Increase during pregnancy. Weight during pregnancy: which weight gain is correct

A lot is changing, the belly grows, the chest swells, the skin and hair change. But the most noticeable thing that worries many pregnant women is the changes in weight during pregnancy.
Pregnancy always lasts about 9 months, newborn babies are also not very different in height and weight. Why does one woman add a lot, the other a little?

Optimal weight gain is not only a guarantee that you can quickly get back in good shape after childbirth. This is a confirmation of a healthy pregnancy. Therefore, from the moment of pregnancy, your weight becomes of interest not only to you, but also to doctors. Weighing becomes a mandatory procedure of every visit to the gynecologist and part of the "homework".
To properly monitor your weight gain, make it a rule to weigh yourself regularly. It is best if you do this on the same scales once a week at the same time (in the morning before breakfast with empty bowels and bladder), in the same clothes or without it, so that the obtained indicators can be it was then to compare.

Is there a single norm?

Of course, some fat deposition during pregnancy is inevitable, this is completely normal and should be reconciled with it. After giving birth, you can quickly regain your previous weight if you are willing enough. How many kilograms the expectant mother will gain during pregnancy depends on many reasons. The first is the original body weight (that is, before pregnancy). The less your own weight, the more you can gain during pregnancy. To determine whether the weight is future mother excessive, low or normal for its growth in medicine, a special index is used - the body mass index (BMI).

Body mass index = body weight in kg / height in meters squared Example: Height 1.70 m, weight 60 kg BMI = 60 / 1.7 * 1.7 = 20.7

Based on the obtained value:
- with an index less than 18.5 - the weight is considered below normal;
- index 18.5-25 - normal weight;
- 25-30 – overweight;
- more than 30 - obesity.

So, if your BMI is 30) 6 kg or less, in accordance with the recommendations of your doctor.

Can't be discounted genetic constitution... In this case, it is important whether the woman has a tendency to be overweight or thin. So, even if the initial weight of two women is the same, but one of them, who was always thin, not adhering to any diets, and the second achieved the same through diets and training, the first will gain significantly less than the second. It shouldn't be scary.

Another important factor is age... The older a woman is, the more she is prone to overweight.

In addition, weight gain depends on features of the course of pregnancy... So, for example, having survived the events of early toxicosis, the body will try to compensate for the loss of kilograms, and the woman will gain more at the end of pregnancy. It happens that due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, the expectant mother's appetite sharply increases and, if she cannot contain it, the weight gain will also be great. Weight gain depends on baby size... If a large baby is expected (more than 4000 g), then both the placenta and amniotic fluid will be more than average. Consequently, the weight gain is greater than if a woman was expecting a small baby.
Weight gain is especially pronounced in women with multiple pregnancy... In this case, regardless of your own weight, it will be 16 - 21 kg.

Weight gain rate

Weight gain during pregnancy tends to increase unevenly. And at the same time, it cannot be said that weight gain by weeks of pregnancy will be the same for everyone: for some, weight during pregnancy begins to increase from the first days of pregnancy, for others, significant weight gain during pregnancy begins only after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

It is believed that in the first half of pregnancy, women gain approximately 40% of the total weight gain, and in the second, 60%. The average weight gain in the first trimester of pregnancy should be about 0.2 kg per week. However, in the same period, many pregnant women are worried about early toxicosis, so the total increase in three months can be 0-2 kg. In the last weeks, weight gain is suspended, the weight may even decrease slightly - in this way the body prepares for childbirth. The total weight change by months of pregnancy for a woman with normal body weight is shown in the following table:

Distribution of weight gain during pregnancy
At the end of pregnancy, the acquired kilograms are approximately distributed as follows:
- Fetus- the average weight of the fetus at full-term pregnancy is 2500-4000 grams. With normal weight gain, this is 25-30% of the total weight gain. The weight of the fetus increases especially rapidly in the last weeks before childbirth, it is then that the woman's weight grows at the fastest pace.
- Placenta- an organ that develops in the uterine cavity during pregnancy, which communicates between the mother's body and the fetus. Normally, the weight of the placenta together with the membranes during full-term pregnancy is 1 / 6-1 / 7 of the weight of the fetus, i.e. 400-600 gr. (5% of weight gain)
- Amniotic fluid or amniotic fluid, is the biologically active environment that surrounds the fetus. Amniotic fluid volume depends on the gestational age. The increase in volume is uneven. So, at 10 weeks of pregnancy, the volume amniotic fluid averages 30 ml, at 18 weeks - 400 ml, and by 37-38 weeks of pregnancy, on average, 1000-1500 ml (10% of weight gain). By the end of pregnancy, the amount of water can be reduced to 800 ml. With prolonged pregnancy (at 41-42 weeks), there is a decrease in the volume of amniotic fluid (less than 800 ml). With high water, the amount of water can increase by more than 2 liters, and with low water, it can decrease to 500 ml.
- Muscle of the uterus during pregnancy it also increases its mass. Before pregnancy, the weight of the uterus is on average 50-100 g, and by the time of delivery 1 kg (10% of the weight gain). The volume of the uterine cavity at the end of pregnancy increases more than 500 times. During pregnancy, each muscle fiber lengthens 10 times and thickens approximately 5 times, the uterine vasculature significantly increases.
- Increase blood volume about 1.5 kg, and tissue fluid 1.5-2 kg, 0.5 kg gives an enlarging breast, together this makes up 25% of the weight gain.
- Weight gain during pregnancy due to additional body fat in a woman's body is 3-4 kg. (25-30%)

Overweight and underweight

The issue of weight gain during pregnancy does not accidentally require attention. It is best if your weight gain is systematically increasing, keeping within the norm, and there are no sharp jumps up and down. Both the lack of weight during pregnancy and its excess can lead to negative consequences.
Insufficient nutrition during pregnancy and underweight can lead to a delay in intrauterine development of the fetus, then the baby will be born with insufficient body weight (less than 2.5 kg). Malnutrition causes a breakdown in the synthesis of hormones that preserve pregnancy, which in turn increases the risk of miscarriage. With insufficient birth weight, children are often weakened, have neurological problems, are excitable, and are prone to colds.
Sometimes weight loss during pregnancy can be associated with the manifestation of certain diseases, which can be very dangerous not only for the unborn baby, but also for yourself. Therefore, if you have noticed a similar trend, you need to urgently consult a doctor. If you have not gained weight within three weeks in the first half of pregnancy and within a week in the second, consult your doctor.

If you are gaining more than your individual weight, see your doctor as well.
Excitement should arise if:
- in the first trimester, you have added more than 4 kg;
- in the second trimester more than 1.5 kg per month
- more than 800 grams per week in the third trimester.

