When you’re pregnant, it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet. This will help your baby get the nutrients that he or she needs to grow at a healthy rate. It is important to remember that you don’t necessarily have to eat for two. On an average, a healthy, pregnant woman needs only about 300 calories or more during the day, than she did before she was pregnant. This keeps her pregnancy weight gain in check.
Here are a few things you should know about weight gain during pregnancy:
- A woman who was average weight before getting pregnant should gain about 11 to 16 kgs during her pregnancy.
- An underweight woman should gain around 13 to 18 kgs, while an overweight woman may need to gain only 7 to 11 kgs.
- In general, you should gain about 1 to 2 kgs during the first three months of your pregnancy. If you’re expecting twins, you should gain around 16 to 20 kgs during your entire pregnancy.
Birth Complications due to weight gain
Gaining too little weight during pregnancy can make you more likely than others to have a premature baby or a baby with low birthweight. If you gain too much weight, you’re more likely than other women to have a:
- Premature baby
- Baby with fetal macrosomia
- C-section
- Trouble losing weight after your baby’s birth
- Increased risk for health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure
Gaining weight in a healthy way
When you’re pregnant, make sure you have a well-rounded, healthy diet. Eating right will allow you to gain the weight you need and also provide the right nourishment for your child. If you eat a lot of junk food that is high in sugar and fat, you’re likely to put on some unnecessary weight more easily.
Remember to watch what you eat and the sources of your foods. Some things can have a side-effect on your body and it is important to know what these things are. Everything you eat gets passed on to your child – if you’re eating unhealthy food, your baby is eating it too.
As a general rule, follow these tips to gain the right weight when you’re pregnant:
- Eat five to six small meals every day.
- Keep quick, easy snacks on hand, such as nuts, raisins, dry fruits or yogurt that you can consume when you feel hungry.
- Try eating healthy fruits like apples, bananas etc. that can fill you up, as well as provide right nutrition.
- Add a little bit of ghee, butter or cheese to your meals every once a while.
If you’ve gained too much weight, talk to your doctor about it. They may recommend ways and meal plans to help you avoid too much weight gain for the rest of your pregnancy. For a thorough meal plan and nutrition, talk to our experts at KIMS Cuddles.
*Information shared here is for general purpose Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.
