With the onset of pregnancy, a woman’s life changes significantly, as does her attitude towards nutrition. Some ladies start eating “for two”, gaining weight at lightning speed. Others, on the contrary, try to gain a minimum number of kilograms in order to easily get rid of them after childbirth. However, both of these approaches are fundamentally wrong.

The expectant mother should monitor her diet, in a timely manner, but without unnecessary fanaticism, satisfying the body's need for food. After all, deviations from the norm of weight, up or down, are fraught with disastrous consequences for both the woman and the baby. That is why ladies need to carefully monitor the process of changing their body weight. A table of weight gain during pregnancy by week will help them in this matter.

Weight gain rate

An increase in a woman's body weight is evidence of a normal pregnancy. As a rule, during the first trimester of gestation, the expectant mother gains 2-3 kg. And by the time of birth, these figures increase approximately 5 times. What makes up the weight of a pregnant woman? By the 40th week, the kilograms gained are distributed as follows:

• baby weight – 3-3.5 kg;
• placenta –700-900 g;
• uterus – 900 g;
• amniotic fluid – 800 g;
• mammary glands – 400-500 g;
• fat deposits for subsequent breastfeeding – 2-4 kg;
• tissue fluid – about 1.5 kg;
• increase in blood volume – 1.3 kg.

By adding up all these points, you can derive an indicator of normal weight gain during pregnancy, which is about 11-13 kg. However, these figures are very conditional. They are typical for ladies in the middle weight category. But since people have completely different parameters, you shouldn’t hold everyone to the same standards.

Anastasia, mother of six-month-old Evdokia: “I gained only 8 kg during pregnancy. The gynecologist said that for my initial weight this is the absolute norm. I've always been a pretty big lady. And my sister, who gave birth two months later, gained twice as much - 15 kg. But she is much smaller and slimmer than me.”

Individual characteristics

As mentioned above, there are simply no strict limits on weight gain, because every woman has her own body weight before pregnancy, which directly depends on her height and physique. The age of the expectant mother also plays an important role, because young girls are less predisposed to be overweight. Among other significant factors influencing the weight of the expectant mother, it is worth highlighting:

• insatiable appetite;
• early toxicosis, leading to weight loss;
• high or low water levels;
• the size of the fetus (the larger the baby, the heavier the mother);
• excess tissue fluid (causes edema).

Evelina, mother of two-month-old Ildar: “My toxicosis began in the fifth week of pregnancy. Nausea, weakness, and dizziness were constantly present. I tried to eat as usual, but for some reason I developed an aversion to any meat. As a result, by week 11 I lost 7 kg. Plus, hemoglobin has decreased. Over time, the toxicosis passed and I began to eat for two, especially leaning on liver and beef. At week 16, the weight finally began to increase, and hemoglobin returned to normal. The total weight gain during pregnancy was 9 kg.”

Thus, each woman must independently calculate the norms for weight gain, based on individual parameters. If before the moment of conception a woman was underweight, then during pregnancy she may gain a little more than normal. Whereas expectant mothers with curvy figures should gain slightly less than normal. A table based on the body mass index before pregnancy will help you calculate more accurate indicators. BMI is determined by a simple formula: you need to divide your weight in kg by your height squared (in meters). For example, if a girl weighs 48 kg and is 1.6 m tall, then her BMI will be 18.75. Having finished the calculations, you can check the table:

This table was created for mothers carrying one child:

What to do if you have twins? For this case, another table has been developed:

Weight gain during pregnancy by week

At different stages of gestation, the rate of weight gain varies. In the first trimester of pregnancy, a woman gains only 1-3 kg. However, with severe toxicosis, weight may remain at its original level or even go negative. In this case, there is no need to worry, because reducing the mother’s body weight in the early stages does not carry any risks for the child. In the second and third trimesters, the average weekly weight gain is 300-400 grams. But, again, it is worth noting that this indicator is individual for each woman.

Alexey Gennadievich Savitsky, Doctor of Medical Sciences, obstetrician-gynecologist: “Weight gain of 400 grams per week is the absolute norm during pregnancy. But you need to evaluate the overall picture, focusing on indicators during the month. Because jumps during the week can be both up and down. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the woman’s condition: the presence of edema, blood pressure, and the presence of protein in the urine. All this needs to be assessed together. The weight itself is a roughly indicative unit, a criterion for assessing the situation.”

