How much should a pregnant woman gain during her entire pregnancy? Weight during pregnancy: the norm by week
You can often hear that a pregnant woman needs to eat for two. From a medical point of view, this statement has nothing to do with the truth. Eating for two means quickly gaining weight. And while carrying a baby, extra pounds are an additional burden on the mother’s body and a high risk of complications. We will tell you in this material what normal weight gain should be during different periods of pregnancy.
Why does weight increase during pregnancy?
Weight during pregnancy is a rather individual criterion. In some women, it may decrease in the first and third trimesters if, for example, severe toxicosis is observed. For others, their weight is constantly growing. Initially, the weight of the expectant mother depends on her physique and body weight before pregnancy.
In obese women, the total weight gain during pregnancy can be half as much as the total weight gain in thin, slender girls.
Weight, to one degree or another, constantly increases during pregnancy. However, the body weight of newborn boys and girls is on average the same - from 3000 to 4000 grams. It depends little on how much women have gained during pregnancy- 5 or 15 kilograms. Different increases are an individual trait of expectant mothers.
Body weight growth consists of several components:
- Baby. His weight is about a third of his mother’s entire increase. Typically, babies are born weighing between 2500 and 4000 grams.
- Placenta. On average, about 5% of the total weight of a pregnant woman is allocated to the “children's place”. The placenta usually weighs about half a kilogram - from 400 to 600 grams.
- Amniotic fluid. By the third trimester, the waters in which the baby swims reach a weight of one and a half kilograms. True, closer to childbirth, their number decreases, as well as weight. The mass of amniotic fluid is about ten percent of the total increase.
- Uterus. A woman's main reproductive organ invariably grows so that the baby can fit in it until birth. The weight of the uterus by the end of gestation reaches a whole kilogram, and this is approximately 10% of the total increase.
- Breast. Women's breasts begin to undergo changes from the very first weeks of pregnancy, and by the time of childbirth they most often increase significantly due to the overgrown glandular tissue. It is easier for women to imagine these changes in volume.
But we are talking about weight, and therefore it is worth taking into account that the weight of a grown breast on average is about 600 grams, which is about 2-3% of the total weight gain of the expectant mother.
- Blood volume. In a pregnant woman's body, the volume of freely circulating blood is increased by approximately 2 times compared to non-pregnant women. On average, the mass of blood pumped by the expectant mother’s heart is about one and a half kilograms.
- Cellular and intercellular fluids. Their weight in the body of the expectant mother can approach 2 kilograms. And together with the volume of blood we talked about above, fluids account for about a quarter of all weight gain.
- Fat reserves. The pregnant woman's body begins to take care in advance to store fat as a source of energy for the upcoming birth and postpartum period. About 3-4 kilograms of fat are deposited in the body of the expectant mother, which is about 30% of the total weight gain.
Changes in body weight
The dynamics of pregnancy body weight growth are not the same at different times:
- During the first half of gestation, a woman on average gains about 40% of the total increase.
- During the second half of pregnancy, the increase is about 60% of the total number of kilograms acquired during the entire period of gestation.
In the early stages, the hormone progesterone is responsible for the accumulation of fat. It triggers a lot of processes in the expectant mother’s body aimed at preserving and further developing the embryo. Creating a fat “reserve” is also one of the mechanisms for the preservation and well-being of the fetus.
In the second trimester, the placenta begins to actively grow and develop, the amount of circulating blood increases, which invariably leads to an increase in body weight. Even if in the first trimester there was weight loss due to toxicosis and lack of appetite, in the middle of pregnancy, when the nausea subsides, the woman will be able to gain everything that was not gained in earlier stages.
In the third trimester, the amount of amniotic fluid begins to decrease, but weight continues to gain due to the fact that the child is actively gaining weight. Only in the last two to three weeks does the weight begin to decrease somewhat, since the baby has already gained its weight and the amount of amniotic fluid has reached its minimum. In addition, the pregnant woman's body begins to physiologically prepare for childbirth, at a natural level, freeing oneself from everything unnecessary that could interfere with the birth process.
Increase rates - how to calculate?
Normal weight gain depends on the woman’s weight before pregnancy. For a woman with her own normal weight, an increase of 10 to 15 kilograms over the entire period of gestation is considered correct. If a woman is slightly overweight, her normal weight gain can be considered to be no more than 11 kilograms. In obese women, the weight should increase by no more than 7-8 kilograms over nine months.
