How much weight should i gain during pregnancy?
Right Weight Gain During Pregnancy
Congratulations on the confirmation of your pregnancy. However, though you are pregnant, it definitely doesn’t mean that you can give in to all your food cravings and eat anything and everything that you want. Although it is important to gain weight during pregnancy, it is more important to gain weight in the correct manner.
The most common misconception that each woman has is that during pregnancy you can eat as much as you want and whatever you want. It is important to eat right in order to nourish the growing baby and to build up your reserves for breastfeeding the baby. Hence, it is important in order to watch what you eat and how much you eat. The weight that you are supposed to gain during pregnancy depends on how much you weighed before you got pregnant.
The second and third trimester is the period when you tend to gain weight during pregnancy. On an average, 22 to 26 pounds is an ideal weight gain during the entire pregnancy for any woman. Also, when you are pregnant, the weight gain happens throughout your body and not in just selected areas like the abdomen or waist.
It is best to stay away from junk food and very fatty food as too much weight gain may lead to several health issues during pregnancy and also complicate the delivery process.
In case you gain too much weight during pregnancy, you may end up with back aches, leg cramps, varicose veins, excessive stretch marks, and will also feel fatigued all the time.
Watch Your Diet
While you are pregnant, remember whatever you eat goes to your baby as well. Hence watch your diet and eat right in order to make sure that your baby receives all the essential nutrients.
• Include a lot of protein rich food in your diet as it is important for your baby’s growth, the development of the placenta, increasing your blood volume so that the nutrients reach your baby, for the amniotic fluid formation, and for preparing your body for the labor. Hence, include foods like soy, milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, pulses, fortified cereals, eggs, chicken, and fish in your diet.
• Essential fats like cream, cheese, butter, and salad dressings are a must.
• Carbohydrates from foods like fortified cereals, pulses, vegetables, rice, and potatoes are also important for your baby’s growth.
• Calcium helps in the development of your baby’s bones and teeth. Hence, drink loads of milk and eat butter, spinach, and nuts to increase the intake of this essential nutrient.
• Besides these, make sure your diet is rich in folic acid, iron, and essential vitamins to make sure that your baby receives them all.
Do seek the opinion of your doctor before you go on to any dietary regimen to make sure that you are on the right path.
Submitted by P T on June 26, 2010 at 06:43