You can calculate it yourself using the following formula: multiply 22 g by the height of the expectant mother, expressed in meters (the comma is removed). For example, if a woman is 160 cm tall, the calculation will look like this: 22x16 = 352 g. This is the individual weekly increase in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. A more general table is presented below:

Related video: Normal weight gain during pregnancy

Deviations from norms

The lack of positive dynamics of weight gain in the first trimester of pregnancy should not be a cause for concern. Some expectant mothers begin to notice changes in body weight only at 14-16 weeks of gestation. Often the reason for this is prolonged and severe toxicosis. Much more dangerous is maternal underweight in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. After all, a lack of nutrients can lead to various pathologies in the development of the fetus, as well as to the birth of a baby with a deficiency of body weight. A drop in a woman’s hormone levels can cause miscarriage and premature birth.

Excess weight entails unpleasant consequences, especially for the mother. After all, a couple of dozen extra pounds put a special strain on a woman’s legs and spine, making it difficult for her to move and perform everyday activities. But that's not so bad.
Excess weight can trigger the occurrence of gestosis, which is also called late toxicosis. Often this disease leads to placental abruption, which poses a risk to the health of the fetus.
A sharp increase in body weight as a result of the accumulation of a large amount of fluid in the body is the first symptom of dropsy. It manifests itself in excessive swelling and indicates a disorder of the kidneys.

All these problems must be resolved in a timely manner by seeking help from a specialist.

Pregnancy: weight gain.

Pregnancy and weight, pregnancy weight gainWomen always monitor their weight. But there comes a time when doctors begin to monitor this indicator. And the aesthetic side of the issue does not bother them.

Until the 30th week of pregnancy, if everything goes well, the doctor examines the patient 2 times a month, and then once a week. Weighing becomes a mandatory procedure for every visit to the gynecologist and part of the “homework”. It is better to perform it in the morning, on an empty stomach and in the same clothes, so that the results obtained can be compared later.

Weight gain during pregnancy.

In the first 2 months of pregnancy, while the baby and mother are just adapting to mutual coexistence, the woman usually does not gain weight. In addition, at this time she may be worried about toxicosis, which often leads to weight loss. So, in the 1st trimester of pregnancy there is no intensive gain; the expectant mother usually gains 1-2 kg. The main events occur later, because the body weight of the expectant mother increases mainly in the 2nd half of pregnancy, when the weekly weight gain averages 250-300 g. If the process goes faster, this may mean the appearance of a problem - hidden, and then obvious edema (hydropsis of pregnancy).

Let's look at the general rules that are accepted among doctors for calculating possible weight gain during pregnancy. So, during the entire 9 months of pregnancy, the expectant mother should gain 10-12 kg. It is believed that starting from 30 weeks of pregnancy, a woman’s weight increases by about 50 g per day, by 300-400 g per week and by no more than 2 kg per month.

To more accurately determine acceptable weight gain and take into account all additional circumstances, the doctor can use the table (see below). In addition, the doctor has at his disposal a scale of average physiological weight gain in the last 3 months of pregnancy. The calculation is as follows: weekly weight gain should not exceed 22 g for every 10 cm of height. This means that a woman with a height of 150 cm can gain 330 g in a week, with a height of 160 cm - 352 g, and with a height of 180 cm - 400 g.

Weight during pregnancy.

How many kilograms the expectant mother will gain during pregnancy depends on many reasons.

The first of them is age. The older the woman, the greater the tendency to be overweight.

Initial body weight (that is, before pregnancy). It is curious that the greater the weight deficit, the more kilograms the expectant mother has the right to add.

Weight loss due to early toxicosis. The fact is that, having survived the events of toxicosis, the body will try to compensate for the loss of kilograms

Features of the constitution. In this case, it is important whether the woman has a tendency to be overweight or thin.

Child size. If the patient is expecting a large baby (more than 4000 g), then the placenta will probably be larger than average. Consequently, a woman has the right to gain more weight during pregnancy than if she were expecting the birth of a small child.

Increased appetite. It happens that during pregnancy the expectant mother has an uncontrollable desire to eat, and if she cannot restrain it. Problems arise with excess weight.

Now let's see what those 10-12 kilograms of weight acquired by the expectant mother are used for. Indeed, if she gained 12 kg during pregnancy, as recommended, and gave birth to a child weighing 3 kg 300 g, then where is everyone else? They are distributed like this:

* child – 3300g;
* uterus – 900 g;
* afterbirth – 400 g;
* amniotic fluid – 900 g;
* increase in circulating blood volume – 1200 g;
* mammary glands – 500 g;
* adipose tissue – 2200 g;
* tissue fluid – 2700 g.

Total: 12,100 g.