See your doctor immediately if you have gained 2 or more kilograms in a week at any stage of pregnancy!
Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can cause high blood pressure, late toxicosis, diabetes mellitus pregnant women, complications in childbirth.
The most common cause of excess weight gain in the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy is GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus)- a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels that occurs during pregnancy in some women and usually disappears spontaneously after childbirth.
Women with GDM have a higher risk of developing late toxicosis of pregnant women (edema, increased blood pressure, impaired renal function and cerebral circulation), the risk of urinary tract infection and premature birth. Elevated level blood sugar in the mother is twice as likely to lead to complications in the development of the fetus. Such babies are born with overweight (over 4 kg), which complicates the normal course of childbirth. The mainstay of treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus is diet therapy.
In the third trimester, excess gain is more often associated with fluid retention, i.e. the occurrence of edema. Almost all expectant mothers know that edema is a frequent companion of pregnancy. However, everyone knows that edema can also be a sign of many diseases of the kidneys, blood vessels, heart and a sign of such a serious complication of pregnancy as preeclampsia or late toxicosis. Edema of pregnant women is the first stage of gestosis (late toxicosis of pregnancy), in 90% of cases protein in the urine and high blood pressure appear after edema. Timely started treatment can prevent the transition of dropsy to the subsequent stages of gestosis. Late toxicosis of pregnancy (gestosis) is characterized by life-threatening high blood pressure and can lead to more serious disorders that provoke seizures. Therefore, it is necessary to treat edema not only as a cosmetic defect, but also as a pathology requiring treatment.
If in Lately you began to press comfortable shoes, it is difficult to remove wedding ring or bags under the eyes appeared in the morning, all this may indicate the presence of edema. The skin on the edematous area is pale, tense and smooth; finger pressure can cause a slowly flattening fossa.
If you have gained more than one kilogram in a week, you cannot take off your wedding ring, or you notice a trace of rubber bands on your legs and waist, this is a signal for an extraordinary visit to the doctor. It is to exclude late toxicosis that the doctor so meticulously evaluates your weight gain and measures your blood pressure.

Is it possible to starve during pregnancy, "go on a diet"

In fact, dieting during pregnancy is never recommended, even for overweight women. A "golden mean" is needed, because both an excess and a deficiency of nutrients can adversely affect the condition of the fetus. Due to the increase in maternal blood volume and the construction of embryonic and placental tissues, some weight gain is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. Some diets can cause a lack of nutrients such as iron, folic acid and other important vitamins and minerals. And a sharp restriction in nutrition, leading to weight loss, can harm the child, since toxins are released into the blood when fat stores are burned.

Update: October 2018

Pregnancy for each expectant mother proceeds in its own way: for someone the beautiful 9 months are given easily, someone suffers from unbearable toxicosis, back pain, headache, edema, constipation, etc. during the gestation period.

Newborn crumbs differ little in terms of weight from each other, their mothers, while carrying the fetus, gain different amounts of kg, fit into the norm or gain excess. Some women do not gain weight at all or lose it at all. We will understand all these subtleties in this article.

Weight gain rate

It is a misconception that weight is gained only for the needs of the fetus. A set of kilograms with a certain margin is necessary for the development of pregnancy in general and the subsequent life of a newborn.

Weight distribution	Weight	% of total weight gain
	The weight of the child at the time of delivery is 2500-4000 g, and it increases significantly during the last weeks of pregnancy	25-30 %
The placenta is an organ that provides a connection between the fetus and the mother, delivers oxygen and nutrition to the developing baby and picks up metabolic products	400-600 g	5 %
Amniotic fluid is a biologically active liquid environment that surrounds the fetus	1-1.5 l by 37 weeks, 800 ml by the time of delivery	10 %
The uterus is a female organ in which the development and bearing of the fetus is carried out	1000 at the time of delivery	10 %
Free circulating blood volume	1.5KG	25 %
Tissue or intercellular fluid	1.5-2 kg
Breast (development of glandular tissue)	0.5KG
Fat deposits, which are an energy depot for subsequent breastfeeding after childbirth	3-4 kg	25-30 %
Total	10-15 kg	100%

How to track weight gain?

Of course, weight must be controlled. From the first day of a confirmed pregnancy, a woman should buy good scales and start a notebook or sheet of paper in which you will note the weekly weight gain.

It is necessary to weigh in one day weekly;
In the morning;
With or without clothing;
Before meals;
Having emptied the intestines and bladder.

Normal weight gain during pregnancy

Weight gain occurs unevenly, not only by week, but also with individual characteristics: someone gains weight already from the moment of conception, and someone notices weight gain only from 20 weeks.

At standard flow about 40% of the weight gain occurs in the first half, and the remaining 60% in the second half of pregnancy.
Average body weight gain during the first three months it is 0.2 kg weekly, but it is during this period that many have toxicosis, someone even goes into a minus.
For the first three months the expectant mother is gaining about 2-3 kg.
The second trimester is characterized by the improvement of the general condition of the woman and an increase in appetite - it is during this period that the most intense weight gain will fall. A woman gains about 300-400 g per week.
On the last dates weight gain, as a rule, is suspended, sometimes the weight decreases slightly against the background of hormonal changes associated with preparation for delivery and due to the removal of excess water.

What indicators does weight gain depend on?

There is no single rate of weight gain under which all pregnant women could be summed up. The optimal set in weight directly depends on the initial weight to an interesting position: the smaller it is, the more it is allowed to set during gestation. This is the rule, this is how it happens - fat women gain a little and become "visually pregnant" only at a later date, it is much more difficult for thin women to hide pregnancy.

To determine whether normal, low or overweight is initially, the calculation of the body mass index (BMI) allows you to calculate which figures for height and weight are needed - before pregnancy!
BMI is equal to the weight (body mass) in kilograms divided by the woman's height in meters squared.
Example: 50 kg at 160 cm, 50 / (1.6 * 1.6) = 19.5 BMI

Optimal set of kg during gestation - decoding BMI

Weekly gain table based on baseline BMI

The weight rate by week of pregnancy depends on the weight before pregnancy, on the basis of which it is necessary to calculate the BMI:

A week	BMI less than 18.5 kg	BMI 18.5-25	BMI over 30
4	0 - 0.9 kg	0 - 0.7 kg	0 - 0.5 kg
6	0 - 1.4 kg	0 - 1 kg	0 - 0.6 kg
8	0 - 1.6 kg	0 - 1.2 kg	0 - 0.7 kg
10	0 - 1.8 kg	0 - 1.3 kg	0 - 0.8 kg
12	0 - 2 kg	0 - 1.5 kg	0 - 1 kg
14	0.5 - 2.7 kg	0.5 - 2 kg	0.5 - 1.2 kg
16	up to 3.6 kg	up to 3 kg	up to 1.4 kg
18	up to 4.6 kg	up to 4 kg	up to 2.3 kg
20	up to 6 kg	up to 5.9 kg	up to 2.9 kg
22	up to 7.2 kg	up to 7 kg	up to 3.4 kg
24	up to 8.6 kg	up to 8.5 kg	up to 3.9 kg
26	up to 10 kg	up to 10 kg	up to 5 kg
28	up to 13 kg	up to 11 kg	up to 5.4 kg
30	up to 14 kg	up to 12 kg	up to 5.9 kg
32	up to 15 kg	up to 13 kg	up to 6.4 kg
34	up to 16 kg	up to 14 kg	up to 7.3 kg
36	up to 17 kg	up to 15 kg	up to 7.9 kg
38	up to 18 kg	up to 16 kg	up to 8.6 kg
40	up to 18 kg	up to 16 kg	up to 9.1 kg

I would like to pay special attention to the issue of nutrition for women who are initially overweight. Pregnancy is definitely not going to be the easiest period since the weight will have to be kept under control, but it means it's time to starve! Refusal to eat is fraught with disturbances in the development of the fetus and the release of toxins into the bloodstream due to the breakdown of fats. The recommended diet will be determined by the gynecologist!

