Whether you are planning a pregnancy, or on your way towards a delivery, weight gain is a thought that grabs your attention often. If you are starting with those extra pounds that you have put on before pregnancy, it takes a toll on your body that can be very discouraging. Although the doctors recommend that every woman should gain a certain amount of weight to sustain a pregnancy, you need to be sure that you are managing your weight and know when you have gained more than what is suggested.
Why excess weight gain is not good during pregnancy:
When you gain extra weight during pregnancy, there are chances of developing gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia. These can lead to a premature delivery. This weight gain also makes the baby grow more than the normal size of fetal growth. Women often don’t realise that the baby is big, which can lead to an alternate method of delivery and put the baby at risk. Larger infants face issues with blood sugar or other metabolic problems such as obesity after delivery. To avoid all these concerns, it is advised by the doctor to maintain a healthy weight gain during pregnancy.
Diet tips for weight gain during pregnancy:
- Eat five to six small meals a day.
- Munch on easy snacks like nuts, crackers, yoghurt and other such nibbles.
- Try eating toast and fruit with peanut butter, as it contains a healthy amount of calories required by the body.
- Add butter, cream or cheese to your meals
- Visit a nutritionist to plan a diet chart for your pregnancy.
Ideal weight gain during pregnancy for underweight women is between 12 to 18 kgs, for women of normal weight it is between 11 to 15 kgs and for overweight women, it is between 6 to 11 kgs. Gaining weight during pregnancy is natural and essential, but needs to be limited to only a healthy amount. Apollo Cradle offers the best Mommy-to-be diet plans and fitness routines that are recommended by top doctors. Check out our page on diet & nutrition during pregnancy. Eating a healthy and balanced diet will help your baby get all the nutrients it requires to grow at a hale and hearty rate.