And what can cause “overkill”? Our calculation shows that excessive weight gain depends on various circumstances: the weight of the child (large fetus), the amount of adipose tissue (weight gain with initial deficiency), amniotic fluid (in case of polyhydramnios) and tissue fluid (if fluid is retained in the body) . If the first two circumstances are normal phenomena, then the last two are deviations from the norm and require the attention of a doctor.

Pregnancy: normal weight gain.

Pregnancy and weight, pregnancy weight gain It happens that the expectant mother decides to follow a strict diet in order... not to gain weight. Some people are afraid of ruining their figure, while others (mostly women with narrow pelvises) believe that eating restrictions will lead to the birth of a small child. In both the first and second cases, these arguments are erroneous. If a woman gains 10-12 kg during pregnancy, then with the help of a reasonable diet and exercise, she will definitely regain her previous size. Think about it, for example, ballerinas quickly get back into shape after giving birth, although they usually gain up to 18-20 kg during pregnancy!

You can calculate the acceptable weight gain yourself. To do this, you need to know your height and initial weight, which then turns into the BMI (body mass index). Calculate your BMI: BMI = weight (kg)/[height (m2)]. Results:

BMI< 19,8 – женщины худощавого телосложения;

BMI = 19.8 – 26.0 – women of average build;

BMI > 26 obese women.

Example:
Height – 1.60 cm, weight – 60 kg, BMI = 60/ (1.60)2 = 2.30

It turns out that the woman has an average build, which means that at 30 weeks the optimal weight gain for her will be 9.1 kg, and at 40 weeks - 13.6 kg.
Weight gain table by

Weight gain during pregnancy is a very important parameter by which you can determine whether the fetus is developing correctly.

Weight gain norms may not apply to all pregnant women, since the gestation period proceeds differently for all women.

Some people gain more weight than required, while the shape of other pregnant women changes very little.

Childbirth in women with large body weights often occurs with complications.

Excess weight is also alarming because it could be caused not by overeating or a tendency to be overweight, but by swelling.

- this is a dangerous manifestation of late toxicosis, sometimes leading to very sad consequences.

With edema, fluid stagnation occurs in the body. Moisture accumulates in organs and tissues, which causes an increase in body weight.

All women experience swelling during pregnancy, but hidden accumulations of fluid can pose a serious threat. They are indicated by the absence of complete urination.

What should be the weight gain during pregnancy: table

Your doctor will monitor the dynamics of weight gain from the first appointment at the antenatal clinic. Only by keeping records from the very beginning of pregnancy can you determine whether recruitment is progressing at the right pace.

Weight gain has its own rules for each trimester. Again, they will be individual for everyone.

Some women notice from the first weeks of pregnancy that their curves have become more appetizing, while others begin to improve only from the middle of the second trimester.

Interesting! Why does the lower abdomen feel tight during pregnancy?

Body weight increases not only due to the increasing size of the fetus. 25-30% of all gained kilograms are fat deposits necessary for proper lactation. 10% is occupied by amniotic fluid, the same amount by the growing uterus.

The basic principles of weight gain will be:

• During the first half of the term, a woman’s weight increases by 40%, during the second - by 60%;
• During the first trimester, the set should be up to 200 g every week. True, with toxicosis, many mothers even lose weight;
• By the second trimester, weight gain reaches 2-3 kg;
• Starting from the 4th month, when toxicosis has already subsided, the growth rate increases to 300-400 g in 1 week;
• In recent months, the increase becomes less noticeable: the body is preparing for childbirth, excess fluid is eliminated.

The optimal weight gain for each case is calculated in accordance with the initial indicators. The less the expectant mother’s body weight was before conception, the greater the weight gain is considered normal.

If a woman was overweight before pregnancy, her “interesting position” may only be noticeable at the end of the pregnancy. For expectant mothers suffering from chronic obesity, the weight gain will be only 6-8 kg over the entire period.

With a normal weight, the weight will increase by no more than 14-16 kg, with a multiple pregnancy - up to 18-20 kg.

For more accurate calculations, you need BMI - body mass index. To calculate it, you need data on the woman’s weight and height before pregnancy.

To get your BMI, you need to use the following formula: body weight divided by height (in meters) squared.

If the expectant mother weighed 60 kg and was 170 cm tall, the result would be: 60/(1.7*1.7) = 20.8 BMI.

Knowing your BMI (BMI), you can use the table of weight gain during pregnancy by month:

How not to gain weight during pregnancy?

1 Treating constipation. Retention of food masses in the gastrointestinal tract is one of the main reasons for severe weight gain. Due to infrequent bowel movements, not only does body weight increase, but the general condition of the body worsens.