What threatens underweight or overweight during gestation?

The optimal is a smooth weight gain without visible jumps, which ultimately fits into the recommended indicators. Both lack and excess weight threaten the health of the fetus and the expectant mother.

Lack of weight gain and inadequate nutrition can lead to malnutrition of the newborn and different options intrauterine growth retardation. Children born with a weight of less than 2.5 kg are at risk of developing various physical and mental pathologies. Insufficient intake of nutrients in the body of a woman carrying a child leads to hormonal disruptions and increases the threat of miscarriage and early birth. Even a tendency to lose weight or the absence of at least some weight gain should be the reason for an urgent visit to the doctor.

Excess weight should be alarming no less shortage:

more than 2 kg per week for any period;
more than 4 kg in the first 3 months;
more than 1.5 kg monthly for the second trimester;
more than 800 g weekly in the third trimester.

An excessive increase can lead to an increase in blood pressure, the development of diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, osteochondrosis, premature aging of the placenta, complications in childbirth.

The biggest danger of being overweight is latent or overt swelling. In this case, the plus on the scales is not associated with overeating, but is a consequence of the fact that the body, or rather the excretory system, cannot cope with the load and fluid begins to accumulate in tissues and organs. Edema threatens the development of late toxicosis, with an increase (see).

Explicit swelling can be noticed on your own: if after removing the socks on the legs there is a trace, the jewelry is hardly removed from the finger, the face looks puffy, and urination is rare - you have swelling, you should urgently go to the doctor. Latent edema can only be detected by a doctor, so you cannot neglect the planned visits that a gynecologist prescribes, even if you feel great.

How not to gain weight

Do not overeat

The advice of caring mothers and grandmothers that now you can eat for two is absolutely wrong. The body must receive the proper amount of nutrients, but without overloading, both in portions of food and in time. You need to eat a little, but more often than usual. On average, an increase in calories by 200-300 calories more than the usual diet is considered normal, but these figures cannot be guided by everyone without exception, especially women who are obese.

Fight constipation

One of the unfavorable factors affecting weight is a tendency to constipation, since a rare bowel movement not only increases weight on the scales, but also negatively affects the general condition of the body, slagging it (see outside pregnancy). Especially often pregnant women suffer from constipation in the later stages. For obvious reasons, you cannot use it regularly. The best thing:

At night there is a portion of fresh white cabbage salad - in the morning there will be a bowel movement
Eat 2-3 dried apricots or prunes every day, in summer you can eat fresh apricots or plums
According to the doctor's prescription, you can take such a safe and effective prebiotic (osmotic laxative) as Lactulose - Normase, Portalak syrup, Lactulose Poly, Goodluck, Lactulose Stada, Livolyuk-PB, Romfalak. It is approved for use at any stage of pregnancy.

Avoiding useless, harmful, and quickly digestible carbohydrates

Avoid sweets, baked goods, sweets, and pastries. Nothing contributes to the addition of unnecessary fatty deposits as all kinds of puff, shortbread cookies, with and without filling, buns, rolls, cakes, pastries, ice cream, etc. Give them up completely if they tend to be overweight and have already gained extra pounds.

Plus, all of these foods are saturated. food additives and such (palm, coconut, rapeseed), loading the digestive tract, contributing to the development of obesity, and according to the results of some research by scientists - even oncology.

Arrange light fasting days

They help not only to normalize the emerging tendency to gain excess weight, but in general they will give some respite to the body. It is enough to arrange unloading once every 2 weeks. Fasting day, again, does not mean starvation! On this day, most of the usual diet should be replaced with vegetables or low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, and some liquid should be limited.

Be reasonably physically active

Daily walks in the fresh air will not only prevent excess fat from forming, but are also beneficial for the baby, since the mother's blood is saturated with oxygen. You should not completely abandon feasible homework and familiar things.

The other way around is to gain the missing weight.

If the weight stubbornly stands still, there are some guidelines for gaining it:

Eat 5-6 times a day, but not overload;
With painful toxicosis, you still need to eat, in small pieces, waiting out the attacks of nausea. You can eat at fresh air, at night in bed - i.e. in an environment in which the manifestations of toxicosis are minimal.
Carry a healthy snack with you: nuts, biscuits, banana, cheese, dried fruits, yoghurts;
Eat peanut butter rich in energy and protein (if you are not allergic to it);
Season dishes with sour cream, olive oil, butter, cream (but not mayonnaise);
Drink enough liquid, do not neglect dairy and fermented milk products.

How to safely stop excess weight gain

Naturally, no strict or mono diets for pregnant women will work.

Losing weight or keeping it at certain numbers will help a complete rejection of flour products from wheat flour and confectionery, fast food, as well as salty, spicy and smoked foods that cause thirst, forcing you to drink excess liquid.

The menu should contain complex carbohydrates (300-350 g daily): whole grain cereals, vegetables and seasonal fruits.
You cannot limit fish and meat (100-120 g per day), but the menu should include dietary and lean varieties of these products: rabbit, turkey, beef, pike perch, cod, navaga.
Butter is allowed in the amount of 10 g per day, it is better to replace refined sunflower oil with unrefined one.
Cooking method - steaming, boiling, stewing.
Meals should be moderate, for 1 meal - no more than 1-2 dishes.
You can not refuse lunch and breakfast, but dinner can be replaced with a dairy product.
The optimal ratio of calories by meals: breakfast 30%, 2nd breakfast 10%, lunch 40%, afternoon tea and dinner - 10% each.
It is permissible to drink a glass of water 10-15 minutes before meals.
Salt is reduced to 5 g per day.
The usual desserts should be replaced with low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese.
The last meal should be at 19.00.
After dinner, a quiet stroll is recommended.

Of the liquids, clean drinking water should be preferred. The recommended 1.5 liters should be divided into 3 parts, two of which should be drunk before 16.00, and the rest - until 20.00. Such a system will avoid edema and give the kidneys a relief at night.

Flour products: dietary salt-free, bran, rye bread up to 100-150 g per day.