A doctor will help you correctly calculate an individual increase, taking into account all the factors that influence the weight of a given expectant mother - her body composition, the presence of multiple pregnancies, etc.
On average, an increase of 200 grams per week is considered the norm during the first trimester. By week 12, a woman’s weight should increase by a maximum of 3-4 kilograms. In the second trimester, when appetite improves and toxicosis, if it existed, recedes, the increase is more intense - up to 400 grams per week. At the very end of pregnancy, the increase is usually no more than 100-150 grams per week.
During the first visit to the obstetrician-gynecologist, when a woman applies for registration, her height and weight will be measured.
If the expectant mother knows her parameters before pregnancy, she must inform the doctor about them.
Based on these two values, the doctor will calculate BMI (body mass index), which will allow you to judge whether weight gain is correct or excessive throughout pregnancy. Body mass index is weight divided by height squared.
For example, a woman weighs 55 kilograms and her height is 1 meter 60 centimeters. The calculations will look like this: 55/ (1.6^2). It turns out that this woman's BMI is approximately 21.5. This corresponds to normal weight, and an increase of 10-13 kilograms in this case will not be considered pathological.
Depending on what the BMI turns out to be, the woman will be given the maximum permissible increase limit:
- A BMI below 18.5 is underweight; such a woman’s weight gain during pregnancy can reach up to 18 kilograms, and this will be quite normal;
- BMI from 18.5 to 25 is normal weight, the increase can be from 10 to 15 kilograms;
- BMI from 25 to 30 – overweight, the gain should not exceed 9-10 kilograms;
- A BMI of 30 and above is obesity, and weight gain above 7 kilograms during the entire gestation period will be considered pathological.
If a woman is carrying not just one baby, but twins or triplets, then the growth rates will be completely different compared to a singleton pregnancy.
Increase rates for the entire period - table:
When calculating the individual norm, different antenatal clinics use different norms for the ratio of real weight to body mass index. We discussed above the most popular rating system. However, in some consultations, doctors use a different system, the international one, according to which a BMI below 19.8 is considered normal weight, above 19.8 to 26 is overweight, and above 26 is considered obese.
The body mass index itself is calculated in exactly the same way as indicated above. Based on the results obtained, you can calculate your individual increase by week and month. Depending on the system by which BMI was calculated, the growth rates may look like this.
Table of increases by week according to different BMI calculations:
Gestation period, weeks | BMI less than 18.5 (kg) | BMI from 18.5 to 25 (kg) | BMI over 30 (kg) | BMI less than 19.8 (kg) | BMI from 19.8 to 26 (kg) | BMI over 26 (kg) |
||||||
No more than 3.3 | No more than 2.6 | No more than 1.2 | ||||||||||
No more than 3.6 | No more than 3 | No more than 1.4 | ||||||||||
No more than 4.1 | No more than 3.5 | No more than 1.8 | ||||||||||
No more than 4.6 | No more than 4 | No more than 2.3 | ||||||||||
No more than 5.3 | No more than 4.9 | No more than 2.6 | ||||||||||
No more than 6 | No more than 5.8 | No more than 2.9 | ||||||||||
No more than 6.6 | No more than 6.4 | No more than 3.1 | ||||||||||
No more than 7.2 | No more than 7.0 | No more than 3.4 | No more than 7.9 | No more than 7.8 | No more than 3.6 | |||||||
No more than 8.6 | No more than 8.5 | No more than 3.9 | ||||||||||
No more than 9.3 | No more than 9.3 | No more than 4.4 | ||||||||||
No more than 10 | No more than 10 | No more than 5 | ||||||||||
No more than 11.8 | No more than 10.5 | No more than 5.2 | ||||||||||
No more than 13 | No more than 11 | No more than 5.4 | ||||||||||
No more than 13.5 | No more than 11.5 | No more than 5.7 | ||||||||||
No more than 14 | No more than 12 | No more than 5.9 | ||||||||||
No more than 14.5 | No more than 12.5 | No more than 6.1 | ||||||||||
No more than 15 | No more than 13 | No more than 6.4 | ||||||||||
No more than 16 | No more than 14 | No more than 7.3 | ||||||||||
No more than 17 | No more than 15 | No more than 7.9 | ||||||||||
No more than 18 | No more than 16 | No more than 8.9 | ||||||||||
No more than 18 | No more than 16 | No more than 9.1 |
Using this table, it will be quite easy for a woman with any body mass index, no matter how it is calculated, to understand how much weight she should gain by week and month.
