Gaining 35 pounds during pregnancy used to be the standard. Now the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends 20 to 25 pounds at most, says Frances Crites, M.D., an OB-GYN at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas: “Patients were getting enormous, which led to delivery problems.”
Weight gain between pregnancies can also be a problem. In a study of more than 150,000 Swedish women, Harvard and Swedish researchers found that, even in normal weight women, gaining just seven pounds between pregnancies can up the risk of high blood pressure, and stillbirth. And the chance of diabetes rose 30 percent from that small weight gain. But weight loss between pregnancies has its dangers, too. An Irish study found that women whose BMIs lowered by five or more units raised the risk of premature births.
So, what’s an expectant mom to do? Crites offers her suggestions:
Don’t gain fat.
Pregnancy weight breaks down like this: baby, eight pounds; amniotic fluid, three; placenta, one; extra blood, four; and a few extra for breast tissue and fluids. “That’s not fat,” says Crites. “That’s weight to support the pregnancy.”
Keep on moving.
“Most patients gain too much weight not because they’re not smart and don’t know better but because they reduce their activity,” says Crites. “It’s OK to go to the gym.” Check with your doctor first.
Pace your gain.
Normal and underweight women should gain about two to four pounds a month. “But if you’re overweight,” says Crites, “maintain your weight within five to ten pounds.”
By Dorothy Fotz-Gray
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Comments (10)
how good is to eat walnut (dry fruit)frequently in pregnancy and in 50’s.
i am in week 13 of my third pregnancy. i have already gained 7 to 8 pounds with my other 2 i had gained only a couple by now! im freaking out is this normal or am i eating to much?
Brandi, You are eating too much. Stop stuffing your mouth and “eating for two” – literally!
sarah, that’s not necessarily true. every pregnancy (even in the same woman) is unique. there are growth spurts and slow periods. if you were sick with your first two, or the weight you begin with is different, even that could change your weight pattern. fyi, i gained only 18lbs with two pregnancies an 10 was in my first tri both times. you need to eat healthy(a few hundred more GOOD calories per day), drink water AND exercise…and get your weight advice from your doc b/c it is different for each person.
Hey,
I just had a baby 6 weeks ago. I worked out maybe 4 times a week and I still gained 35 lbs. But now since the baby I have lost 25 of those lbs already. So it doesn’t matter about the lbs just don’t gain fat.
This article is wrong to say that the recommended weight gain is only 20-25 lbs. If you are normal weight the gain should be 25-35 lbs. If you are overweight prior to pregnancy the recommendation is 15-25 lbs. Those who are underweight prior to becoming pregnant should gain 28-40 lbs.
I disagree with this article completely. I gained 35 pounds with my first pregnancy, and lost it all in a matter of 4 months. I had a healthy, normal pregnancy wtihout any complications. Pregnancy is not a time to be focused on calorie counting or stepping on the scale every day. You should focus on eating healthy foods, staying active and allowing your body to do what it needs to do! And to Sarah, that was a stupid comment. Please. Ugh.
I think it all depends on the person and their baby. I’m going on my 13wk and I’ve only gained 2 lbs. I prob wouldn’t have gained anything if I was able to work out, but I’ve been so sick and the pregnancy has drained my energy so much that not until last week have I been able to go back to the gym. I would have to say as long as you’re eating healthy and exercising regularly, it shouldn’t matter how much you gain. You’re doctor will inform you if you’re unhealthy. Just remember not to lie about your habbits because you may be trying to make yourself look good infront of the doctor but you’re only hurting yourself and your baby.
i gained 68 in my pregnancy n rite after delivery it got 58. and before delivery my weight was 49. so i want to knw that how much extra weight i need to loose. my height is 5.2 1/2
sorry i forgot to mention dt weight is in kg