Soups: vegetable with limitation of pasta, cereals and potatoes up to 200 g daily.
Meat and meat products: steam dumplings, meatballs, puddings, zrazy, beftroganes from pre-boiled meat, aspic - up to 150 g per day.
A fish: steamed soufflé, mashed potatoes, stewed fillets up to 150 g per day.
Milk and dairy products: whole milk 1 glass per day, low-fat cottage cheese 150 g, low-fat yoghurts, yogurt up to 200 g per day.
Eggs: 1-2 weekly as steamed omelets and soft-boiled.
Cereals and side dishes: the most useful are oatmeal, buckwheat porridge, cereals in soups. If the amount of cereals increases, bread should be limited on this day.
Vegetables: zucchini, cabbage, pumpkin, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, herbs. Preferably fresh or steam soufflés, mashed potatoes.
Snacks: vegetable salads, low-fat ham, aspic fish, meat.
Sauces: from low-fat cottage cheese with herbs, low-fat sour cream, milk sauces.
Spices: bay leaf, herbs, cloves. In limited quantities.
Fruits and berries: sweet and sour fresh.
Beverages: weak tea with 1/3 of milk, unsweetened juices in half with water, natural fruit drinks without sugar.

The body of any pregnant woman undergoes a number of important changes that help to endure, and then safely give birth to a healthy and fully developed child. The first trimester is easy for almost everyone, and many notice that they "flourish" during this period.

Hair gets shine, nails grow quickly and skin is radiant. For this "pregnant" beauty you need to thank. They are also involved in less pleasant changes, for example, excessive sensitivity or an uncontrolled desire to absorb food incompatible in taste in large quantities.

Unfortunately, being overweight is becoming a frequent companion for expectant mothers. After all, many pregnant women lack nutritional control. In addition, the majority reassures themselves that if they want it, then it is so necessary for the child's body.

With normal (not complicated), by its end, the body weight increases by about 10-15 kilograms, everything that is higher than these indicators is superfluous. Being overweight is known to lead to serious health problems that are troublesome.

Weight gain during pregnancy

How many women gain a kilogram for the entire pregnancy, with its normal course, we indicated above. Let's talk in more detail about these numbers and what affects them. To begin with, we note that the weight gain depends on many individual indicators of the expectant mother. Moreover, it does not increase immediately.

Therefore, if you are tormented by the question "why am I not gaining weight?", And the term of your interesting position is only a few months, then be calm, everything is going according to plan. The first trimester is like an introductory period, during which the body of a pregnant woman is just beginning to rebuild and prepare for subsequent changes.

After all, the future baby has just begun to grow and develop. Therefore, you should not worry about how to gain the missing pounds. After all, there are still no visible changes and cannot be, there are only maternal sensations.

It happens that the opposite picture is observed, and the woman loses weight. This is typical for those who cannot eat as they used to. But this should pass over time, otherwise medical attention is required.

Many people mistakenly believe that during pregnancy, weight increases only because intrauterine development of the fetus ... However, this is not true, since in addition to the child himself, the internal organs of the woman also increase in size, which gives a certain gain.

Baby weight table by week of pregnancy

To clearly illustrate the statement that weight gain depends not only on the increase in the size of the baby, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the norms of fetal weight by weeks of pregnancy, presented in the table below.

Term, weeks	Weight, grams	*Height, centimeters*
11	7	4,1
12	14	5,4
13	23	7,4
14	43	8,7
15	70	10,1
16	100	11,5
17	140	13
18	190	14,2
19	240	15,3
20	300	25,8
21	360	26,7
22	430	27,8
23	500	28,9
24	600	30
25	670	34,6
26	760	35,6
27	875	36,6
28	1000	37,6
29	1150	38,6
30	1320	39,9
31	1500	41,1
32	1700	42,4
33	1900	43,8
34	2150	45
35	2380	46,2
36	2500	47,4
37	2800	48,6
38	3000	49,8
39	3300	50,7
40	3400	51,2

As you can see from this table, the height and weight of the child increases gradually over the weeks. Ultrasound or measurements of the standing height of the uterus and abdominal circumference at a later date helps to calculate these indicators. It is possible to measure the unborn child already in the fifth week of his intrauterine life. The child begins to grow intensively only in the middle of the second trimester, for example, the norm of fetal weight at 20 weeks of pregnancy is 300 grams, and by 28 it increases more than three times (1000 grams).

The development of the child, first of all, depends on how well the placenta nourishes him, the organ that is responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen to the child's body from the mother. In addition, amniotic fluid plays an important role, i.e. amniatic fluid, in which the fetus is located until the moment of birth.

Amniotic fluid table by week

If the doctor records deviations from the normal weight of the fetus by weeks or there are signs of insufficient intrauterine development, then the reasons for this may be:

poor or unbalanced nutrition of the mother;
chronic diseases;
constant stress;
bad habits;
genetic failure.

Weight gain during pregnancy by week

It is believed that the average rate of weight gain during pregnancy is 250-300 grams per week or one kilogram per month. In the third trimester, the child grows at an accelerated pace and an increase of 400 grams per week is considered normal. Hence the previously designated 10-15 kilograms or 16-21 kilograms for twins in nine months.

It is on this average rate of weight gain during pregnancy by week that doctors are guided. If the body weight significantly exceeds or, on the contrary, does not reach the average indicators, then the gynecologist will look for the reason in the patient's health status. The optimal situation is when the weight increases gradually as the fetus develops.

Insufficient weight gain may be associated with toxicosis or a poor diet of a woman, which leads to delays in the development of the child, because he does not receive important nutrients from food. Normal weight in newborns should be in the range of 2.5-4.5 kilograms.

Children with less weight are at risk of getting congenital anomalies of mental and physical development. In addition, nutritional deficiencies negatively affect the health of the mother, thus increasing the risk of premature birth or early miscarriage.

Excessive weight is dangerous possible and . In addition, it affects arterial pressure , promotes the development of late toxicosis , leads to fetal hypoxia , as well as premature aging of the placenta (tissue that feeds the baby). It happens that a lot of weight is a consequence of hidden or explicit edema due to a malfunction of the urinary system.

Fluid accumulates in organs and tissues, resulting in edema. And this is a good reason for seeking medical help, because this condition is fraught with the development of renal hydronephrosis and late toxicosis.

Weight is considered overweight if you gain:

in any trimester over two kilograms per week;
for the first trimester over four kilograms;
for the second trimester over four and a half kilograms;
in the third trimester over eight hundred grams per week.

Let's talk about how much you can gain and how to calculate the optimal weight gain. To find out your norm, i.e. For a "healthy" gain, you first need to calculate such an indicator as BMI (full name - body mass index), which is calculated by the formula I = m / h2.

Where m Is the weight in kilograms, and h Is the height squared in meters. For example, your weight is 60 kilograms and your height is 1.7 meters. It turns out that BMI = 60 / (1.7 * 1.7) = 20.76. In the table below, the gains indicate the optimal weight indicators, taking into account the body mass index.