However, the indicated values are just basic, averaged, demonstrating the rate of weight gain at different body mass indexes of the expectant mother before pregnancy.
The rate of weight gain in each specific case is individual., and only careful observation of its dynamics allows the doctor to judge whether everything is okay with the expectant mother and her baby, and whether there are any pregnancy pathologies.
How to exercise control?
The dynamics of changes in the body weight of the expectant mother are monitored at each scheduled visit to the doctor in the antenatal clinic. And here expectant mothers have a lot of questions related to the fact that weighing in the office shows completely different numbers than home scales.
Women should definitely take into account that at home they are weighed in a minimum amount of clothing, while at the consultation they are dressed and wearing shoes, so an experienced doctor will always make adjustments for the pregnant woman’s outfit.
In addition, weighing, despite the apparent ease of this procedure, requires proper preparation, otherwise the scales in the antenatal clinic will show a weight that exceeds the real one, and quite significantly. Before weighing yourself at home or going to see an obstetrician-gynecologist, a woman must remember the rules of proper weighing:
- It is best to weigh yourself in the morning;
- when weighing at home, measurements should be taken on the same day every week, so the dynamics will be more obvious;
- It is advisable to take measurements on an empty stomach;
- home weighing is carried out in a minimum amount of clothing, naked is possible;
- Before weighing, you should definitely go to the toilet and rid your bladder of urine and your intestines of accumulated feces.
If the data on the scales at the antenatal clinic differs by more than a kilogram from home measurements, the woman must have a calendar in which she will indicate her gain, measured according to all the rules at home.
You can take the calendar with you to your appointment and show it to the doctor. In the pregnant woman’s medical record, the doctor draws a graph of weight gain at each appointment. A woman exactly like this can draw on her own at home, this will help to notice in time the periods when the expectant mother begins to gain excess weight, the periods when the weight stops or begins to fall. An uneven schedule is always an alarming sign that should definitely be discussed with your doctor.
A strong and sharp increase may indicate the onset of gestosis, the appearance of internal edema that is not visible upon external examination. If the weight grows slowly and changes little not only by week, but also by month, this may indicate various pathologies in the development of the child, the placenta, a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid and other unpleasant processes.
What are the dangers of rapid weight gain?
As we have already found out, the norms are individual, but the rate of weight gain is of great importance. Even if a woman has a weight during weighing that fits into the normal range according to the table, but just a week ago the weight was significantly lower, then such an increase, although quite adequate, is unlikely to please the doctor.
It is important that the body weight of the expectant mother increases gradually, smoothly, at intervals acceptable at different periods.
Women tend to underestimate such a criterion as their own weight during pregnancy. On numerous forums for expectant mothers, women often say that the doctor is “terrorizing” them by forcing them to lose weight, and unanimously “competently” advise each other to “not pay attention to it.”
Excess weight during the period of bearing a child is considered to be such an increase in which:
- in a week the woman gained more than 2 kilograms (at any stage of gestation);
- during the first trimester, the expectant mother “gained weight” by 4 kilograms or more;
- if in the second trimester a woman gains more than one and a half kilograms every month;
- if in the third trimester the increase per week exceeds 800 grams.
Excess weight is a very real risk of developing late toxicosis. Swelling can be external, which a woman can easily see herself by the characteristic marks from the elastic bands of socks, or by the inability to put on or remove a wedding ring. Swelling usually occurs in the wrists, face and ankles. But even if there are no visible edemas, this does not mean that there are no internal edemas, which are much more dangerous and insidious.
Normal blood flow in the mother-placenta-fetus system is disrupted due to edema and changes in blood pressure. As a result The baby receives less nutrients and oxygen necessary for its proper development.
Excess kilograms and active weight gain beyond the norm are also dangerous for the risk of premature birth before the 30th week, as well as post-term pregnancy after the 39th week.
Excessive increase in 30% of cases leads to early aging of the placenta, which means that the baby will not receive a large amount of nutrients in the last weeks of pregnancy, which are very important for him in preparation for the upcoming birth.
Extra pounds often lead to the appearance of hemorrhoids, varicose veins, as well as weakness of labor forces during childbirth, as a result of which doctors have to perform an unscheduled emergency cesarean section to save the child’s life.
Why is underweight dangerous?
Lack of body weight during pregnancy leads to various forms of fetal malnutrition. The baby does not receive enough of the substances and vitamins he needs. In 80% of cases in women with too little increase, children are born weaker, with low body weight, severe malnutrition (insufficient amount of subcutaneous fat). Such children have a harder time adapting to the environment, and thermoregulation processes are more difficult for them.
