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Healthy weight gain for pregnancy

Most doctors will tell you that you should gain anywhere between 25 pounds  or 9.9kgs to 30 pounds  or 13.64 kgs through out your pregnancy. 

You should aim to gain about 3.5 pounds or 1.6 kgs during your first trimester, although more often than not most women find that they lose weight their first trimester. 

The culprit to this is morning sickness.  Some women suffer from such a severe case of morning sickness they can not keep anything down. 

Chances are your doctor will not be too concerned if you lose a few pounds that first trimester as long as you gain steady throughout the next two trimesters. 

Your second trimester is where you will probably put on most of your weight.  Most women put on about a pound or 0.45 kgs a week, so roughly four or five pounds a month which brings their second trimester weight gain to about 12 pounds or 5.45 kgs to 15 pounds or 6.82 kgs

Some women put on more while others put on less.  Do not be surprised if you put on a lot of weight one month and not so much your next.

hwg1 For the 7th and 8th month you will should probably continue about a pound each week or so.  Look to gain between 8 pounds or 3.64 kgs and 10 pounds or 4.55 kgs those months. 

Most women find that their weight gain slows down in the 9th month.  You might find your weight gain coming to a end as your due date draws nearer.  This can be a sign that labor is on the horizon.  Or, you may find that your weight gain continues especially if you are retaining a lot of water. 

So where does all this weight go? It doesn’t really make sense that you should gain between 25-30 pounds or  9.9 - 13.64 kgs if your baby is only going to weigh between 7 and 8 pounds or 3.18 and 3.64 kgs.  Let’s break down where the extra weight goes.  

First, you have your baby.  A average baby weights about 7 1/2 pounds or 3.45 kgs. Some can weigh more and some weigh less. 

That amniotic fluid that your baby has been swimming in for the past nine hwg3months weighs about 2 pounds or 0.91 kgs.  Figure in about 2 pounds or 0.91 kgs for your breast enlargement and 1 1/2 pounds or 0.73 kgs for your placenta.  Your uterus, which started off about the size of a golf ball has grown to weigh about 2 pounds or 0.91 kgs

Your body should be producing about 4 pounds or 1.82 kgs of extra blood by the end of your pregnancy and about 7 extra pounds of fat.  Let’s not forget the extra fluid of about 4 pounds - 1.82 kgs that your body might be holding on to.  All this equals to the grand total of about 30 pounds or 13.64 kgs.

Now keep in mind this is just a estimate and not a guarantee of how your weight will fall.  There are women who wind up having a 10 pound - 4.45 kg baby and others who have a 5 pound - 2.27 kg baby

The key is to maintain a healthy weight gain throughout your pregnancy.  eatingrightYour body needs extra calories and it is best for you and your baby if those extra calories come from food that has a lot of nutritional value such as fruits, vegetables or protein.  Staying away from junk for will help you curb your weight gain.

When it comes to taking the weight off, do not be surprise if your body hangs on to it especially those first days after delivery.  Once you are home keep this in mind that it took nine months to gain that weight so gives yourself at least a good nine months to take it off.

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