As you can see, the initial weight of women has the greatest influence on how many kg they gain by the end of pregnancy. Skinny ones gain weight faster and immediately, which, in principle, will be within the norm for them. Another thing is the weight of fat mothers, which will have to be constantly monitored.

The age of the pregnant woman is also important. The thing is that as you age, a person becomes prone to overweight. At a younger age, the fight against extra pounds is much easier. Body type is another thing to consider.

Moms of the asthenic type, i.e. those who are not overweight become "visually pregnant" faster. In contrast to them, the interesting position of women of the hypersthenic type, i.e. those prone to overweight are visible only when the stomach begins to protrude strongly.

According to statistics, in the first trimester, a woman adds 0.2 kilograms every day. However, these are highly averaged indicators, since it is during this period that many are tormented by severe toxicosis. It is believed that the first half of pregnancy accounts for only 40% of weight gain.

More intense weight gain occurs in the second trimester. This is the "golden time" when everything in the body settles down, hormones do not rage and new forces come. Toxicosis recedes and now you can eat for two. The lion's share of the weight gain occurs precisely during this period of pregnancy.

The weekly weight gain calendar is a guideline that doctors rely on when examining pregnant women. The expectant mother herself must exercise control over body weight, so that, if necessary, make adjustments to her lifestyle and diet. To do this, you need a scale and a notebook in which you can keep records.

It is enough to weigh yourself once a week in the morning on an empty stomach, having previously emptied the bladder and intestines. For accurate measurements, it is best to take off your clothes or stay in your underwear.

How to calculate pregnancy weight by week?

Calculating weight gain during pregnancy is easy and quite realistic to do it yourself. In addition, you can resort to using special programs. They are freely available on the Internet and for convenience you can install them on your smartphone.

Body weight increases gradually and depends on many individual factors that must be taken into account when calculating. As we said earlier, in the first trimester, a situation in which the weight increases by 1-3 kilograms is considered normal, but in the case of severe toxicosis, a woman can lose weight.

Starting from the second trimester, you can determine the individual weight gain using the following formula: multiply the height in meters (discard the comma) by 22 grams. Calculation example: a pregnant woman's height 1.60 meters means 16 x 22 = 352 grams. This is optimal weekly weight gain.

To make it easier for yourself and get rid of mathematical calculations, you can resort to help pregnancy weight gain calculator by week ... Using such a program is really easy, fast and convenient. You just need to drive in the indicators necessary for the calculation - height, weight before pregnancy, current body weight at the time of calculations and gestational age in weeks. The calculator itself will calculate the body mass index (abbreviated as BMI), draw up a graph of weight gain during pregnancy and make a forecast for an increase by the 9th month.

If your result is on the normal line on the chart, then there is no cause for concern. And if it is higher or lower, then your weight deviates from healthy indicators and there is an excess of it, or vice versa, a deficit. This should not be left to chance and appropriate measures should be taken urgently.

Nutrition during pregnancy

This topic requires separate consideration, so in this material we will give only general recommendations about how to eat right. Let's also talk about which products for pregnant women are acceptable and vice versa are prohibited. To begin with, we note that the diet of the expectant mother should be adjusted taking into account the needs of her body.

For example, you are one hundred percent meat eater and do not like vegetables or prefer sweets to fruits, and so on. Then you will have to reconsider your preferences so that the child grows and develops harmoniously.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that pregnancy is stress for the body and it needs powerful support to ensure the life of two at once.

A balanced diet provides:

the correct functioning of the body;
meeting the needs of the developing embryo;
the formation and growth of the placenta;
swelling of the mammary glands and prolonged lactation.

If the balance of vitamins, beneficial compounds and other nutrients is disturbed, then there is a risk:

the development of intrauterine pathologies in the fetus;
decrease in all important vital signs of the newborn;
insufficient child;
undeveloped intelligence;
hereditary diseases;
low life expectancy.

Bad habits (smoking, alcohol, etc.) destroy the baby's body no less than unhealthy diet. Therefore, all this should be abandoned, at least during pregnancy, if there is no willpower to "tie" forever.

Major nutritional mistakes during pregnancy:

Irregular meals. Lack of a full breakfast, a missed meal schedule, snacks and evening meals - all this affects the health of the mother and child. Therefore, during pregnancy, we adhere to the rules and principles of a healthy lifestyle diet. The largest meal that provides an energy boost in the morning is breakfast. After it (a couple of hours should pass), you can arrange for yourself a light snack. At lunchtime, eat soup, and for the second, cook steamed meat and porridge, and for dinner - fish and vegetables.
Overeating at night harms metabolic processes and loads the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, you do not sleep well, and the food is not digested normally. The excess calories are instantly transformed into excess fat, and he, in turn, negatively affects weight.
Eating dry food with your favorite cookies, rolls and other flour products not only adds kilograms, but also increases the risk of developing or.
Overly spicy food, which is sometimes so desirable for pregnant women, is also harmful, and also stimulates the appetite.
Sweets and pastries are acceptable, but only in moderation. Excess blood sugar leads not only to extra pounds, but also significantly increases the risk of developing .

During pregnancy, it is important to eat meat, fish and seafood, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits, sour and dairy products, whole grain bread, cereals and pasta made from durum wheat. These foods will provide the required levels of important beneficial compounds. It is better to steam, bake or boil food. If possible, it is advisable to abandon salt and sugar or significantly reduce their content in ready-made dishes.

In the first trimester, it is important to get plenty of vitamin B9 , i.e. , which is indispensable for the growth of organs and tissues, as well as the development nervous system... She is rich in cheeses, beets, cabbage, legumes and carrots.

Food in the second trimester should be rich in content:

and calcium (dairy products, fish liver, eggs);
gland (meat, vegetables);
(fruits, berries);
fiber .

How not to gain weight during pregnancy

In order not to gain extra pounds, adhere to the following rules:

Don't overeat. The good old "you need to eat for two" or "if you want, it means a child requires", which sounds from the lips of good grandmothers and aunts, should not confuse you and justify a night's hunger. The body must receive exactly the amount of calories required for the normal development of the fetus and no more. You can eat more often, but in small portions, then you will not feel hungry. It is believed that you can increase the calorie intake of your diet during pregnancy by a maximum of 200-300 calories without harm to your health. But here it is important to observe the measure, this is especially true for women whose BMI is above normal.
Avoid unhealthy foods that contain fast carbohydrates in excess. All kinds of sweets, chocolates and bars, confectionery and flour are sources of sugar, which is absorbed quickly and gives only a temporary feeling of satiety, disappearing instantly, and you want to eat again. As a result, you absorb harmful sugar along with food additives and confectionery fats.
Arrange yourself gentle fasting days. This does not mean that we advise you to fast during pregnancy. You can give your stomach a break once every two weeks. On this day, replace most of your diet with vegetables or dairy products.
Walk more, and not only in good and sunny weather in the fresh air. This rule helps to maintain health for everyone, without exception. Physical activity (within reason, of course) is especially important for pregnant women. The more you move, the better your blood is oxygenated, which means you protect your baby from oxygen starvation .
Avoid harmful and useless drinks. Give preference to ordinary drinking water or natural compotes, fruit drinks and juices without sugar. The recommended daily volume of fluid for pregnant women is 1.5 liters. It is better to drink two thirds before 4 pm to avoid swelling.