Intrauterine growth retardation increases the risk of congenital neurological diseases, as well as hormonal disorders, the consequences of which can affect any system and any organ in the baby’s body.
Sometimes a small increase or lack of increase is due to the fact that a woman is literally starving and does not have enough to eat. This happens not only in socially disadvantaged families, but also in expectant mothers with a complete lack of appetite due to pregnancy toxicosis. This leads to a deficiency in estrogen levels, and the likelihood of early miscarriage, termination of pregnancy and premature birth in the middle and end of gestation increases tenfold.
Weight gain of less than 800 grams in the first trimester, less than 5 kilograms in the second and less than 7 kilograms in the third trimester, closer to the 36th week of pregnancy, is considered insufficient.
What to do if you are overweight?
If weight is gained too sharply, intermittently, intermediate weighings show that the gain is pathological, the woman is prescribed a hormone test, because in addition to overeating, the reason for such “behavior” of body weight may also lie in hormonal imbalance.
If this version is confirmed, then the woman is hormonal therapy, as a result of which hormonal levels are restored and problems with intense weight gain are solved.
If the reason is overeating and little physical activity (and many pregnant women, alas, are sure that they need to eat for two, and that it is harmful to overload themselves with walking and swimming), then a universal diet for pregnant women is recommended.
The expectant mother should eat 5-6 times a day, every 3-4 hours, with the exception of the time allotted for night sleep.
Single servings should be reduced to such a volume that the amount of food can visually fit in the woman’s palm if she folds it in a boat.
After 28-29 weeks, fasting days are allowed. Once a week, a pregnant woman is allowed to take half a kilo of low-fat cottage cheese or 400 grams of boiled buckwheat, or a liter of fermented milk products, 5-6 times. Sugar and salt are completely prohibited on fasting days.
Depending on how intense the weight gain is, the woman is set the number of calories that can be gained per day. Most often it is 2200-2500 Kcal. Diet food websites have counters that allow you to quickly find out the number of calories in both individual foods and ready-made meals. This will help you easily calculate the menu for the week, month and every day.
The last meal should be taken no later than 2-3 hours before going to bed. All dishes are prepared without frying, deep-frying, or a lot of spices. They also monitor the drinking regime - a woman should drink from 1.5 to 2 liters of clean water per day.
Allowed foods and dishes are cabbage, zucchini, porridge, apricots, watermelon, apples, buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, milk, beef, veal, turkey, chicken, rabbit, cottage cheese without a high fat content.
Prohibited foods - chocolate, baked goods, fatty pork, smoked sausages and fish, everything fried, salted, pickled, peas, beans, semolina, barley, fast food, ice cream, condensed milk, grapes, bananas, canned food (meat and fish) ).
The amount of salt is reduced to 5 grams per day. It is better to give up sugar altogether and replace it with slow carbohydrates (sweet fruits and cereals). Carbonated drinks, syrups, and beer are not allowed.
Special gymnastic exercises, walks in the fresh air, swimming, and yoga come to the aid of pregnant women who are trying to take control of their weight and reduce it. If there are no contraindications, The doctor will definitely advise you to increase physical activity. This will help, together with nutritional correction, to bring the increase to acceptable standards.
Actions in case of insufficient increase
If a woman is underweight or underweight, the doctor will also be required to give a referral for examination by a gastroenterologist and endocrinologist. If a woman does not have gastrointestinal diseases or hormonal problems, she will also undergo nutritional correction.
The calorie content of her daily diet should exceed 2500 – 3000 Kcal. The diet must include butter and vegetable oil, pearl barley and semolina, peas and beans, baked goods, fatty fish and meats.
The ban, as with excess weight, applies to smoked, pickled and fried foods. The rest of the approach to the diet is the same. Preferably split meals, with a normal volume of portions, make sure that the content of fats, carbohydrates and proteins in her diet is sufficient. In addition to correcting nutrition, the doctor prescribes vitamin complexes so that the baby can receive the necessary nutrients from the mother’s blood.
If a woman has severe toxicosis, in which literally “a piece does not fit into the throat,” the woman will have to adapt to this unpleasant state and force herself to eat at least in small portions between attacks of toxicosis.
You should choose moments for this when nausea is unlikely to occur.
Many expectant mothers with painful toxicosis eat in bed at night or try to eat only in the fresh air.
