Average weight gain during pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman must gain from 9 to 14 kg, while waiting twins – from 16 to 21 kg. It is worth emphasizing that this indicator is calculated based on average data and can vary up and down.
IN first trimester the weight does not change much: a woman usually gains no more than 2 kg. Already starting from the second trimester it changes more rapidly: 1 kg per month (or up to 300 g per week), and after seven months – up to 400 g per week (about 50 g per day). A bad signal will be a complete lack of weight gain or a rapid jump.
Such a calculation does not always show the real picture of weight changes, because some women can gain a lot of weight at the very beginning of pregnancy, while others, on the contrary, gain weight before giving birth.
Why does a woman gain weight during pregnancy?
The bulk of the gained kilograms falls on the child himself, whose weight, on average, is about 3-4 kg. Doctors allocate exactly the same amount for body fat. The uterus and amniotic fluid weigh up to 2 kg, the increase in blood volume is about 1.5-1.7 kg. At the same time, the afterbirth and enlargement of the mammary glands (0.5 kg each point) are not lost from attention. The weight of additional fluid in a pregnant woman's body can range from 1.5 to 2.8 kg.
Based on these calculations, the expectant mother can gain up to 14 kg of weight and not worry about extra pounds.
Factors influencing the number of kilograms gained
A number of factors influence how many kilograms a woman will ultimately gain during pregnancy:
- initial weight of the expectant mother
It is interesting that thin young ladies gain weight much faster than ladies with a body. And the farther from the norm their “pre-pregnancy” weight was, the faster it will change in a positive direction during the process of bearing the baby.
- tendency to corpulence
Even if you adhered to a strict diet and performed effective exercise before pregnancy, during the happy expectation nature will still give you a couple of extra pounds.
- large fruit
This is a natural indicator. A woman expecting a large baby will gain more than the average weight.
- dropsy of pregnancy
Edema signals the accumulation of a large amount of fluid in the body, which also tends to “weight down” its owner.
- toxicosis of the first and gestosis of the third trimester of pregnancy
The nausea and vomiting that often accompanies these conditions can lead to weight loss.
- increased appetite
A pregnant woman simply must take control of this factor, which is directly related to an increase in estrogen levels, otherwise she faces gaining extra, absolutely unnecessary kilograms.
- polyhydramnios
An increase in the amount of amniotic fluid also affects the number of kilograms that the scale arrow shows.
- age
In adulthood, a woman is more likely to exceed the weight gain norms set by doctors.
Formula for calculating the rate of weight gain during pregnancy
Each pregnant woman can independently calculate the weight gain during pregnancy that is acceptable for her body type. First you need to get your body mass index (BMI). It is calculated very easily: you need to divide your weight in kilograms by your height in square meters.
Pregnancy weight gain chart
There is a conditional division of women into body types based on body mass index:
- Group 1 (up to 19.8) – thin women;
- Group 2 (19.8-26) – women of average build;
- Group 3 (from 26) – obese women.
Knowing the index, simply check your readings during weighing with the numbers in a special table:
| Week of pregnancy | BMI<19.8 | BMI = 19.8 – 26.0 | BMI>26.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight gain, kg | |||
| 2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| 6 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
| 8 | 1.6. | 1.2 | 0.7 |
| 10 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| 12 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.9 |
| 14 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 |
| 16 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.4 |
| 18 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 2.3 |
| 20 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 2.9 |
| 22 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 3.4 |
| 24 | 7.7 | 6.4 | 3.9 |
| 26 | 8.6 | 7.7 | 5.0 |
| 28 | 9.8 | 8.2 | 5.4 |
| 30 | 10.2 | 9.1 | 5.9 |
| 32 | 11.3 | 10.0 | 6.4 |
| 34 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 7.3 |
| 36 | 13.6 | 11.8 | 7.9 |
| 38 | 14.5 | 12.7 | 8.6 |
| 40 | 15.2 | 13.6 | 9.1 |
When calculating acceptable weight gain, you can also be guided by the scale of average physiological gain, which doctors use starting from the 7th month of pregnancy. Based on the data on this scale, the expectant mother should gain about 20 g per week for every 10 cm of her height.