Due to constipation during pregnancy, internal organs and systems become clogged, so the expectant mother begins to feel worse.

You can fight constipation without using laxatives, which are allowed only in the most extreme cases. You can avoid constipation by including white cabbage salad and prunes in your diet.

2 We don’t overeat. The statement that a pregnant woman should “eat for two” is completely biased.

A large amount of food will not be beneficial for either the mother or the child: there should be as many nutrients as the body can absorb.

Large portions of food are more likely to cause constipation, bloating and heartburn.

Interesting! Nutrition during pregnancy: rules and menu

A pregnant woman's body really needs more energy than under normal conditions, but the increase will be small: up to 200-300 calories daily.

Moreover, these figures will not apply to mothers who are prone to obesity and suffer from diabetes. In such cases, the calorie content of the menu will be calculated individually.

3 We arrange fasting days. They should be carried out no more than once a week. Unloading will help the body take a break from high-calorie foods and restore digestion processes.

The concept of a fasting day should not be confused with fasting. The meal schedule remains the same, but familiar dishes should be replaced with low-fat cottage cheese, fermented milk products and fruits.

4 We are physically active. Pregnant women should never lead a sedentary lifestyle, even if their health leaves much to be desired. Go for a walk every day; if possible, it is better to walk in a park area.

Fitness, yoga or swimming will also not be superfluous during the period of pregnancy.

5 We follow a diet. No strict mono-diets are suitable for pregnant women, and a specially selected menu will allow you, if not to lose weight, then at least to keep it within acceptable limits.

Include porridge, whole grain bread, seasonal vegetables and fruits in your menu. Meat and fish are not limited, but it is better if their varieties are dietary: pike perch, tuna, rabbit and turkey fillet.

Store-bought baked goods, puff pastry products, all kinds of rolls, cakes and cookies - all these delicacies are unacceptable. They contain a lot of heavy fats; when baking them, healthy butter is almost always replaced with extremely harmful margarine.

Small weight gain during pregnancy: what to do?

While the majority of expectant mothers dream of not gaining weight during pregnancy, for others, losing weight becomes a real problem.

A woman’s greatest fear during pregnancy is naturally associated with the developmental norms of the baby. But a gradually increasing scale needle can cause panic. Hormonal changes change taste habits and desires, portion control is lost, and the expectant mother begins to gain weight. It is everyone’s task not to go beyond the norm in order to carry and give birth to a baby on their own. It will also help a woman after childbirth to go through the recovery period faster and return to her pre-conception form.

A table of the rate of weight gain during pregnancy by week will allow you to control the kilos you gain throughout the gestation period. If there are sudden changes, it is necessary to adjust your diet and daily routine to restore your performance.

How does weight gain happen?

Natural physiological processes lead to an increase in a pregnant woman’s body weight by an average of 10-12 kg. This figure occurs already at 36-38 weeks, at the time of birth. The main part is the weight of the baby (3-4 kg), as well as the uterus, which grows proportionally as the child develops (2 kg along with amniotic fluid). The volume of blood also increases significantly; 1.5-1.8 kg is required to transport all nutrients and oxygen. More fluid accumulates in the body, fluctuations occur in the range from 1.5 to 2.5 kg.

Excess weight affects not only the mother, the child can be very large at the time of birth, and the birth process is complicated by sizes over 4 kg. It provokes weight gain and late toxicosis, which is dangerous due to increased blood pressure and the appearance of abnormalities. Losing body weight is also undesirable, especially in the second and third trimester.

Correct weight measurement

Control is necessarily carried out by a gynecologist; in consultation before the appointment, a nurse weighs the expectant mother. If there are scales at home, and a woman independently keeps track of the grams gained, it is worth remembering simple rules:

• the optimal time will be the morning, immediately upon awakening, after breakfast, and also during the day, weight can vary - increasing by 500-700 grams;
• for the weighing process, choose permanent clothing; the consultation does not always take into account the factor of heavy warm sweaters and massive shoes, so the numbers for home and medical weighing may differ;
• It is worth recording the obtained data in a notebook and, if necessary, showing them to the doctor to monitor possible sudden changes.

Recruitment standards

Average data allows you to monitor the indicators of both the pregnant woman and the child. If one fetus is pregnant, the optimal weight gain is from 8 to 16 kg. Accordingly, with twins, the figures increase from 16 to 22 kg. These are approximate data, they can vary both less and more, depending on the physiological characteristics of the woman.

