Weight gain in pregnancy

To be happy, a woman must like herself. Therefore, a constant struggle with extra pounds or their lack is constantly carried out with varying success. But as soon as a woman enters the period when she is expecting a child, doctors also begin to monitor her weight. This is not idle curiosity. After all, weight gain during pregnancy is one of the indicators of the health of the pregnant woman, and, consequently, her future baby.

Weight gain by weeks of pregnancy

Over the years, a certain schedule of optimal weight gain for expectant mothers has been developed. This does not mean that having gained 50 grams more, a pregnant woman falls into the risk zone. The calculation of weekly weight gain is individual and should be based on the features of the build, health of the pregnant woman. But some average figures do exist. But before turning to the figures that reflect the weight gain by week of pregnancy, it is necessary to evaluate the body mass index (BMI) of the woman. The formula is simple and should not cause difficulties.

BMI = body weight of the pregnant woman / (woman's height in meters) ². That is, weight in kilograms is divided by the square of height, taken in meters.

For example: Height = 1.6 m, weight = 64 kg. BMI = 64 / 1.62 = 64 / 2.56 = 25

We analyze the obtained result. If the calculated number falls within the range < 19.8, then the woman has insufficient weight, from 19.8 to 26.0 is normal, > 26.0 is excess body weight.

In most cases, in the first trimester, the expectant mother begins to gain weight, starting from the third month. This is due to both early toxicosis and the body's adaptation to the new status. On average, this is one to two kilograms (the exception is the fair sex, who previously adhered to a strict diet).

The intensity of weight gain in the second trimester begins to increase and is recommended within 250 - 300 g per week. For example, the 23rd week of pregnancy can bring a woman up to 8 kg (from the beginning of pregnancy), while the fetus weighs about 480 grams.

The normal acceptable increase in body weight from the initial value for the 29th week is from eight to ten kilograms.

Weight control should begin from the moment when a woman learns about her "interesting situation" - this will be the starting point for measurements. The obstetrician-gynecologist monitoring the pregnancy recommends that his "wards" get a notebook or a notepad, where the pregnant woman will write down her indicators.

Throughout the entire period of bearing a baby, the expectant mother needs to gain no more than 10 - 12 kilograms.

Weight gain at 20 weeks pregnant

During the nine months of carrying a baby, a woman's body weight, if everything goes well, should increase by 8-12 kg. But this does not mean that in the first months a woman can eat for two, and then go on a diet before giving birth and end up with the necessary 12 kg by the time of delivery. It is necessary to adhere to the weight gain schedule by week recommended by specialists.

During pregnancy, the weight of the expectant mother consists of:

• From the baby's weight: the weight of the fetus itself, amniotic fluid and placenta.
• From the mass of the woman herself, it is necessary to remember that both the uterus and the mammary glands grow in size. The volume of circulating blood and fat increases, the body retains water.

Throughout the entire pregnancy, weight gain is uneven. As the pregnancy progresses, the weight gain increases. In the first half of the term (up to 20 weeks), the fetus grows slightly, and the second half is marked by an increase in growth rates - the baby is rapidly gaining weight.

Week 20 is the middle of pregnancy and the peak moment in the growth of the body weight of the baby and mother. Over time, the fetus's weight increases, and the placenta's decreases. By the middle of the term, the volume of amniotic fluid is about 300 ml (by week 30, this figure increases to 600 ml, and by week 35 - to a liter, then the growth rate decreases somewhat). The future person himself already weighs about 300 grams and has a length of 25 cm.

Weight gain at 20 weeks of pregnancy also accounts for the increase in the mass of the uterus in the first half of pregnancy; later, it will gain volume only due to the stretching of muscle tissue fibers; the weight remains unchanged.

Blood circulation volumes continue to increase throughout the entire period of gestation. In preparation for feeding, the mammary glands begin to gain volume due to the reproductive properties of glandular tissue and the growth of fatty deposits.