Foods that are allowed to eat for pregnant women:

dietary flour products, bran or rye whole grain bread;
vegetable soups (we limit potatoes, cereals, pasta) up to 200 grams per day;
meat products and meat, steamed, baked or boiled;
Fish and seafood;
milk, dairy and fermented milk products (yogurt without additives and sugar, low-fat cottage cheese);
eggs (preferably quail);
cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat - the most useful);
fresh or steamed vegetables;
sauces and salad dressings (sour cream, olive oil);
fresh fruits;
butter up to 10 grams per day;
refined sunflower oil should be replaced with unrefined olive oil;
drinks (tea, non-purchased packaged juices, fruit drinks, water).

Almost every woman preparing to become a mother is overcome by various anxieties, fears and experiences.

In addition to worries about the normal course of pregnancy, worries about the health of the child and a successful childbirth, women are very worried about more mundane problems: many are afraid that having gained a fair amount of extra pounds while carrying a child, they will no longer be able to tidy up their figure or return to their previous shape ...

However, wise nature has foreseen everything. Of course, your body weight will increase over the course of nine months as the baby inside of you grows and develops.

Until the very birth, the doctor systematically monitors how your weight is changing in order to understand if everything is in order, because both excessive weight gain and insufficient weight are posing a threat to you and the baby.

There is no absolutely "ideal" weight for pregnancy, because the rate of its increase depends on the indicators that you had initially. Weight gain can differ very significantly: in the range of fluctuations - from small weight loss to gaining twenty kilograms and even more.

To avoid pathological weight gain, which will subsequently lead to various complications both during and after childbirth, you need to visit your doctor regularly so that he can monitor the indicators, comparing them with the norms of weight gain.

This will help to detect the problem in time - excess weight gain or lack of weight, and then take measures to solve it. You can also weigh yourself at home. You need to get on the scales correctly: it is best to do this in the morning on an empty stomach (before breakfast).

How and why does weight gain?

Typically, for about two months, a woman will not notice significant changes in her weight.

Your body is just beginning to rebuild and adapt to its new status.

At first, even a reverse reaction is possible, that is, severe weight loss if you are worried about it (decreased appetite, severe intolerance to odors and exacerbated tastes, persistent nausea, possibly vomiting). During this time, they usually gain about 1-2 kg.

But already from the second trimester, the weight will change much more rapidly: up to 250-300 g per week or 1 kg per month.

With numbers that significantly exceed these indicators, doctors will suspect the presence of serious problems or complications (dropsy of pregnant women - hidden and).

In the third trimester, in particular, after seven months, a woman will gain even more: about 50 g per day or up to 400 g per week, because the baby is already in full swing preparing for his birth.

So, on average, in nine months you can gain about 9-14 kg, and if twins are expected - about 16-21 kg.

However, these figures are only general indicators, from which the doctor will start. There are also special methods for calculating weight and a scale of average physiological weight gain (for the last trimester).

Factors on which the increase in mass depends

Of course, the bulk of the gained kilograms is the weight of the baby himself, but it can only be 3-4 kg. In addition, the volume of blood and the amount of adipose tissue will increase, it will become your energy reserve for future breastfeeding.

Together with the child, the uterus also grows, the mammary glands become larger. Consider also the afterbirth, the umbilical cord, the volume of amniotic fluid, etc.

Overkill may appear if you are wearing too much or the amount of adipose tissue has increased a little more than necessary. Such deviations from the average statistical data are considered harmless and require only minor lifestyle adjustments (diet, exercise, other doctor's recommendations). In other cases, we can talk about pathology (, dropsy, etc.).

Here's how the gained kilograms are distributed:

weight of a newborn baby - 3 kg 300 g;
weight of the uterus - 900 g;
amniotic fluid volume - 900 g;
placenta weight - 400 g;
increase in breast mass - 500 g;
an increase in blood volume - 1200 g;
tissue fluid mass - 2 kg 700 g;
adipose tissue mass - 2 kg 200 g.

Remember that the body of every woman is individual, therefore, it can react in completely different ways to its new state.

Moreover, weight gain is regulated by many factors.

One of the most important factors is a woman's own baseline weight.

Doctors say that the lower the norm you weighed before pregnancy, the more you gain weight during her period. And it will be okay. But with excessive initial weight or even obesity, a woman will have to take very scrupulous care of herself and carefully monitor body weight gain.

The second important factor of influence is the woman's age.

Since, as the body ages, a tendency to be overweight is often manifested, the older the pregnant woman, the more likely a significant (excessive) increase in weight is.

Among other physiological features, the growth and body type of a woman should be noted.

A very important indicator will be the constitution of your body (asthenic type - a tendency to thinness, hypersthenic - to overweight).

The well-being of the pregnant woman is also taken into account.

For example, whether she suffers from severe toxicosis, or, if at first it will contribute to weight loss, then the body will make every effort to compensate for its lack. This means that the weight gain can become much larger than necessary.

Perhaps due to hormonal changes, the woman feels constant hunger or increased appetite. The doctor will have to focus on the fact that you do not need to eat for two, but should carefully monitor your diet.

Further, it is possible to note an influencing factor related to the characteristics of pregnancy.

Of course, if, then she will gain a lot more kilograms than the mother of one child. More than the average rate will be the weight of a pregnant woman who carries a large baby.

Possible complications are also important: polyhydramnios, edema, obesity in case of endocrine system disorders.

Such pathologies can significantly increase the weight of a woman, carrying with them an additional threat to her health and the well-being of the child.

Almost all of the above factors can be corrected, because even if you have a physiological predisposition to gaining excess weight, then this process can be positively influenced with the help of rational nutrition, self-control and moderate physical activity.

What are the average rates of weight gain at different stages of pregnancy?

In the early stages, it is very difficult to determine the normal weight for each pregnant woman. The rate of mass gain can be completely individual: someone starts to gain weight immediately, and then the indicators slightly decrease and slow down, someone, on the contrary, walks with almost unchanged weight almost until the second trimester, and after that the weight begins to grow sharply, etc. etc.

All these processes are normal, the main thing is that the weight does not go beyond the maximum indicators.

Approximate weight gain calendar by week

Is it possible to calculate individual rates of weight gain?

Many women are so afraid of gaining too much weight that they begin to observe strict diet than cause a lack of vitamins and nutrients that are so necessary for a child for full growth and development.