If, along with insufficient weight gain, fetal growth retardation is diagnosed, the woman will have to undergo treatment in a hospital setting, where she will be injected and dripped with the necessary drugs that improve uteroplacental blood flow, vitamins, and will also be given all the recommendations for organizing a high-calorie diet.
Usually, after such measures, the body weight of the expectant mother increases, and, although the average increase is at the lower limit of the norm, it still fits into it. Such a pregnant woman may be advised to have more frequent ultrasound scans to monitor the development of the placenta and baby, as well as to conduct a preliminary analysis of its estimated body weight.
An obstetrician-gynecologist will tell you about important facts about weight during pregnancy in the next video.
One of the main thoughts that haunt girls long before pregnancy is the fear of gaining a lot of weight. This is partly correct, since many women after childbirth begin to have problems with excess weight. But you shouldn’t be afraid of this in advance, and even more so you shouldn’t postpone pregnancy for this reason. If you lead an appropriate lifestyle, your weight during pregnancy will not be excessive. Proper nutrition is the key to minimal weight gain during the entire nine months of pregnancy.
Normal weight during pregnancy
It is a fact that a woman will gain weight during pregnancy. The main point for the doctor is not the aesthetic side, but the timely detection of pathological growth. Therefore, during each visit to the gynecologist, the woman steps on the scale and reports the result to the gynecologist.
It is important to know the exact figures for weight gain, so you should not overeat before going to the doctor and wear too much clothing. You can measure your weight at home, which will allow you to identify excess weight gain in time.
Nutrition and weight
In order to control weight during pregnancy, you need to monitor your diet and not forget about physical activity. Of course, if there is a threat of interruption, then bed rest is necessary and there can be no question of any fitness or swimming pool. But if the pregnancy proceeds without complications, then you need to move as much as possible. Daily walks, morning exercises, and physical exercise for pregnant women should be mandatory. Then the normal pregnancy weight will be maintained throughout the entire nine months.
An important point is the nature of nutrition and the amount of food eaten. It should be remembered that the child will always take the elements he needs from the mother’s blood. Therefore, it is necessary to achieve a balance so that there is enough nutrients, but there is no excess. You should not exclude potatoes or pasta from your diet, but these foods can be limited. But vegetables and meat should be included in the diet regularly and in sufficient quantities.
If a woman was overweight before pregnancy, then she should not start losing weight after she becomes pregnant. You should also not lose weight while planning a pregnancy. Weight loss is a difficult process that affects many organs. This may have a negative impact on the child's development. Thin girls should not overeat with the thought that it is for the benefit of the baby. Rapid weight gain is no less harmful than rapid weight loss. There must be a “golden mean” in everything.
These points are the answer to the question: how not to gain weight during pregnancy? In most cases, if you follow basic rules, weight gain can be controlled. Sometimes genetic predisposition or susceptibility to disease takes over, and then it becomes more difficult to monitor your weight. But in any case, you should avoid overeating and too high-calorie foods. Then, even with bed rest, the pregnant woman’s weight will be within normal limits.
This question has interested, interests and will interest women who are preparing to become mothers. Indeed, the problem will never lose its relevance, because both insufficient weight gain and excess body weight can negatively affect not only the woman, but also her child. And, of course, the return to previous forms after childbirth also plays an important role. Pregnancy is a mystery, and overeating, as well as fasting days, will negatively affect the woman and her baby, if not now, then in the future. The common expression that an expectant mother should eat for two is absolutely unacceptable; what is important is not the volume of food consumed, but its completeness and quality.
Malnutrition
Unfortunately, today there are many pregnant women who, in every conceivable and inconceivable way, want to maintain their figure during the period of gestation. I would like to remind such women once again that fasting and following various diets are unacceptable during pregnancy.
Being underweight is more dangerous than being overweight.
- Firstly, there is a high probability of having a low birth weight baby (2500 g or less).
- Secondly, such children are often born with various developmental defects (primarily the brain is damaged). There is also a high risk of getting a big grief (a dead child) instead of a small miracle.
- Thirdly, insufficient weight provokes a decrease in estrogen (as is known, adipose tissue is involved in their production along with other organs), which can provoke spontaneous abortion.
Binge eating
But along with women who “fight” for their shape during pregnancy, there is also their opposite. These are women who are overweight or obese due to increased nutrition. I want to disappoint them too.