Weight gain, if it is normal, should be from 3 to 6 kg (depending on the woman’s BMI).

Weight gain at 23 weeks pregnant

More than 5 months have passed since conception. The tummy has noticeably rounded out. During this time, the fetus has grown in height (up to 30 cm) and in weight – about 0.5 kg. Its brain has also increased in volume tenfold (its weight is 20 – 25 g), so the constant delivery of the required amount of oxygen to the fetal placenta is of no small importance. By week 23, the fetus is fully formed and practically developed.

During this period, the expectant mother begins to feel her weight, which entails some physical and emotional discomfort:

• Headaches appear.
• Swelling.
• Insomnia appears.
• The load on the spine and joints increases, which leads to the appearance of pain.
• Dyspnea.

Weight gain at 23 weeks of pregnancy is considered normal if a woman has gained 4-7 kg since conception. A greater deviation in one direction or another should alert both the expectant mother and her doctor. It is necessary to urgently find and eliminate the cause of such a deviation.

Weight gain at 26 weeks pregnant

During normal prenatal gestation, the daily weight gain at 26 weeks of pregnancy is 150 grams. Accordingly, by this time, a woman can become heavier by 5 - 9 kg. Such figures are mainly due to the fetoplacental system. It is due to this that a woman calmly loses the gained weight immediately after childbirth.

The mass of the fetoplacental system includes:

• The weight of the future baby is from 2.5 kg to 4 kg.
• Children's place - 0.5 - 0.6 kg.
• Amniotic fluid – 1 – 1.5 liters.
• The growth of uterine muscle tissue and extensive vascularization add up to a kilogram to the total weight.
• The growth of the mammary glands in the breast of a woman in labor is up to half a kilogram.
• An increase in the volume of pumped blood is observed (during childbirth, a pregnant woman normally loses from 0.3 to 0.5 liters).

These kilograms constitute the physiological norm of weight gain, necessary for the full development and bearing of the fetus, and it goes away perfectly immediately after birth.

In a pathological case (if weight is gained too quickly or, on the contrary, there is a shortage), the mother's body is unable to create harmonious conditions for the normal course of pregnancy. First of all, the child suffers from this, and then the woman herself.

Excess weight at 26 weeks may indicate either a large fetus (a newborn weighs 4 kilograms or more) or an accumulation of excess fluid (edema) in the tissue layers.

A big baby, a giant. If the fetus weighs over 4 kg, the risk of injury during the passage of the birth canal increases for the newborn itself, and the mother also suffers. In this case, the probability of a cesarean section is high. Therefore, the figure shown by the scales at 26 weeks must be especially monitored. It depends on it: whether the pregnant woman will give birth herself or resort to the help of surgeons.

But often swelling and massive excesses indicate a pathological complication of pregnancy, which only a specialist can determine. Some of the complications:

• Gestosis (late toxicosis). A dangerous pathology, the worst consequences of which can be the loss of the baby, or even the death of the mother.
• High blood pressure, which can trigger a stroke.
• And others.

With a significant increase in volumes, the pregnant woman should observe fasting days (daily liquid volume - up to 2 liters, reduce salt intake), but they should be done according to the doctor's prescription and under his constant supervision. With these symptoms, it is imperative to monitor blood pressure several times a day. Women in this risk group have their urine tested more often than other pregnant women.

If the weight is not gained, there may be a delay or complete cessation of fetal development. Low weight may also be caused by oligohydramnios (reduced amount of amniotic fluid), as well as chronic diseases of the internal organs of the woman herself. It is imperative to establish the cause of the failure in order to take adequate measures, if possible.

Drawing conclusions from the above, it is necessary to understand that weight needs to be measured constantly, from the first to the last day of pregnancy.

Weight gain at 29 weeks pregnant

At the onset of the 29th week, the baby's weight is already about one and a quarter kilograms. The length of the child is approximately 37 cm. The proportions of the body change. The osseous-skeletal part is strengthened, a subcutaneous fat layer appears. The weight gain at the 29th week of pregnancy is already significant and is from 6 to 10 kg (with a normal pregnancy). At the same time, the mother already feels this weight on herself.