There is a way to help you personally find out your rate. This figure will turn out to be different for everyone, because it must be calculated using a special formula.

First, you will need to calculate your Body Mass Index (or BMI).

To do this, divide two numbers: your current weight (in kilograms) by your height (in meters) squared. This will give you an indication of the maximum extra weight you can gain during pregnancy without any harm to your own health or the health of your baby.

Weight gain table

Doctors conditionally divide women into several groups (according to the type of figure), based on the indicators of their body mass indices:

to the first group are young ladies of a thin physique? their BMI is less than 19.8 on average;
the second group - women of average build with BMI in the range from 19.8 to 26;
and the third? ladies with a large physique (BMI - more than 26).

However, if you are pregnant with twins, weight gain will increase. And the norms will be completely different.

Be sure to monitor your weight gain throughout pregnancy in order to notice in time possible deviations from the norm and take appropriate measures.

Consult your doctor if you have the slightest doubt or concern. The ideal will be a smooth increase in body weight, in which the child develops normally, receiving everything he needs from his mother. Using a specially compiled graph-table of weight gain by week, you will be able to control the increase in kilograms and not allow either their excess or lack.

Table. Weight gain during pregnancy by week

sharing pregnancy	Weight deficit before pregnancy (BMI less than 18.5), kg	Normal weight before pregnancy (BMI from 18.5 to 24.9), kg	Overweight before pregnancy (BMI over 30), kg
4	0-0,9	0-0,7	0-0,5
6	0-1,4	0-1	0-0,6
8	0-1,6	0-1,2	0-0,7
10	0-1,8	0-1,3	0-0,8
12	0-2	0-1,5	0-1
14	0,5-2,7	0,5-2	0,5-1,2
16	up to 3.6	until 3	up to 1.4
18	up to 4.6	up to 4	up to 2.3
20	until 6	up to 5.9	up to 2.9
22	up to 7.2	up to 7	up to 3.4
24	up to 8.6	up to 8.5	up to 3.9
26	to 10	to 10	up to 5
28	up to 13	up to 11	up to 5.4
30	up to 14	up to 12	up to 5.9
32	up to 15	up to 13	up to 6.4
34	up to 16	up to 14	up to 7.3
36	up to 17	up to 15	up to 7.9
38	before 18	up to 16	up to 8.6
40	before 18	up to 16	up to 9.1

Possible deviations from the norm

When doctors talk about the rate of increase, then, as a rule, they focus on going beyond the upper permissible limit of indicators. However, the opposite situation is also possible.

Excess weight: the main causes of deviation from the norm

Being overweight is a pretty serious problem.

Starting factors that can affect a large increase in mass can be the most commonplace, and indicate the appearance of very serious problems:

during pregnancy, many mothers notice a strong increase in appetite or constantly feel hungry.

As a result of constant overeating, the hypothalamus (a special center in the human brain responsible for regulating hunger) malfunctions, and your body will need larger and larger portions to feel full. At some point, the weight begins to grow rapidly and becomes pathologically excessive.

If you add to the constant overeating that the energy obtained from food is practically not consumed due to a sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity, then you get a second reason.
Also, overweight can be caused by common genetics and problems with the endocrine system.
A significant increase in kilograms is often caused not by an increase in adipose tissue, but by the appearance of edema.

This is already a serious cause for concern, because puffiness can lead to gestosis and other complications;

initial high weight or obesity.

Those women who suffer from excess (pathological) weight gain are usually prescribed preventive complex therapy. The most important thing to do is to keep your weight under constant control: weigh yourself regularly and track all the necessary indicators to see their dynamics.

Your menu should be based on fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, lean or lean meats and fish, dairy products (low fat), etc.

Exclude from the diet all fried, starchy foods, sweets, convenience foods and instant foods.

Try to steam and use fewer spices.

If you are overweight, it is also good to count calories (you can reduce their number by up to 10%). It is worth monitoring the amount of fluid you drink in order to prevent edema. Your doctor may recommend that you do fasting days once a week.

The doctor will also help you choose a set of exercises that will suit your period and individual characteristics. Moderate physical activity will not only destroy excess calories, but also have a positive effect on well-being, prepare the body for childbirth, and keep your body in good shape.

Excess weight threatens a pregnant woman with many complications:

it can provoke the appearance of various health problems;
cause varicose veins;
cause a serious load on the spine, as well as the internal organs of a woman;
cause the development of various diseases (preeclampsia, hypercoagulation);
there are cases when overweight provoked the threat of miscarriage or was one of the factors of miscarriage and;
in addition, there will be certain complications due to the birth of a large fetus, including additional difficulties in postpartum rehabilitation.

For a baby in the womb, your overweight is fraught with considerable problems, among which one can note the likelihood of the risk of developing certain diseases, and the tendency to be overweight in the future, and to, and nutritional deficiencies, and much more.

Lack of weight gain: causes and consequences

In most cases, doctors are faced with excessive weight gain in a pregnant woman, but it can be the other way around, when a woman is gaining less than the norm or even losing weight.

This situation is also alarming, because it can lead to the fact that the child will not be provided with useful substances necessary for full growth and development, and this will affect the process of formation of his organs and systems.

As a result, the likelihood of the risk of premature birth, developmental delay or delay, and even spontaneous termination of pregnancy is increased.

Usually, insufficient weight gain or sudden weight loss occurs in the first trimester. The reason for this phenomenon is toxicosis. Also, malfunctions in the body are possible if a woman is starving or eating poorly, or following a strict diet / fasting.

As a rule, with correction of nutrition and after the disappearance of toxicosis, everything returns to normal. True, weight can begin to grow very rapidly. Your doctor can help you balance your diet and gain weight. The main thing is to seek help in time in order to prevent depletion of the body or other complications.

Instead of a conclusion

As a baby grows inside you, you can gain weight that will be more or less than the average. Monitor the indicators yourself, consult your doctor: if you feel good and all the tests show excellent results, then your pregnancy is proceeding normally and there is no reason for worry.

Not all expectant mothers understand how important it is to observe the boundaries of reason in the matter of nutrition. Someone is worried about the figure, which will be difficult to put in order after childbirth, and begins to limit themselves in everything, and someone thinks that now you need to eat literally "for two" and heavily lean on your favorite foods.

In fact, any deviations from the norm can equally pose a danger to the health of the woman herself and her baby. What do you need to know about changes in body weight during pregnancy, and how to correctly calculate the optimal weight gain?

What is the danger of being underweight or overweight during pregnancy?

The average weight gain during pregnancy is between 9 and 14 kg. Of course, this value cannot be applied to each specific case, since the exact figure depends on many factors, but a sharp deviation from it in one direction or the other should alert the expectant mother.

Underweight often occurs in pregnant women in the first months, that is, during the period when they suffer from toxicosis. Unless the loss is accompanied by severe vomiting (after each meal), the baby is most likely out of danger.