Pathological weight gain during pregnancy will also not lead to anything good. The risk of developing gestosis increases (toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy, which is accompanied by hidden and obvious swelling, which only aggravates the situation).
Undoubtedly, some pregnant women have an increased appetite, and they are ready to eat anytime and anywhere, proudly declaring: “I am an expectant mother,” however, you should not get too carried away with the absorption of food, especially foods that lead to the accumulation of fatty (and fat-free) tissue is necessary.
Women with excessive weight gain often develop venous disease, hemorrhoids, threat of miscarriage, gestational diabetes mellitus, which leads to a sharp increase in fetal weight (4000 - 5000 g), and, consequently, to problems during childbirth. If it is impossible to “quench” your appetite, you should replace constant snacks with vegetables and fruits, crackers or nuts.
Body mass index during pregnancy
To determine how much weight a woman should gain throughout her pregnancy, the doctor calculates her body mass index. On average, weight gain is 10 - 12 kg, but this is on average. The formula for calculating body mass index is as follows:
Weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. For example: weight is 70 kg, height is 1.7 meters 70: 2.89 = 24.
- Thin women have a body mass index of 20 or less. Such pregnant women should gain 20–16 kg over the entire period of bearing a child.
- Women with normal weight (normal) have a body mass index of 20–27. During the entire pregnancy, they need to gain 10–14 kg.
- In women with excess body weight, the index exceeds 27, and they speak of obesity when it is 29 or more. Over the entire period of pregnancy, they should gain 6–9 kg.
How are the extra pounds distributed during pregnancy?
The added kilograms are not only an increase in adipose tissue in the anterior abdominal wall, which protects the fetus from external influences. The mammary glands also enlarge (breasts prepare for lactation), the fetus and placenta grow:
- fruit - 3400 g;
- placenta - 650 g;
- amniotic fluid - 800 ml;
- uterus (increases in size during pregnancy) - 970 g;
- mammary glands (increase in size during pregnancy) - 405 g;
- increase in blood volume by 1450 ml;
- increase in the volume of extracellular fluid by 1480 g;
- fat deposits – 2345 g.
How does weight gain during pregnancy?
As a rule, a woman gains weight rapidly up to 20 weeks. But some pregnant women may experience the opposite picture, which is not a pathology. In the first trimester, a pregnant woman gains 1.5 - 2 kg in weight (about 500 grams every week). In the second trimester, the total increase in body weight is 6–7 kg, and in the third trimester, a woman should not weigh more than 500 g per week. On the eve of childbirth (approximately 1–2 weeks), a decrease in body weight occurs (about 0.5–1 kg), which is not a pathology, but indicates the body’s preparation for childbirth.
Anna Sozinova
Weight gain during pregnancy is an important indicator of the health of a woman and her unborn child. Therefore, at the first visit to an obstetrician-gynecologist, a pregnant woman must weigh herself. Further, the weight is determined at each appearance until the very birth, which is included in the mandatory protocol for examination and management of pregnancy.
information If a woman has a scale at home, she can weigh herself in the morning in the same clothes before meals and keep a diary of her weight gain.
Pregnancy weight by week
The average weight gain during a normal pregnancy is presented in the table
Gestation period, weeks | Average total weight gain, kg | Average weight gain per week, g |
First 17 weeks | ||
During the entire pregnancy, weight gain averages 10-12 kilograms. At the same time, asthenics (thin, tall) can gain about 14 kilograms normally, and for hypersthenics (overweight, or overweight people), the optimal weight gain is about 7 kg.
Parameters that make up a pregnant woman’s weight
The weight gained is made up of the following parameters:
- Full term fetus weighs about 3500 g (this is a very average figure, since the lower limit of normal birth weight is 2500 g);
- Placenta- 600 g;
- Amniotic fluid– 1 l (kg) (which surround the child);
- Uterus– 1 kg (is a fruit container);
- Circulating plasma volume– 1.5 l (2 kg) (the so-called “third circle of blood circulation” appears - mother-fetus, therefore the volume of circulating blood during pregnancy increases mainly due to the liquid part);
- Deposition of subcutaneous fat, development of the mammary glands - 2.5 kg (the mammary glands are gradually prepared for feeding from the very beginning of pregnancy);
- Umbilical cord, casings – 500 g.
Weight loss during pregnancy
Weight loss is observed, as a rule, in the early stages of pregnancy due to frequent ailments, lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting. This is usually not a pathology and can be corrected with proper nutrition (meals should be frequent, divided 5-6 times a day in small portions).