• Shortness of breath appears.
• A pregnant woman gets tired quickly even with a slight load.
• The load on the joints, connective tissues and spine increases, and lower back pain appears.
• Problems with the toilet: constipation and frequent urge to urinate.
• Snoring appears during sleep.

If the growth is excessive, the symptoms worsen. To minimize these consequences, the pregnant woman must adjust her daily routine and diet. Rest more, but do not lie on the couch, but spend time outdoors, combining physical activity with fresh air.

The expectant mother at this stage should sleep only on her side. In this position, the internal organs of the pregnant woman are subject to the least load.

The following foods should be removed from the diet:

• Legumes.
• Whole milk.
• Fatty foods.
• Grape.
• Fresh cabbage.
• Limit spicy and salty foods.
• Sweets and pastries.

Remove anything that can cause constipation and heartburn.

The number one foods for normal weight gain at 29 weeks of pregnancy:

• Grated raw carrots with apple.
• Fermented milk products.
• Dried fruits, especially prunes.
• Olive, corn, flaxseed oils.
• Sufficient volumes of clean water.

Normal weight gain during pregnancy

In the first ten weeks, there is usually no increase in the future mother's volume. This is the period when the female body "gets used to" the new status. There are frequent cases of early toxicosis, which rather works to lose weight than to gain kilograms. And only later does the pregnant woman begin to gain weight. The approximate norm of weight gain during pregnancy during the first trimester is one to two kilograms. The maximum increase in the volume of the future mother occurs in the second and third trimesters. During these periods, the scales show a figure of 250-300 g more than the previous seven days every week.

The obstetrician-gynecologist who monitors pregnancy is especially interested in the last trimester. Roughly, the doctor determines the weekly norm of weight gain for the woman in labor based on the calculation: for every 10 cm of her height - 22 grams of gain. For example, a woman's height is 160 cm. The norm of gain is no more than 352 grams, with a height of 185 cm - 400 grams, respectively.

Every woman is an individual, so in order to "keep her finger on the pulse", the pregnant woman's weight is monitored at each visit to the doctor and entered into her exchange card. It would not be superfluous if she monitored her weight independently at home. For the purity of measurements, you should step on the scales in the morning, on an empty stomach and in the same clothes.

The age of the mother also affects this parameter: the older she is, the higher the probability of gaining more. The initial weight of the pregnant woman, her genetic constitution: a tendency to be thin or overweight are also important. Paradoxically, the thinner she was before conception, the more she can gain during pregnancy, the body, as it were, compensates for the "deficit" of kilograms. The final figure is also affected by the number of fetuses that the pregnant woman carries: twins, triplets, accordingly, add their grams to the mother's kilograms.

Overall weight gain during pregnancy

Changes in the numbers on the scale are strictly individual for each woman. However, the normal general weight gain during pregnancy is between 7 and 16 kg. If a woman is asthenic (thin) by her constitution, she can easily gain 12 to 16 kg during the entire pregnancy, and both she and her baby will feel great. If a woman is prone to curvy shapes (hypersthenic), the normal weight gain is between 7 and 10 kg. If a pregnant woman is normosthenic, her weight can ideally increase by 10 to 14 kg during the entire period of carrying a baby.

The kilograms are distributed approximately like this:

• The baby itself is about 3 kg 500 g.
• Placenta approximately 0.7 kg
• Amniotic fluid is slightly less than a kilogram (≈0.9 kg).
• The uterus is ≈ 1 kg.
• Increase in mammary gland volume - 400 - 500 g.
• Increase in blood plasma volume – 1.2 - 1.5 liters.
• Increase in the volume of cellular fluid – 1.4 – 2.7 liters.
• Fat tissue growth – 2.2 - 3 kg.