Immediately after conception, a woman’s body begins preparing for the intrauterine formation of the fetus. The production of estrogen and progesterone increases, the body fat increases, and the level invariably goes up. Weight gain by week during pregnancy is measured for the reason that any significant deviation entails pathologies in the development of the child or complications in the health of the mother.
When does a pregnant woman start gaining weight?
In the first months, weight gain is almost unnoticeable. The embryo has just attached to the wall of the uterus, the placenta has begun its formation, and the body is preparing for pregnancy. Therefore, the first trimester is characterized by the fact that this weight increases by only 1-2 kilograms. In rare cases, due to toxicosis, the girl’s parameters will remain unchanged or, conversely, become lower.The second trimester is due to the rapid growth of the child; the weekly norm, depending on individual characteristics, is about 300 grams. If the arrow stays still when weighing, this indicates problems with intrauterine development and additional diagnostic measures will be prescribed to determine the cause.
By the time of birth, the set should reach 9 - 14 kg from the initial figure. Experts calculate this figure using various methods, but in recent weeks special attention has been paid to the scale of average physiological increase. According to which a woman’s body weight depends on her height, for every 10 cm of height there are 22 grams.
How much weight should a pregnant woman gain?
The minimum weight gain is on average 9-10 kilograms, but in order to understand how much weight you can gain, you need to take into account some factors:- child – from 3 to 4 kg;
- uterus – up to 0.9 kg;
- placenta - up to 500 grams;
- amniotic fluid – up to 0.9 kg;
- breast enlargement – up to 0.5 kg;
- increased blood flow – up to 1.0 kg;
- fat layer – up to 2.3 kg.
Pathological weight gain indicates too rapid weight growth, which occurs due to the consumption of excess amounts of high-calorie foods, impaired renal function and fluid retention in tissues, as well as due to the development of hypothyroidism (lack of production of thyroid hormones).
When diagnosing such pathologies, competent treatment is required to restore the functionality of the urinary and endocrine systems.
Normal weight gain during pregnancy by week
Weight increases unevenly over the weeks, depending on which trimester is taken into account in the calculation. The first months of gestation are determined by almost zero marks. Normally, the expectant mother needs to gain up to 2.5 kg, often the parameters at this stage remain in place, this is also considered a variant of the norm.Indicators for the next period increase significantly due to the active development of the fetus. In the second trimester, there is a dependence on the girl’s constitution and body mass index (BMI). So, the rate of increase during pregnancy in 7 days is:
- a woman with a deficiency should add no more than 500 grams;
- normal weight – up to 450 g;
- excess – up to 300 g.
Pregnancy weight gain chart
Table of weight gain during pregnancy by week
In order to independently determine the standards, you must first calculate your BMI. The formula is quite simple and does not require complex calculations:For example, a girl is 67 kg, with a height of 1.69 m, then the BMI will be 19.8, which is a normal indicator. For overweight people the index is more than 26, and for thin people it is less than 19.8.
A table of weight gain during pregnancy will help you find out the parameters in accordance with the calculated BMI:
| Week of pregnancy | Your BMI<19,8 | Your BMI=19.8-26.0 | Your BMI>26.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0,5 | 0,5 | 0,5 |
| 4 | 0,9 | 0,7 | 0,5 |
| 6 | 1,4 | 1,0 | 0,6 |
| 8 | 1,6 | 1,2 | 0,7 |
| 10 | 1,8 | 1,3 | 0,8 |
| 12 | 2,0 | 1,5 | 0,9 |
| 14 | 2,7 | 1,9 | 1,0 |
| 16 | 3,2 | 2,3 | 1,4 |
| 18 | 4,5 | 3,6 | 2,3 |
| 20 | 5,4 | 4,8 | 2,9 |
| 22 | 6,8 | 5,7 | 3,4 |
| 24 | 7,7 | 6,4 | 3,9 |
| 26 | 8,6 | 7,7 | 5,0 |
| 28 | 9,8 | 8,2 | 5,4 |
| 30 | 10,2 | 9,1 | 5,9 |
| 32 | 11,3 | 10 | 6,4 |
| 34 | 12,5 | 10,9 | 7,3 |
| 36 | 13,6 | 11,8 | 7,9 |
| 38 | 14,5 | 12,7 | 8,6 |
| 40 | 15,2 | 13,6 | 9,1 |
You can notice that overweight women do not gain kilograms over a 9-month period, while girls with a thinner build, on the contrary, achieve normal levels.