Low weight is at greatest risk in the second or third trimesters, when the fetus is in great need of nutrients and their lack can lead to a deficiency in the body weight of the newborn, various pathologies in development and psychological problems... In a woman, in this case, the level of important hormones may drop, which is fraught with miscarriage or premature birth.

Excess weight is also not only an aesthetic problem for pregnancy, since the entire burden falls on the mother's health. Often it provokes the development of gestosis, a dangerous condition called late toxicosis. Gestosis poses a direct threat to the health of the child, as it can cause other troubles. Read more about gestosis

Excess weight is even more dangerous when it occurs not due to overeating, but due to edema.- usually in such cases, the increase occurs in a short period of time (more than a kilogram per week). This may be the first symptom of dropsy - an excess accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the body, the main cause of which is the disorder of the kidneys.

It is categorically not recommended to solve such problems on your own, therefore, with a sharp increase in the body weight of a pregnant woman, you should immediately consult a doctor.

And in order to notice a threatening condition in time and take action, the expectant mother should know how much the optimal weight gain during pregnancy should be in her case.

Why do pregnant women gain weight?

Contrary to popular belief, pregnant women gain excess weight not only due to the weight of the growing baby and body fat - they account for about half of the total. For nine months, a woman's uterus, the volume of blood and intercellular fluid increase, amniotic fluid and placenta are formed, and the mammary glands begin to grow actively.

These changes are necessary for the correct growth and development of the baby, that is, they should be monitored not only by the gynecologist, but also by the woman herself.

What determines weight gain during pregnancy?

To calculate the permissible weight gain for a woman, you should take into account her initial weight, that is, BMI (body mass index), which is calculated using a special formula: body weight in kilograms / height in meters squared. The resulting result allows you to assess how close a woman's weight is to normal: if the figure falls within the range of 19.8-26, then the weight is normal, less than 19 is insufficient, more than 26 is excessive, and a BMI above 30 indicates obesity.

Thin, fragile women (the so-called asthenic type) should gain 13-18 kg during pregnancy;
For women with a normal physique and weight, the allowable weight gain is 11-16 kg;
Obese ladies with overweight normally gain from 7 to 11 kg;
In case of obesity, the doctor prescribes a special diet for the expectant mother, and her weight gain should not exceed 6 kg.

In addition, it is very important to take into account the gestational age of the fetus by week, since on each of them certain changes occur in the woman's body and the fetus that affect the total weight.

Weight by week of pregnancy

Weight gain during pregnancy is uneven by week - at the very beginning it is almost invisible, increases significantly towards the middle and decreases again closer to childbirth.

The second trimester, when the baby begins to grow and develop especially actively, a woman should be especially careful, since weight gain takes on its original meaning. The numbers are distributed as follows: about 500 g per week for slender women, no more than 450 g for pregnant women with normal weight, and no more than 300 g for overweight women.

In the third trimester, pregnant women gain less weight, and this process is natural, as their body prepares for the birth of a baby.

It is very important to ensure that body weight does not decrease too sharply, as this may indicate pathologies in the development of pregnancy.

Why is slow weight gain dangerous?

Slow weight gain is a relative concept for pregnant women, since in the first trimester, it may not only not arrive, but also decrease.

Some expectant mothers gain the first kilograms only after the 14th week - usually this applies to miniature women who do not have a genetic predisposition to obesity or women suffering from toxicosis. In the first case, weight gains slowly over the course of all nine months, which should not cause concern in the normal state of health of a pregnant woman. If we talk about women suffering from toxicosis, then by the second trimester the malaise usually disappears, body weight returns to normal and weight gain goes on as usual.

If a pregnant woman is starving, following a strict diet, or simply eating incorrectly, then her risk of miscarriage or premature birth is significantly increased.

In such a situation, a woman needs to abandon restrictions and bring her diet back to normal. You need to eat in small portions several times a day, snack on cheese, nuts or dried fruits between meals, and you can add a little butter or sour cream to your meal.

Read about nutritional rules during pregnancy

Why is fast weight gain dangerous?

Fast weight gain is typical for multiple pregnancies, women with underweight and too young mothers whose body is still developing.

In other cases, it is the result of normal overeating and requires dietary adjustments. Overweight does not pose a direct threat to the child's life, but it can be the cause of diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, preeclampsia and overweight of the baby, which can lead to complications during childbirth and even caesarean section.

If weight gains too quickly, a woman is advised to consult a nutritionist and give up fast-digesting carbohydrates (sweets, pastries, pasta) and include fruits, vegetables, cereals and dairy products in her menu.

The situation is much more dangerous if excess weight is a consequence of edema. In order to identify the problem in time and get medical help, the expectant mother should have a table of weight gain during pregnancy and accurate scales at hand - gaining more than 1 kg per week is a serious cause for concern.

Read about how not to gain weight during pregnancy.

Is weight loss dangerous during pregnancy?

In the first trimester of pregnancy, weight loss is quite possible due to toxicosis, in the second such a situation is usually associated with various diseases and stress, and in the third trimester, a loss of 1-2 kg is a harbinger of imminent childbirth.

In any case, weight gain during pregnancy is a purely individual matter, so it is very important for the expectant mother to monitor her well-being and the quality of the food taken.

If the weight goes away quickly and abruptly (especially for the first and second trimester), you should immediately inform the doctor about it, as this can be a serious threat to the health and even the life of the baby.

Diet during pregnancy

Diets, strict nutritional systems and fasting days (especially the so-called "hungry") during the period of bearing a child are strictly prohibited, even if the pregnant woman is overweight.

It is very important to make sure that the baby receives all the nutrients, vitamins and trace elements, therefore, the expectant mother should not starve - you just need to balance your diet accordingly, and if necessary, consult a specialist.

Fetal weight gain and growth rates

Increases in the height and weight of the child are no less important parameters than the body weight of the expectant mother. They begin to measure it from about the 8th week, since it is simply impossible to do this earlier.

The baby's body weight and height increase unevenly - at first the fetus grows rapidly, and starting from the 14-15th week, the process slows down slightly. This is due to the fact that the main task of the child during this period is to develop new skills and abilities (blink, wiggle hands, etc.), and not gain weight and height. At the beginning of the third trimester, the baby's weight gain accelerates again, and by the date of birth, his body weight reaches from 2.5 to 3.5 kg.

The weight and height of the child are individual parameters and depend on many factors, primarily gender and genetic predisposition, but there are average figures that are considered to be the norm.

In addition, ultrasound examination necessarily measures such indicators as:

BPR - biparietal head size (distance between the outer surface of the lower contour and the inner surface of the lower one);
DB - thigh length;
Coolant - abdominal circumference;
DHA is the diameter of the chest.

These indicators should increase in proportion to the duration of pregnancy, and together with height and weight are very important parameters that can tell about the presence or absence of any pathologies.

Any lag or advance is a reason for consulting a doctor, but by no means a reason for panic, because every little man is an individuality that can have its own characteristics.

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