How much weight should she gain during pregnancy?
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During pregnancy the energy needs of a woman are increased to allow for a healthy gain in body weight. The mother’s energy needs are slightly increased during the first trimester, while on the average an extra 300 caloriesl/day are needed during the second and third trimesters. A weight gain of roughly 1 pound per month during the first trimester is generally recommended. Then, during the second and third trimesters, a ¾ to 1 pound per week is considered healthy. This allows for a total pregnancy weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds. |
How much weight should an overweight or underweight woman gain during pregnancy?
If a woman is underweight at the onset of pregnancy, a 28 to 40 pound weight gain is often recommended. On the other hand, if a woman is overweight or obese at the onset of pregnancy, a weight gain of 15 to 25 pounds is considered safer. It is important to recognize that pregnancy is not the time to try to lose weight. A healthy weight gain for the mother translates into a healthy growth for the unborn infant. Weight loss is never encouraged during pregnancy.
What should a woman do if she gains too much weight during pregnancy?
If during early pregnancy a female experiences an excessive weight gain, she should not be encouraged to lose weight. However, she should be encouraged to be more careful and try not to exceed the 1 pound per week in the remaining weeks. In contrast, if a pregnant woman fails to gain the recommended weight during early pregnancy, she should be encouraged to gain at least 1 pound per week for the remaining weeks, while not dramatically overcompensating. She can divide her recommended weight gain by the number of remaining weeks and use that figure as a guide.
What contributes to weight gain during pregnancy?
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As a female gains weight during pregnancy, usually about 7 to 8 pounds is attributable to the weight of the infant at birth. The rest of the weight is distributed throughout the mother in various tissues developed during pregnancy. These tissue include the placenta, amniotic fluid, increased breast tissue, expanded blood volume, and fat storage and muscle. These all help support the mother and fetus during pregnancy and after birth. Even the mother’s bones will become a little denser during pregnancy. |
How much protein does a mother need during pregnancy?
A woman’s nutritional protein requirements are increased during pregnancy to allow for adequate body protein production for her and developing baby. An increase of 25 grams of protein per day above the RDA is recommended for pregnant teens and women, going from 46 to 71 grams daily. The use of a protein supplement is probably not necessary for most women as their typical protein intake is still greater than requirements during pregnancy or is accounted for through increased energy intake during pregnancy. Vegetarian females should be particularly careful of their protein intake, especially vegans or fruitarians.
Are vitamin needs increased during pregnancy?
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A woman’s need for vitamins is generally increased during pregnancy with special consideration for folate and vitamin D. Since the manufacturing of DNA requires folate, and the unborn infant is comprised of rapidly reproducing cells, the need for extra folate is very important. The extra folate (50 percent above the nonpregnant RDA) also supports RBC formation in the mother’s expanding blood volume.A woman can increase her folate intake by choosing folate-rich foods such as orange juice and many fruits and vegetables. |
Vitamin D is also especially important during pregnancy. A pregnant woman’s RDA is the same as a nonpregnant woman, but good status is crucial. Vitamin D is necessary to aid in calcium metabolism and fetal bone formation. Regular sunlight exposure as well as choosing vitamin D-fortified milk and dairy products can help meet additional vitamin D requirements. However, direct sunlight (or tanning beds) is not recommended during pregnancy because fetal tissue is very sensitive to damage by UV light.
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