A slight deviation is considered normal, and not a pathology that requires medical intervention.
Norm of weight gain during pregnancy by month table
In the first trimester, an increase may not be observed at all; often the figure decreases due to toxicosis, bad habits and stressful situations. If we take into account the norm by month, then there is an uneven increase in kilograms. However, the boundaries may be blurred due to genetic characteristics and additional factors affecting the course of pregnancy.Increase table every 30 days:
The table shows that the standard can either increase or decrease, which indicates the occurrence of morning sickness or the worries of the expectant mother.
At the doctor’s appointment, initially they weigh themselves only once every 30 days, since the figure does not undergo significant changes. In the future, the indicator is studied much more often, up to every week, while specialists try to schedule an examination and consultation at the same time, so as not to distort the results of the parameters over time.
Why there is no weight gain during pregnancy
Long-term toxicosis leads to dehydration and lack of weight; this pathology requires a more thorough examination to identify the causes and subsequent treatment in a hospital setting. IVs, vitamins and complete rest are prescribed.If there is no weight gain during pregnancy, then the child does not receive enough nutrients, and there is a high risk of developing hypoxia (oxygen starvation). Doctors, in this case, recommend increasing the calorie content of meals, as well as stimulating appetite through fractional meals (about 6 meals per day).
To normalize the indicator, you should drink a large number of liquids for better metabolism and constantly carry with you, for snacking, dried fruits, nuts, bananas or candied fruits. Peanut butter contains a lot of protein and energy, so this product will become indispensable if there is a lack of muscle mass and fat formation.
If you have no appetite, you need to force yourself to eat in small pieces, it is better to sit in a comfortable environment, to improve the psycho-emotional component. Going out into nature, picnics by the water stimulate the taste buds, so nutrition will be beneficial, and fresh air will fill the body with oxygen.
Weight gain during pregnancy is a pressing problem in modern obstetrics. The average body mass index of women of all ages is increasing, many of them are obese before pregnancy, which leads to threats to the health of the expectant mother and child. Also, many women become pregnant later in life while already suffering from diseases such as hypertension or diabetes, which increase the risk of complications. Therefore, controlling pregnancy weight is an important component of having a healthy baby.
Since the 1970s of the last century, the answer to the question of how many kilograms you can gain while carrying a child has sounded differently. Before this, it was believed that a normal increase was a maximum of 9 kg. Since the 1970s, this figure has been increased to 11 kg. However, in recent years, given that women with a large increase in body weight give birth to healthy children, these recommendations required revision.
In 2009, a new table for weight gain during pregnancy was developed in the United States based on WHO data. It takes into account a woman’s body weight before conception.
The norm for weight gain in the 1st trimester is 0.5-2 kg.
Women with an overweight BMI are likely to have more than normal gains under these new guidelines. Therefore, they need to be provided with appropriate assistance in the early stages of the gestational period. Recommendations may include both a balanced diet and increased physical activity in the early stages. It is also necessary to monitor the appearance of edema.
Normal weight gain
The weight gain calendar is individual. Some people gain weight at the beginning of pregnancy, others only in the third trimester.
However, there are average values that doctors rely on.
Average weight gain by week:
- in the 2nd trimester, 300 grams per week;
- starting from the 7th month - 400 grams per week (about 50 grams per day).
A low rate of body weight gain is recorded when the supplement is less than 270 grams per week, too high - more than 520 grams.
To monitor your body weight, you need to weigh yourself correctly. It is best to do this in the morning after visiting the toilet in the same clothes that do not tighten the body. In addition, weighing must be carried out at the antenatal clinic. Both a pathological increase and its delay can be a sign of trouble.
Thus, weight gain data for a woman with an initial body weight of 65 kg may look like this:
- at week 15: (+ 2 kg) 67 kg;
- at week 20: (+ 1.5 kg) 68.5 kg;
- at week 25: (+ 1.5 kg) 70 kg;
- at week 30: (+ 2 kg) 72 kg;
- at week 35: (+ 2 kg) 74 kg;
- before birth: (+ 2 kg) 76 kg.
