Pregnancy weight gain: what’s normal, what’s not
DURING pregnancy, it is normal to gain a few pounds, however, the weight gain is not unlimited and should be carefully monitored.
Dr Anna-Kay Taylor Christmas, obstetrician gynaecologist (ObGyn) at Winchester Business Centre, told All Woman that adequate weight gain in pregnancy is very important to optimise the outcome for mother and baby, but abnormal weight gain can have negative long-term implications for both.
“Ideally, weight management begins pre-pregnancy with optimisation of the patient’s weight to ideal body mass index (BMI) levels. Pre-conception counselling with the gynaecologist, midwife or family doctor can identify problems and address them before the onset of pregnancy,” she said.
Dr Taylor Christmas explained that weight gain recommendations vary according to the person’s pre-pregnancy weight and BMI. Depending on your weight before pregnancy, she said the following is normal:
1. Underweight: 28-40 pounds (about 1lb per week)
2.Normal weight: 25-35 pounds
3. Overweight: 15-25 pounds
4. Obese: 11-20 pounds.
For patients with twin pregnancies, the ObGyn said the weight gain expected increases by about 15 pounds.
Dr Taylor Christmas said to maintain the ideal weight in pregnancy, it is important to have a balanced diet encompassing the food groups in the correct proportions, as well as nutritional (prenatal) supplements.
In addition, she said physical activity should be maintained, with a recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity spread throughout the week.
“Patients who are not usually physically active can start at 10-15 minutes daily and gradually increase to 30 minutes daily. Healthy weight gain allows easier return to pre-pregnancy weight aided by breastfeeding and exercise,” she explained.
She said excess weight gain increases the risk of an overweight infant, which increases the risk for birth complications.
“This also increases the baby’s lifetime risk for other diseases such as diabetes. If this is detected, it is usually due to poor diet, but other things such as excess fluid around the baby and diabetes should be investigated for,” she pointed out.
“Inadequate weight gain increases the risk of an underweight or low birthweight baby. This can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease for the child in adulthood. A proper dietary history should be obtained to ensure adequate intake.”
She further explained that other conditions like vomiting in pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum), bowel disorders, bariatric (gastric bypass) surgery and eating disorders can cause this.
However, she warned against dieting in pregnancy for the purpose of weight loss, explaining that if done, especially in the second half of pregnancy, it can negatively impact the baby’s brain and mental development.
If you are concerned about gaining too much weight or not enough during your pregnancy, consult with your doctor before self administering diet restrictions or increasing your intake.