Pathological weight gain
Important A much more serious problem is overweight. This condition is called pathological weight gain (PPV) and is a harbinger preeclampsia(a serious complication of pregnancy that can lead to the death of the woman and the fetus).
Excessive weight gain, as a rule, indicates the accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues. In the absence of proper attention to this problem, at the next stage visible swelling is added, starting from the extremities, increased blood pressure, and later complications from the pregnant woman and the fetus are added, including death.
The tactics for managing pregnant women with pathological weight gain are aimed at correcting the gained weight, reducing the accumulation of fluid in the tissues, and the first and main link is improving microcirculation(blood flow in capillaries) in the mother-placenta-fetus system (since this is where the pathological process with gestosis begins).
The examination for PPV is basically the same as for the normal course of pregnancy. More frequent examinations are added to control weight (once every 3-5 days), a biochemical blood test (with electrolytes) is required, as well as a daily diuresis(the volume of urine produced over a certain period of time, in this case per day). It is necessary to determine fluid retention in the body. An approximate version of calculating daily diuresis is presented in the table.
Normally, the amounts of fluid drunk and excreted are close to each other. With a decrease in secretion, we can talk about the initial manifestations of gestosis.
PPV therapy is as follows:
- Therapeutic and protective regime;
- Mode of work and rest;
- , rich in proteins, frequent and small meals 5-6 times a day;
- Fasting days are held once every 7 days. They can be very diverse. Typically used mono-unloading(one type of product is used). It could be buckwheat and others.
- Limiting fluid intake up to 1-1.5 liters per day, including soups and fruits;
- The use of drugs that improve placental function (, and others).
Fasting days during pregnancy
Fasting days during pregnancy are one of the main non-drug methods for correcting excess weight gain. For this purpose, as a rule, one type of product is used (mono-discharge) with the consumption of 1-1.5 liters of liquid. It is advisable to carry out such therapy no more than 1-2 times a week, especially after holiday feasts. Each woman chooses her own fasting day option. It can be:
- apple day(1-1.5 kg of fresh or baked apples is divided into 6 meals);
- Curd day(600 grams of low-fat cottage cheese without sugar is also divided into 6 meals);
- Rice day(150-200 grams of boiled unsalted rice, to which you can add 1 apple during the day);
- Fermented milk day(take 1.5 liters of any and drink a little throughout the day);
- Vegetable day(zucchini or pumpkin – 1-1.5 kg. You can add a little sour cream);
- Fruit day(it is better to use apples, but other fruits are also possible);
- Meat or fish day(this should be low-fat varieties of fish or meat, about 400-500 grams, which are divided into 6 servings and washed down with water or unsweetened tea, compote).
Information You can also use other products for unloading, but we must remember that vegetable or fruit days are the most optimal, since they contain more nutrients.
Thus, timely initiation and correctly selected therapy for pathological weight gain allows, in most cases, to prevent further development of the pathological process. Therefore, weight changes must be monitored throughout pregnancy.
Useful video
The question about weight is one of the first questions a woman hears at an appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist. In addition, the doctor will definitely ask whether it is constant or has changed sharply, how body weight has changed during puberty, how many kilograms the increase was during the previous pregnancy.
Why is it so important for a doctor to know the patient’s weight? What is the connection between weight and female genitalia? In this article I will try to highlight key aspects of the subtle mechanism of our reproductive system and its dependence on deviations in body weight.
Optimal amount of fat tissue
Human adipose tissue can rightfully be called one of the largest endocrine organs. Several decades ago, it was discovered that it is capable of synthesizing steroid hormones, including estrogens. In postmenopause, adipose tissue becomes practically the only source of estrogens - the main female sex hormones.
Fat is a metabolically active formation that constantly interacts with all body systems. During puberty, a girl experiences a sharp increase in the proportion of adipose tissue. So, for the first menstruation to appear, a girl must accumulate at least 17% fat. Not long ago, two important hormones produced by adipose tissue were discovered - leptin And ghrelin, which are directly involved in the formation and regulation of menstrual function.
All this is understandable, but somehow I was alarmed by this point: a pregnant woman who is initially overweight should not gain more than 5-7 kg, and if you sum up all the parameters, excluding the increase in the volume of the mammary glands and fat deposits, you still get 9400!!! And what else should weigh less then? child? placenta? uterus? ??? I didn’t understand this (((I’m 27 weeks and I’ve already gained +4kg, it turns out that I’ve already practically gained everything that was possible, and then what should I do for the whole 13 weeks?