Naturally, these are average statistical values and they can vary within acceptable limits. The ability to calculate the required value of growth is an excellent opportunity for a pregnant woman to independently monitor her weight and the ability, if necessary, to adjust it (diet, moderate physical activity, daily routine).

It is worth noting that it is the weight stated by the standards that will be easiest to lose after childbirth. All that is needed is proper nutrition and a set of health-improving gymnastics.

Abnormal weight gain during pregnancy

Why does an obstetrician-gynecologist monitoring pregnancy attach such importance to weight gain? Even now you can hear advice from mothers, grandmothers and friends that since you are pregnant, you now need to eat for two (or three - if you are having twins). Doctors categorically disagree with this. It is these kilograms that are the hardest for a woman to lose after the baby is born. But you should not go to the other extreme, when a woman simply undereats in order to maintain her figure. Pathological weight gain during pregnancy in any of its manifestations is unacceptable.

If a pregnant woman controls the scales to the point of mania, restricting herself in nutrition, then her baby is also not getting enough vitamins and micronutrients. The general decline in the strength of the expectant mother also provokes a lack of oxygen in the fetus's body, which can lead to hypoxia, placental abruption and miscarriage (premature birth). In the best case, the baby will be born weak and underweight.

In case of increased pathological weight gain during pregnancy, a woman risks getting diabetes, while the load on the spine and joints increases excessively, varicose veins are often observed, pain in the lower abdomen and sacral area appears, which also does not add to health. Excessive weight can indicate an unhealthy state of the body of the expectant mother and be an indicator of possible late toxicosis.

Pregnant women who have gained weight within reasonable limits have a much easier time carrying a baby, and childbirth is easier. The percentage of stillborn children and miscarriages among such mothers is significantly lower than in other categories.

Large weight gain during pregnancy

Weight pathology is a dangerous problem in any situation. In the case of carrying a baby, it affects not only the mother, but also the unborn child. A large weight gain during pregnancy can be a sign of toxicosis, which is fraught with premature birth or miscarriage, the health and life of the woman are also at risk.

Some associate excess weight with the presence of plethora or edema, large excess weight can serve as an impetus for the initial stage of diabetes, with problems with muscle activity, shortness of breath begins to bother, a lack of air is felt. Edema affects not only the lower limbs, but also the arms, lower abdomen, sacrum. Other problems are also observed:

• Increased fatigue.
• Irritability.
• High blood pressure.
• Not only swelling appears, but also pain in the calf muscles and back.
• There is congestion in the legs, which aggravates or provokes the development of varicose veins.

In particularly complex pathologies, the placenta begins to separate prematurely, which causes the fetus to freeze or miscarry.

Increased weight can be indicated not only by the growth of adipose tissue, but also as a result of the outflow of fluid from the bloodstream of tissue layers, which is visualized as edema, which is initially not even noticeable.

Most often, swelling appears closer to childbirth, which many mothers perceive as the norm, but this deviation can be determined by the 23rd week. The cause of the pathology is the physiological restructuring of the mother's body and if the woman suffered from kidney dysfunction and heart problems before pregnancy, swelling is a response of these organs to a new load.

The combination of the above symptoms may also indicate a more serious disease – gestosis (late pregnancy toxicosis). This is a vascular disease characterized by a malfunction of the kidneys, cardiovascular system, and cerebral vessels of the expectant mother. Therefore, even at the slightest suspicion of gestosis, the pregnant woman is subject to urgent hospitalization. Treatment and rehabilitation may take more than one week.

When a large increase in weight is detected during pregnancy, the obstetrician-gynecologist must first rule out gestosis, and then deal with other causes of weight gain. Body weight can also increase due to fatty tissue, which can also complicate the bearing of the baby.

• The spine is already under increased stress, and additional weight only worsens this situation. At the same time, the usual center of gravity shifts, bringing additional problems. Back pain appears.
• Osteochondrosis is getting worse.
• Headaches appear.
• Protrusion of intervertebral discs is observed.
• The risk of thrombosis increases.