During the entire period of bearing a child, the total increase will be 11 kg, that is, within the normal range. In some cases, at 36-38 weeks the weight decreases slightly, by about 200-300 grams, this is normal. However, sharp fluctuations in body weight over long periods of time are dangerous and indicate trouble in the body.
Total weight change by month of pregnancy for a woman with normal body weight:
Special groups of women
The weight gain schedule may look different for women in special groups.
Short women
A height of less than 157 cm is considered short. Studies have found that this increases the risk of cesarean section. However, this did not increase the likelihood of having a too small or large fetus, and postpartum weight restoration occurred in the same way as in taller women. Therefore, for short patients, all indicators of normal growth do not change.
Teenagers and young women
If the body mass index (BMI) in women under 20 years of age is normal for older patients, their gain should also be normal. If you have a low initial weight and high height, it is permissible to gain more than 18 kg during pregnancy.
Multiple pregnancy
- with initial normal weight - 17-25 kg;
- with excess BMI - 14-23 kg;
- for obesity - 11-19 kg.
Why does natural weight gain occur during gestation?
During gestation, hormonal changes occur in the body aimed at protecting the fetus from any adverse factors. They mainly involve the accumulation of fat reserves in the mother's body. Adipose tissue not only serves as a good shock absorber for the growing fetus, but is also a source of energy and, in the future, lactation.
Conditions for enhancing fat synthesis:
- high concentration of estrogen and progesterone in the blood;
- physiological decrease in tissue sensitivity to insulin;
- increased insulin levels in the blood;
- increased synthesis of adrenal hormones - cortisol and androgens.
All these changes are aimed at increasing fat deposits in the 1-2 trimesters and mobilizing it at the end of pregnancy.
What makes up a pregnant woman's weight?
By the end of the gestational period it increases due to:
- child's weight (3.5 kg);
- placenta (1 kg);
- increasing the volume of interstitial fluid (2 kg);
- uterus (1 kg);
- breast mass (1 kg);
- increased blood volume (2 kg);
- reserves of fats and proteins in the maternal body (3.5 kg);
- amniotic fluid (1 kg).
In total, the usual increase is about 15 kg. After childbirth, a woman quickly loses up to 10 kg, the remaining kilograms disappear gradually. It is recommended that the process be done slowly, no more than 4 kg per month. Most breastfeeding women return to their original state fairly quickly.
How to avoid gaining excess weight during pregnancy?
The basis is proper nutrition. A balanced diet, devoid of too sweet and fatty foods, will help you gain the weight necessary to fully supply the developing fetus with the necessary substances.
Causes of pathological weight gain
Possible factors that cause large weight gain:
- too low weight (very thin women usually quickly gain body weight, ahead of normal indicators, in this case it is better to determine “normal pre-pregnancy weight” using the formula “height (in cm) minus 100”, and calculate the increase based on its value);
- high body weight and obesity;
- high growth;
- large fruit;
- swelling, including with the development of gestosis;
- increased appetite under the influence of high concentrations of estrogen at the beginning of pregnancy;
- age over 35 years.
What to do with extra kilos?
The daily calorie requirement for a normal weight pregnant woman with little physical activity (less than 30 minutes of exercise per week) is:
- in the 1st trimester 1800 kcal;
- in the 2nd trimester 2200 kcal;
- in the 3rd trimester 2400 kcal.
This calorie content must be achieved by eating cereals, dairy products, animal and vegetable proteins, vegetables, and vegetable oils. Refined foods, sugar and saturated fats (mostly animal fats) should be limited.
Losing excess weight during pregnancy is difficult and in some cases impossible. However, you can slow down your weight gain if you follow these recommendations:
- Use low-fat dishes - chicken breast, greens, tomatoes, baked potatoes. Avoid French fries, nuggets, and fatty cheese.
- Avoid fatty dairy products. You should consume at least 4 servings of milk per day, but it should be skim or 1-2% fat milk or yogurt.
- Limit sweets and sugary drinks, give preference to water, regular or mineral, with or without gas.
- Do not add salt while cooking.
- Limit high-calorie foods - confectionery, sweets, honey, chips. Replace them with fresh fruits and low-fat yogurt.
