How much weight should I gain during pregnancy? That's the $64,000 question. Fortunately, unlike most things in life, there is a fairly simple answer to the question. A woman who is at her normal weight at the time of her pregnancy should gain an extra 25-35 pounds over the next nine months. A woman who is underweight should gain 30-40 pounds, and a woman who is overweight need only gain a recommended 15-25 pounds during her pregnancy.
If your expecting twins, add 10 more pounds to these numbers. Doctor's say to take in an extra 300 calories per day to achieve these weight gain goals. Now, of course, weight gain during pregnancy is not a straight line. The first trimester is very difficult for most women to gain weight in. Between the lethargy and nausea during this time, weight gain is not easy to achieve. In fact, statistics shoe that, on average, a woman of normal weight will only gain 4-6 pounds in their first trimester. After that, however, the average woman will gain about 1 pound a week for the remainder of her pregnancy. The weight breakdown for a woman who has gained 29 pounds is as follows:
Baby - 7.5 lbs,
Placenta - 1.5 lbs,
Amniotic Fluid - 2 lbs,
Womb - 2 lbs,
Breasts - 2 lbs,
Blood - 3 lbs,
Fat,Protein - 7 lbs,
Water - 4 lbs
Remember, this is a very natural process. Too often, women worry about gaining excessive weight during their pregnancy. The fact is that it is far better to gain too much weight than too little. And equally important, is to eat the right foods to gain the required weight. Avoid junk foods or the "empty calorie" foods.
Eat foods high in protein, folic acid, calcium and iron. A good pregnancy diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and red meats. This coupled with a good pre-natal vitamin supplement and iron supplement, if your doctor suggests, and you will be well on your way to having a healthy baby, as well as keeping your weight gain under control.