Norm of weight gain by trimester:

• in the first trimester, the formation of all the internal organs and systems of the embryo occurs, so the increase is minimal - no more than 2 kg, but if toxicosis is observed during this period, on the contrary, you can dramatically lose weight, after which all the kilograms can be replenished;
• in the second trimester + 1 kg per month is a good indicator, the pregnant woman and her doctor can be satisfied with this result, the figure per week should not exceed 330 grams;
• in the third trimester, the child grows rapidly, along with him the uterus, place, and the amount of amniotic fluid increase in size, so an increase of 1.6-2.3 per month is considered normal, any sudden jumps are undesirable, the baby grows gradually, and the rapidly gained kilograms will be deposited for mother's figure in the form of adipose tissue.

In other cases, a woman can gain a normal weight of 10-14 kg at the beginning, and then maintain this figure until childbirth. Or vice versa - weight gain occurs several weeks before birth. Such physiological features cannot indicate developmental abnormalities if other tests and studies correspond to the norm for a given period of pregnancy.

Weight gain by week

Analysis of indicators helps to control routine moments and nutrition for the normal course of pregnancy. The weight gain occurs unevenly; until 12-14 weeks, the figure can remain without apology. The most intensive growth occurs from 15 to 34 weeks, and in the period immediately before birth, the expectant mother may lose a little weight.

Weight gain by week during pregnancy depends on the woman’s initial body mass index. It is quite simple to calculate: weight needs to be divided by height squared. Indicators from 19 to 25 are considered normal, less is a lack of kilograms, more is overweight, as well as different degrees of obesity. The less the expectant mother weighed before conception, the more she gains throughout the 9 months (14-16 kg). If a woman had excess weight before pregnancy, then her weight gain should not exceed 8-11 kg, and if she is obese - up to 6 kg, with mandatory adherence to a diet.

The table shows a pregnant woman’s weight by week depending on body mass index (BMI)

Reasons for weight changes

It is not possible to determine averages that apply to all women. There are factors that provoke excess weight gain:

• the initial weight of the pregnant woman, the lower it is, the faster it is replenished by the gained kilograms over the entire period of gestation;
• a genetic tendency to be overweight makes itself felt, even with a balanced diet and physical activity;
• Height also matters, the higher it is, the more proportionally more will be gained;
• if the child is large, naturally the expectant mother will eat more, and the weight will rapidly increase in the third trimester;
• swelling and dropsy leads to fluid retention in the body, due to which the scales will increase at the end of the first trimester;
• changes in hormonal levels lead to an uncontrollable feeling of hunger and satiety, if willpower does not help limit the amount of portions, an extra 5-10 kg is guaranteed;
• increased amount of amniotic fluid, polyhydramnios often leads to excess weight, the condition requires constant monitoring by a doctor;
• in women after 30-35 years of age, the metabolic rate decreases and natural weight gain occurs.

Toxicosis of the first and last trimester can lead to a sharp decrease. The greatest risks to the fetus are the deterioration of the mother's condition in the last weeks. It is important to constantly monitor all biochemical parameters.

The danger of deviation from norms

Deterioration in quality of life, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and limitation of physical activity are not the only problems that appear along with volumes. For both the baby and his mother, gaining extra pounds is associated with health risks:

• varicose veins, deterioration of the cardiovascular system, which means a lack of nutrients for the child;
• the load on the spinal column and pressure on all internal organs increases;
• difficulty diagnosing the condition of the fetus during pregnancy;
• development of hypertension and diabetes;
• planned or emergency caesarean section;
• premature birth or post-maturity;
• excretory system infections;
• possible complications of the birth process, both natural and during cesarean section;
• delayed fetal development;
• violation of the proportions between the head and pelvis;
• the child’s tendency to develop obesity and diabetes in the future;
• neurological disorders, episyndrome.

How much weight a pregnant woman should gain depends on her initial weight. To control a normal increase, you should follow the basic recommendations:

• learn to eat properly, the diet should consist of a variety of high-quality and fresh products, proteins in the form of lean meat are required - rabbit, turkey, chicken, fish, cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt and whole milk;
• Vegetables and herbs will help stabilize your weight; preference should also be given to traditional fruits and berries;
• fats should be present in the form of vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, it is important to control the portion amount;
• carbohydrates that are beneficial for mother and child are contained in porridge and whole grain bread, and it is better to avoid flour products if you are overweight;
• limiting salt will help avoid swelling; it is also worth controlling the consumption of sugar, store-bought juices and sweets;
• a set of physical exercises for pregnant women will allow you to prepare for the birth process and not gain excess weight, and will also speed up the subsequent recovery period.

A pregnant woman should not starve or go on diets. Reducing the portion size and split meals will help stabilize your weight to normal.