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It’s common knowledge that you are going to gain a little weight through pregnancy. And, this is a healthy thing! Most soon to be mammas are too busy cooing at their baby bump to be worried about the weight gain at first, but then the doubts slowly start to creep in. Are you gaining too much weight? Are you gaining enough? Weight gain during pregnancy will depend on your existing weight and body mass index (BMI) which varies from person to person. So, looking to your friends and family for help will only drive you crazier. But in a more basic sense, those who are underweight can afford to put on more weight while those who are overweight should put on the least amount of excess weight possible in order to have a healthy pregnancy. A pregnancy weight calculator is a tool you can use in order to keep track of how much weight you need to gain or lose for the benefit of you and your baby.
But before that, here are some things you need to know:
What Is Normal Weight Gain During Pregnancy?
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As your baby grows throughout your term, you will gain weight. But make sure that your pregnancy weight gain falls within the norms in order to keep you and your baby healthy and happy. Diligently attending all your doctors appointments will help you keep track of the weight gain at every step in your pregnancy. The American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have come up with a guide to determine expected weight gain based on original BMI (1):
Underweight: Your BMI is less than 18.5. You are expected to gain anywhere between 28 to 40 pounds or 1 to 1.3 pounds every week of pregnancy (2).
Normal Weight: Your BMI is between 18.5 to 24.9. You are expected to gain anywhere between 25 to 35 pounds or 0.8 to 1 pound per week (3).
Overweight: Your BMI is between 25 to 29.9. You are expected to gain anywhere between 15 to 25 pounds or 0.5 to 0.7 pounds per week (4).
Obese: Your BMI is over 30. You are expected to gain anywhere between 11 to 20 pounds or 0.4 to 0.6 pounds every week of pregnancy (5).
As you can observe the higher your BMI the less weight you are expected to gain throughout your pregnancy. However, it is important to supply your body with all the nutrients your baby will need in order to develop and grow well. So don’t deprive your body of sustenance no matter how conscious you are about packing on a couple of extra pounds. Just eat when you are hungry and be mindful of portion control.
How To Use The Pregnancy Weight Calculator?
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You can just use a pregnancy calculator off of the internet by entering some basic data.This pregnancy calculator will help you monitor your weight gain progress throughout your pregnancy. It takes the basic information of your height, pre-pregnancy weight and what week you are in, and will provide you with a target weight gain amount per week and a target total weight based on the week of the pregnancy. How easy is that! You can use this as a guide for your pregnancy weight gain goals. However, make sure to still keep in touch with your doctor and consult them on any diets you are planning on going on.
How To Maintain Weight During Pregnancy?
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Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can lead to a slew of medical problems and underweight during pregnancy is equally as detrimental. Work with your doctor to ensure that you are neither gaining nor losing too much weight. Working hard to maintain the ideal weight at each stage in your pregnancy will keep you and your baby healthy and make shedding the excess weight easier on you in your postpartum months. The key to achieve this is by eating small portions. Eat smaller sized meals at more frequent intervals. This will stop you from ignoring your hunger cues and eating way too much. Binge eating will only make you more uncomfortable than you already are. So, make sure to stick to a nutritious and balanced diet alongside a comfortable exercise routine. Sticking to this health regime will help your pregnancy sail smoothly.
Being pregnant isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The hormones, morning sickness, body aches and weird cravings can really do a number on you. Trying to stay as healthy as possible can get overwhelming and keeping track of your weight can lead to stress. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Simply use the pregnancy weight calculator and adjust your lifestyle accordingly. With a little supervision from your doctor and a little support from your partner and family, you’ll be on your way to deliver a happy and healthy baby in no time. So don’t worry and enjoy your pregnancy months instead!
