Pregnancy Weight Gain

So, you've just found out you're pregnant....that's wonderful. Now you need to get serious about your out of control eating habits and put a rein on that social drinking you've been doing. Neither one is now acceptable because they can be detrimental to the development of the fetus, and that is the last thing you want to do. You need to concentrate on making sure that your pregnancy is as healthy as it can possibly be, and the development of that new little life inside you goes off without a hitch.

Of particular concern here is your pregnancy weight gain. For some women, that gain needs to be tightly controlled because of medical conditions or something in their health history that calls for stricter measures. But for the majority of women, that is not the case and they just need to follow a healthy eating plan and not eat everything that crosses their path.

There certainly is a lot of leeway in the foods that the average pregnant woman can choose; but that does not give them the license to chow down when the spirit moves them and eat like a pig. Not only is this behavior bad for you healthwise in the long run, but it can be detrimental to your overall health if you keep it up for any real length of time.

It stands to reason that if you overeat on a consistent basis, then you will gain unwanted pounds and not only will they be a hindrance while you are pregnant, they represent that much more work you have to do losing weight after you deliver the baby. Your pregnancy weight gain needs to be very gradual and on a controlled basis so that you stay within the parameters set by your doctor for acceptable weight gain during this period of time.

Instead of eating whatever you feel like and tossing caution to the wind, try using a little self restraint and thought as to the consequences if you give in to your food cravings. Most of what you think you need to eat because you are "eating for two", can be trimmed way down and the portions kept at a reasonable level while still satisfying your need to eat.

And make sure you check closely with your doctor on a routine basis as to what the recommended limits are for weight gain during a pregnancy. Once you know what those limits are, then stay within in them for a pregnancy that is not hampered by complications. Most professionals recommend an average pregnancy weight gain of 20-30 pounds for the duration of the pregnancy, while others even put the figures as high as 25-35 pounds. Remember, whichever you choose to follow with the help of your doctor, do it gradually and don't let your weight balloon up at any time during your pregnancy.

Keep the weight gain slow and gradual, and you will find it will be much easier to control and manage, and you will feel a lot better. And of course, depending on the weight of the baby at birth, you will lose almost equal weight in amniotic fluid as you will the actual weight of the baby. So if the baby weighs in at 6 pounds, you will lose that 6 pounds and approximately 6 pounds of fluid weight, bringing the total to 12 pounds lost at birth. The average weight loss at birth is 10-15 pounds, leaving about 10-20 pounds to lose after the birth of the total weight gained during the pregnancy.

The easiest thing in the world when you are pregnant, hungry all the time, and bombarded with food ads, is to give in and eat and eat like your life depended on it. Well, guess what, it does. So keep your pregnancy weight gain to a minimum and within recommended parameters by watching what you eat and conferring with your physician on a regular basis. You will find that by doing so, your weight management will not be a strain over the duration of the pregnancy, and both you and the little life growing inside you will be all the better for your efforts. You both will be healthy and fit thanks to your program based on common sense.