- Reduce the amount of oil, mayonnaise, and sour cream consumed.
- Avoid frying foods in oil and instead eat boiled or baked foods.
- Walk or swim regularly, unless your doctor tells you not to exercise.
What you can eat to avoid excess weight gain:
- bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, other cereals, preferably whole grain varieties (for example, brown rice and cereal breads) - these products should make up a third of the daily diet;
- fruits and vegetables, up to 5 servings per day - this is another third of food for the day;
- meat (but not liver), fish, eggs and legumes;
- skim milk, yogurt, low-fat cheese;
- It is not recommended to limit fluid intake even if hidden edema appears; it is advisable to drink as much as you want.
- Cut food into very small pieces.
- Eat with a dessert fork, and after each bite, place it on the plate and place your hands on your knees.
- Chew food thoroughly.
- After consuming half the serving, take a break for 3 minutes.
- Do not read or watch TV while eating.
- Have dinner no later than 19:00.
- Go grocery shopping after eating.
- Do not try dishes while they are being prepared, and do not finish leftover food for children.
- After eating, walk or stand for half an hour.
- Don't lie down during the day.
- Do not use the elevator.
- Do not reach the desired stop 1 stop.
- While talking on the phone and even watching TV, do not sit, but stand.
- Do not use the TV remote control, but press the necessary buttons manually.
- On weekends, take longer walks.
- Do yoga or swimming at least once a week or more often.
Rapid weight gain may be a sign of hidden edema. In this case, it is necessary, in addition to body weight, to control the volume of fluid drunk and excreted per day. If a woman drinks more fluid than she excretes urine, the weighing readings increase quickly. In such cases, obstetricians often prescribe treatment in a day hospital.
Insufficient body weight gain
Risk factors for low nutrition in a pregnant woman:
- diabetes of both types;
- previous birth of a child with a nervous system defect;
- history of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or polyhydramnios;
- phenylketonuria, leucinuria;
- resection of the stomach or intestines, previous bariatric surgery;
- cystic fibrosis, colitis, Crohn's disease;
- obesity or underweight;
- smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs.
Patients in this group should carefully monitor their weight, trying to avoid a slight increase during gestation.
Too slow weight gain or even weight loss may be due to the following reasons:
Nausea and vomiting
Weight loss occurs even with moderate toxicosis in the first half of pregnancy. Its symptoms appear at 6-12 weeks, after which the lost kilograms return.
Diet
During pregnancy, proper nutrition is important. A special calorie-restricted diet is not recommended. However, women with initial obesity, switching to healthier foods, can lose several kilograms from their “previous reserves”.
Pregnancy symptoms
Some signs that accompany early pregnancy can affect your eating habits. This may be an aversion to certain smells, tastes or textures of foods. At the same time, heartburn and constipation occur, which forces the woman to eat less and, accordingly, lose weight.
Toxicosis
With severe nausea and vomiting, electrolytes and nutrients are removed from the body, and this condition may persist beyond the 12th week. Appropriate treatment is necessary, including dietary changes, rest, and antacid medications. In severe cases, the patient is hospitalized for intravenous fluids.
Miscarriage and frozen pregnancy
These pathological conditions usually occur closer to the 13th week. Weight loss is one of the first signs. Then they begin to worry about pain in the lower back, pinkish discharge from the genital tract, turning into bleeding. Additional signs of pregnancy, such as taste preferences, disappear. If such symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.
If you do not gain weight during pregnancy, your doctor may recommend the following measures:
- Eat small portions up to 6 times a day.
- Always have light snacks on hand - nuts, raisins, cheese, crackers, dried fruits, yogurt.
- Add milk to mashed potatoes, omelettes, porridge.
- Introduce additional products into the diet - butter, cheese, sour cream.
Consequences of deviations
In case of insufficient or excessive gain, you must follow all the doctor’s recommendations, since these conditions can cause severe pathological processes.
- defects of the nervous system and brain of the fetus;
- intrauterine infection of the fetus;
- spontaneous;
- fetoplacental insufficiency;
- premature birth;
- pyelonephritis and diabetes in pregnant women;
- heavy ;
- delayed fetal development;
- macrosomia (large fetus).