Therefore, if the respondent is only planning to conceive a child and is a carrier of curvy forms, it is worth thinking about what has been read and losing a couple of kilograms. In this way, the expectant mother will get rid of many problems during the period of bearing the baby and during the birth process.

If the problem of excess weight existed before pregnancy, do not think that it is necessary to do everything to not gain more kilograms. After all, the composition and indicators of the fat layer "acquired" during pregnancy are significantly different from the accumulations of a woman who is not pregnant. In any case, pregnancy is not the time for experiments and this problem should be solved together with a nutritionist.

It is worth removing fatty foods, mayonnaise, and fast food from your diet. Food products should be lower in calories, but not inferior in nutritional value and vitamin and mineral content. It is also necessary to review your daily routine: increase physical activity, take longer walks in nature.

This is why the obstetrician-gynecologist carefully monitors the increase in the number of babies in his wards.

Little weight gain during pregnancy

The "golden mean" is preferable everywhere. Not only do women with signs of obesity have big problems, but also a small weight gain during pregnancy does not bode well.

A small increase is an indicator that the fetus's body is not receiving enough nutrients for its development, which slows down all processes. Not finding the necessary amount of nutrients, the fetus will begin to draw them from the mother's body. Therefore, a specialist consultation (obstetrician and nutritionist) is necessary. Perhaps it will be enough to simply adjust the diet, introduce high-calorie foods into it, increase the consumption of fats - a source of energy. It is also worth introducing foods that stimulate the appetite into the diet (for example, sprouted wheat - a powerful storehouse of vitamins, minerals and microelements). Meals should be fractional and frequent (five to six meals a day).

During the entire pregnancy, such a woman must gain at least 11 kg, otherwise she risks giving birth to a premature baby weighing less than two kilograms. Therefore, it is necessary to do everything so that the weight gain falls within the range of 11 to 16 kg.

It is very important to determine the reason why a pregnant woman's weight grows slower than the recommended norm. This may be not only malnutrition, but also a hereditary predisposition, physical and mental illnesses.

Calculating weight gain during pregnancy

The increase in body weight of a pregnant woman directly depends on her initial physical parameters. As was written above, in order to calculate the weight gain during pregnancy and determine the recommended weight gain schedule depending on the period of gestation, you must first find your individual body mass index. The formula is quite simple: the initial body weight must be divided by the square of the height, taken in meters. Ideally, this figure should fall within the range of 20 to 26.

• If the BMI is below 18.5 – exhaustion – this indicates significant problems.
• The BMI calculation was within the range of 18.5 - 19.8, a mild degree of exhaustion.
• ITM 19.8 – 26 is the norm.
• BMI – 26 – 30 mild obesity.
• Body mass index over 30 is obesity.

As an example, let's consider the parameters: weight = 79.6 kg, height = 1.82 m.

Hence, BMI - 79.6 / 1.822 = 23.5 - the norm. Now it remains to turn to the table of recommendations. It is clear that the lower the body index of the expectant mother, the more kilograms she can gain over the course of all nine months.

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Pregnancy Weight Gain Chart

In today's technological society, the issue of excess weight in general and excessive weight gain during pregnancy in particular is acute. In order not to harm the development and health of the future baby, as well as to recover faster after childbirth, it is worth listening to the doctor's recommendations and carefully monitoring your weight gain.

The table of weight gain during pregnancy below will allow you to easily navigate the standard indicators and, if necessary, adjust your diet.

Pregnancy period, weeks	Growth rate, kg
	BMI below 19.8 asthenic	BMI 19.8 – 26.0 normosthenic	BMI over 26.0, hypersthenic
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

Pregnancy Weight Gain Chart

Each pregnancy is similar to another and is also individual. But over the years, canons have been developed that allow a pregnant woman to navigate independently, determining how much her pregnancy is within the norm. This is not a whim, because any deviation can cause irreparable harm to the fetus. Therefore, weekly monitoring of body weight is one of the serious indicators of the health of both the mother and the future baby.

