Summary
Appetite may go up but "eating for two" to gain weight in pregnancy is not really healthy for otherwise healthy women. When you are overweight, it is best to cut weght down in time before embarking on pregnancy. During this period taking folate supplements can help. However, as many conceptions are unplanned the burden of diet and weight mangement will fall on the shoulders of most mothers after the event. Being overweight before pregnancy increases the risk of various complications during pregnancy and gaining too much weight during pregnancy on top can increase risks to both the mother and the baby further. For overweight mothers it is best to seek professional help during antenatal care for nurtitional, exercise and weight managemnet advice.
Appetite in pregnancy
It is correct that your appetite will go up, but for healthy mothers "eating for two" is not necessary. Weight gain, if excessive, is not good. It can be associated with conditions such as diabetes and macrosomia (large baby) and related complications of labour and delivery.
How much weight should you gain? In the first trimester, you can even lose weight due to vomiting and nausea. Weight gain will begin to become noticeable in the second trimester, which is when the tummy begins to grow, and in the third trimester, it will be obvious when the baby grows the most. An average weight woman should gain around 10 kilograms. This will vary based on several factors, such as your previous weight if you are expecting twins or your height. Your midwife is the best person to guide you in this regard. Returning to normal weight after delivery is likely to be aided by breastfeeding.
Weight gain during pregnancy: what is healthy?
"Eating for two" is not a dictum advising healthy pregnant women to eat twice as much. Adopt a healthy lifestyle to control your weight gain during pregnancy, take care of your baby's health, and facilitate the loss of extra kilos after delivery. There are guidelines for weight gain in pregnancy, but there is no one-size-fits-all. The appropriate weight gain in your case individually will depend on several factors including your weight before pregnancy and your body mass index. Your health and that of your baby also play an important role.
Keep in mind this general guideline that your pre-pregnancy weight is key to how much weight gain is appropriate during pregnancy. Aim to get into the normal weight range before embarking on a pregnancy. Although low weight mothers need to be mindful about eating a little extra, the overweight and obese mothers with singleton pregnancies need to be really careful to avoid indulging in overeating. It is a different matter if you have multiple pregnancies as you may need to eat more since there are two placentae and babies needing nutrition for their growth.
What does pregnancy weight gain go into? Your baby could weigh between about 3 kilograms or more. That explains part of the pregnancy weight gain. What about the rest? Well the placenta that supplies nutrition to the baby itself weights at bit and the uterus grows in size too. There is the amniotic fluid aorund baby as well as the fluid retention in the maternal body.
Antenatal care with your healthcare professional
Your healthcare provider, an obstetrician or midwife, will monitor your weight throughout the antenatal period as a custom. There is little or no evidence to show that frequent weight monitoring is worthwhile; it costs little to to do this and it looks like the provider is doing something, but it is unlikely be harmful. An important point is that although it is recommended to go up in weight a kilo per month on average, this does not necessarily mean gaining the same weight during each month of pregnancy. A dietitian can specifically help. Do your part by eating a healthy diet and attending prenatal appointments. To keep weight gain during pregnancy on target, your dietician can offer suggestions for increasing calories or reducing intake as needed.
The key thing is pre-pregnacy nutrition. Prenatal vitamins and folate are nutritional supplements of value in prevention of some malformations, and starting pregnancy with normal weight is key. If you are otherwise healthy, avoid the mistake of weighing yourself every day whcih some do. Instead of obsessing with the weight gain, it is preferable to take general care of a good diet with sufficient fluid and fibre intake. Pregnant women do not need to count calories each day. It is advisable for this record to be carried out by the doctor at regular check-ups.
Apetite, weight and lower genital tract
Many women believe that what they eat and how their weight and shape changes is linked to vaginal odors and infections occur in pregnancy. It is true that during the months of gestation, changes in vaginal pH occur. For this reason, the lower genital tract organs are vulnerable. stage to the proliferation of bacteria. In pregnancy nearly everything changes. The most minor of changes in the vaginal and vulval health bring about noticeable variations in anxiety which in turn affects apetite. Mothers needs to take care, to keep her lower genital tract area clean and wear loose clothes, but not to obsess with it so much that diet and weight get affected. Relax!
Conclusion
Whether it's to support your baby's growth or to keep your own self healthy, pregnancy can be the time to seek professional help in lifestyle management. It's important to gain jsut the right amount of weight in pregnancy, not too much and not too little, and the key to all this the starting point. The best is to control weight before falling pregnant. During antenatal care work with your healthcare provider to determine what's right for you and to manage your weight for the best pregnancy outcome. Then post-natally stay engaged in the effort to return to and maintain normal weight throughout life.