Undergrowth is less common and less well studied, but there is strong evidence that children born later have a higher risk of mental disorders and schizophrenia. This may be due to a malnutrition of nerve cells during brain formation.
Other possible consequences of insufficient weight gain:
- premature birth;
- low fetal weight;
- the need for additional medical care for a newborn child, nursing him in a hospital setting.
Features of pregnancy
Patients with inadequate weight gain require more careful medical supervision. It includes:
- The use of micronized progesterone before the 16th week to prevent miscarriage.
- Treatment of hypertension (magnesium sulfate, calcium antagonists, etc.).
- Treatment of fetoplacental insufficiency.
- Monitoring blood sugar levels, and at 24 weeks - a glucose tolerance test (for obesity).
- Urine examination to detect asymptomatic pyelonephritis.
- In obese patients, delivery is recommended at 38 weeks.
Many women are concerned about whether they will be able to regain their normal weight after giving birth. In addition, the expectant mother is simultaneously concerned about another problem: is her baby getting enough nutrients in her tummy?
Maintaining a balance between the intake of food into the body and its expenditure for various needs, and primarily to meet the needs of the developing fetus, is one of the most important tasks during the entire period of pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to have an idea of the norms when carrying a baby and to control your diet.
Norms of weight gain
Weight gain during the 9-month period of bearing a baby depends on many factors: the woman’s body weight before pregnancy (overweight women are recommended to gain a little less than overly slim women), metabolic characteristics, presence or absence, and other reasons.
information Before the baby is born, the expectant mother usually gains from 7 to 16 kg - such an increase in body weight is within the normal range. Weight gain can reach 20-22 kg.
Body mass index
When calculating individual weight gain rates, you need to know your body mass index, to determine which it is necessary to divide body weight by height in meters squared. For example, if a woman’s weight before pregnancy was 58 kg and her height was 165 cm (i.e. 1.65 m), then body mass index (BMI) = 58 / (1.65 x 1.65) = 21.3 .
important A normal body mass index is between 19.8 and 26. A lower figure indicates underweight or exhaustion, a high one indicates the presence of excess fat tissue in the body or obesity.
Depending on the value of body mass index before pregnancy, calculated weight gain norms by week:
- in (-) a woman usually gains no more than 0.5 kg per month and gains about 2 kg over the specified period;
- in (-) her body weight increases by 6-7 kg compared to the initial weight;
- in (-) the rate of increase in body weight slows down, and throughout pregnancy, women with a high BMI usually gain from 7 to 12 kg, with an average BMI - from 12 to 14 kg, with a low index - from 14 to 17 kg.
Reasons for deviations
During pregnancy, there may be either very low weight gain, which is caused by insufficient intake of nutrients from, strong, some diseases or influences, or too intense weight gain.
Pathological weight gain in a pregnant woman can occur in the following cases:
- excess caloric intake of the diet: excessive consumption of bakery and confectionery products, fatty meats and other products;
- hypothyroidism, in which metabolism slows down as a result of insufficient hormone production;
- fluid retention in the body due to impaired kidney function, which leads to the formation.
Normalization of weight gain
If you notice too rapid weight gain during pregnancy, your doctor may recommend the following measures to normalize this indicator:
- Selection of a balanced diet that meets the nutritional needs of the fetus, but limits the consumption of high-calorie foods.
- Undergoing a comprehensive medical examination to determine the cause of excessive weight gain and choose a treatment method. Can be prescribed: general and to determine the level of thyroid hormones; and other organs.
- Compliance with the recommended physical activity regime: regular walks in the fresh air, doing feasible housework.
Dangers
dangerous Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can be dangerous for both the expectant mother and her baby.
The negative impact of this factor is as follows:
- adhere to the principle of moderation in nutrition;
- lead enough;
- promptly correct identified metabolic disorders (thyroid activity, kidney function, etc.).
Conclusion
Maintaining a normal level of weight gain while carrying a child is not so difficult; it is enough to organize regular diets, reduce the amount of sweets in the diet, undergo the necessary examinations and pay attention to possible alarming symptoms in a timely manner. Excessive weight gain can lead to a number of health problems not only for the expectant mother, but also for the baby, so it is necessary to take care of the health of the future family member from the very first days of pregnancy.