The schedule of weight gain during pregnancy of the fetus directly depends on how much its mother has gained. And the weight of the pregnant woman includes not only the weight of the future child, but also the placenta, amniotic fluid, growth of the uterus and mammary glands.

From the combination of these parameters, the figures for added kilograms are obtained:

• In the first month, an increase in body weight may be observed (if the pregnant woman does not have toxicosis) – 175 g per week.
• Due to the restructuring of the body, in the second month of pregnancy the rate of weight growth of a woman decreases slightly – 125 g within a week.
• The third month is marked by the lowest growth rate – only approximately 75g/week.
• Fourth month – a sharp increase in weight is observed – 200 g/week.
• The fifth month is the peak growth of the pregnant woman’s body weight – about 600 g/week.
• Sixth month – the growth rate slows down slightly to 400 g over the next few weeks.
• From the seventh to the ninth month (before birth), weight gain stabilizes and amounts to 450 grams over the course of one week.

This is an average growth chart during pregnancy and minor deviations from it are natural and related to the individuality of each woman, her constitution and physiology.

Weight Gain During Twin Pregnancy

One of the important criteria for the full development of the fetus is the normal weight gain of its mother. Today, it is not a problem to find graphs or tables that allow you to assess the body weight of a pregnant woman, calculate the deviation from the norm. But this is for a monozygotic pregnancy. But what if the ultrasound showed twins? Here, the doctors' opinions differ somewhat.

Some believe that there is no difference in the case of a single or multiple pregnancy, and a woman should adhere to the classic weight gain schedule.

According to others, the weight gain during a twin pregnancy can and should be greater and amount to 15-20 kg. It is desirable for a future mother of an asthenic body type to gain 20 kg, with a hypersthenic type - 15 kg. The calculation is quite simple. The full weight of a newborn is approximately three kilograms. Hence, the total added kilograms of a woman carrying two children should be at least 3 kg more than from a singleton pregnancy (but we must not forget the mass of additional amniotic fluid and another "baby's place").

It is necessary to avoid weight loss in the first trimester and maintain a weekly gain of 650 grams during the second trimester of pregnancy. If the expected gain is not observed, this may indicate malnutrition of the expectant mother, or too high energy expenditure rates. In this case, it is worth reviewing your diet, introducing more caloric dishes and increasing the time that the woman will spend on rest. If the added kilograms are slightly higher than the norm, it is necessary, on the contrary, to reduce the caloric content of food (without losing vitamins and microelements) and activate the daily routine.

Daily weight gain during pregnancy

No obstetrician-gynecologist will tell you what the normal daily weight gain during pregnancy is. After all, life cannot be forced into strict limits. And if a pregnant woman can gain about 450 g within a week within the normal range (on average, about 60 grams per day), this does not mean that it is necessary to strictly adhere to these grams every day. If a festive table is set, why not treat yourself to something tasty. The main thing is to subsequently carry out (on the recommendation and under the supervision of a doctor) fasting days.

Unloading during pregnancy does not allow a strict diet. It includes reducing the caloric content of dishes without reducing their nutritional value, and drinking plenty of fluids. Therefore, you should not injure yourself with a daily increase in kilograms during pregnancy; it will be enough to weigh yourself once a week. An exception can be made if the expectant mother "relaxed" and "allowed herself to be extra."

A woman is preparing to become a mother. Many believe that during this period she needs to eat for two, so that there is enough for both her and the child. This is wrong. You should not go to other extremes either: strict diets are also unacceptable during this period. But revising your diet is not only possible, but also necessary. After all, weight gain during pregnancy is easier to control than the complications that can be caused by "abnormal" weight. From the moment of conception, the expectant mother is responsible not only for herself, but also for the life and health of her unborn child.

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