|
weight gain during pregnancy |
As soon as
a woman announces that she is pregnant, all well-meaning relatives, including
her mother and mother-in-law, take up her diet as a personal project!
She is told to eat 'for two'. To deliver a healthy baby they feel that
she should put on a lot of weight.
On the other hand most of us would like to gain the minimum possible so
as to to accelerate post-partum weight loss. Too much weight gain is also
associated with labour complications and possibly a caeserian delivery.
So, how much
weight should you gain during your pregnancy?
All women put on weight differently depending upon their body type and
their pre-pregnancy weight. Generally weight gain should be between 12
- 15 kgs.
This weight
gain, typically, can be approximately broken up as follows: -
|
Ÿ
|
Blood volume |
1
kg |
|
Ÿ
|
Breast volume |
1
½ kgs |
|
Ÿ
|
Uterine
enlargement |
½
kg |
|
Ÿ
|
Fetus |
3
kgs |
|
Ÿ
|
Placenta & amniotic fluid |
1
kg |
|
Ÿ
|
Mother's
weight gain |
5
kgs |
|
You don't
need any extra calories in the first trimester of the pregnancy and only
300 extra calories every day of the second and third trimesters. That's
far from "eating for two".
|
Expert view -
In the normal course an Indian women requires 1800 calories
daily. During pregnancy this increases by another 300 calories.
Not only the diet should be increased but what component of
the diet to increase is also important.
-
The requirement for calcium, proteins and iron is much more.
- All
vitamins and supplements are also needed more.
- Milk
and milk products should be taken at least 2-3 times a day.
- Fresh
fruits and green vegetables should be increased.
- Carbohydrates
and fats do not need to be increased.
For more views from The Expert
|
|
Mere weight
gain is not enough. It is important to
- Eat sensibly. Eat foods high in nutrients and low in calories
- Drink lots of fluids
- Exercise regularly
Food Cravings
You can get all kinds of unlikely cravings during pregnancy. Lot of women
go off their favourite food and start craving for foods they earlier disliked.
All these changes and cravings are due to the hormonal changes in your
body. Most cravings are not harmful and instead help to divert your mind
especially as the last trimester stretches on. Infact this is one area
the father-to-be can help - by fulfilling his wife's cravings! So enjoy
yourselves.
There is one type of craving that requires professional help. Some women
are overcome by a craving to eat dirt etc. luckily, however, this type
of cravings is extremely rare.
|