19.12.2012 07:45:15,Total 10 messages .
More on the topic “Weight gain by week during pregnancy”:
It's week 38 and I'm eating like crazy. The total weight gain at the moment is 9600. I really want to give birth) sometimes when I walk, it seems to me that something is growing between my legs, but I can’t see it. Listen, do you need compression stockings for childbirth? Do you have to buy them yourself or do they give them out in maternity hospitals? How is your general health?)
Girls, who added how much? I have + 7 kg. It seems that this is a lot (. Will there be a plus in the progression further or is there about the same amount of increase in the second half of pregnancy?
Good afternoon. I'm 15 weeks pregnant. Everything seems ok. just came from the doctor. I gained 2.5 kg throughout my pregnancy. She yelled at me terribly. She says that given my weight, I should generally lose weight, otherwise the future will be terrible and terrible. My height is 182, weight is 97.5 kg. Drink as little water as possible, eat as little as possible, do not walk or lie down (at 5-6 weeks there was a hematoma, but now it seems not). Question: is it really that scary? and what to do? what lifestyle to lead and what to eat and drink?
Hi all! I’m coming to you for the first time and immediately with a question that’s tormenting me - kilograms. I'm now 16.5 weeks. I gained 5... or maybe already 6 kg. I can’t fit into almost any old thing. I'm starting to panic - maybe there will be more...
does it depend??? For those who have not had their first B, share your feelings))) I gained almost 18 kg as a boy. at 32 weeks it was +10500. Now it’s almost 34 weeks, it’s a girl, there’s also about an increase (10,300 but still a little less...
Girls, I saw the doctor today - I gained 2.5 kg in 2 weeks. Before B I weighed 51 kg, now I’ve only gained 7 kg, is this really a lot for my weight? I read that those who weighed little before B can gain more. I seem to eat as usual, I don’t drink much - a liter or a half a day. There is no swelling, tests are good, ultrasound is good. And the gray-haired doctor scolded me like that ((
In 2 weeks I gained at least 2.5 kg. It's not scary, right? I read on one website that if you gain more than a kilogram per week, you need to see a doctor (just in case). I went through different weight gain charts (both Russian and foreign) - 3 out of 4 when entering my pre-pregnancy parameters show that I am overeating by a kilo and a half.
I stopped gaining weight. I haven't recovered for 3 weeks now. By 30 weeks I gained 11 kg and then the weight stopped. Maybe this is due to going on maternity leave (I started eating little and often)? At the ultrasound at 32 weeks, my baby was 33-34 weeks in all measurements, but I still started to worry a little about the weight.
Hello everybody! I’m gaining weight so badly: (The second trimester has begun, and I only weigh 50 kg. I’m still waiting for the tummy to appear: (The doctor says that this is normal. Are there others who are also gaining weight poorly?
Girls, tell me, what is normal weight gain during pregnancy? Does it vary by month?
Somehow it seems to me that I am adding a lot. Now I’m almost 16 weeks and I’ve gained 4 kg. Is 4500 a lot? I looked at the tables and it was necessary to gain a max of 2.8 kg. How do you gain weight? I'm very worried.
Remind me plz! Otherwise, I don’t remember myself - either closer to 20 weeks, or later? This means that I’m already 17 weeks and haven’t gained any weight yet, I’m overweight, and I don’t want to miss the moment - when it’s already NECESSARY, and not just gluttony
Here, several questions have arisen: 1. when should you weigh yourself: in the morning, on an empty stomach, or vice versa in the evening? Or is it important that the time always be the same? 2. And which scales are better? electronic or regular? 3. How much increase per week is normal?
Hello everyone! This is my first time on this site, I’m 15 weeks pregnant, maybe someone can tell me - I’ve gained 2 kg in weight in a month. The doctor said that this is a lot.... That you need to drink less... Is it a disaster, such an increase, or shouldn’t you worry too much? Thanks in advance.
I'm 28 weeks and have gained 8kg overall. (now I weigh 60 kg.). Yesterday the doctor scolded me for a long time, threatened me with hospitalization if I didn’t go on a diet, and said that during the entire pregnancy I would not lose more than 10 kg. She sent me for a terrible, painful IOC test (?), the test was negative, and in general I was told to eat 1.5 kg a day. apples or half a kilo of cottage cheese and no more than a liter of liquid. But I’m hungry and dizzy from hunger. What to do? I don't really want to go to the hospital.