Losing weight during pregnancy
Dr. rer. nat. Daniela Oesterle is a molecular biologist, human geneticist and trained medical editor. As a freelance journalist, she writes texts on health topics for experts and laypeople and edits specialist scientific articles by doctors in German and English. She is responsible for the publication of certified advanced training courses for medical professionals for a renowned publishing house.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.Targeted weight loss during pregnancy is not a good idea. For health reasons, those who gain too much should change their diet and become more active. Only women who were overweight before pregnancy may be advised to lose weight during pregnancy. Read everything you need to know about losing weight during pregnancy.
Pregnancy: weight must increase
Pregnant women gain relatively little weight in the first three months. Some even lose weight if they vomit frequently during this time. Until the birth, however, the mother-to-be weighs more and more pounds. On the one hand, the growing child becomes bigger and therefore heavier: At the time of birth, children weigh an average of three to three and a half kilograms.
On the other hand, the female body adapts to pregnancy in order to be able to optimally care for the child. The uterus and placenta grow, and water retention in the tissue increases significantly. In addition, the breasts enlarge, the amount of blood increases, and the amniotic fluid also adds extra weight to the scales.
Weight gain recommendations
There are general rules of thumb for gaining weight during pregnancy. They do not have to be followed exactly, but they offer a good orientation:
A weekly weight gain of 300 to 400 grams is recommended for the second trimester (fourth to sixth month). In the last months of pregnancy (third trimester), women should gain around 500 grams per week.
The recommended total weight gain during pregnancy depends on whether a woman was under, normal or overweight according to her body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy:
- Underweight women (BMI below 18.5): 12.5 to 18 kilograms
- Normal weight women (BMI 18.5 to 25): 11.5 to 16 kilograms
- overweight women (BMI 25 to 30): 7 to 11.5 kilograms
- obese women (BMI over 30): 5 to 9 kilograms
Avoid being underweight
Losing weight during pregnancy should generally be avoided. Because with underweight women, the unborn child is at risk of malnutrition or malnutrition. This endangers child development. The child can also be born prematurely or with a birth weight that is too low.
Pregnant women with eating problems or eating disorders should therefore seek help from an expert such as a doctor, psychologist or nutritionist.
When is it advisable to lose weight during pregnancy?
If anything, only overweight women should think about losing weight during pregnancy to avoid complications such as gestational diabetes. In addition, if pregnant women weigh too much, the unborn child can grow very large. This makes the birth process more difficult and can make a caesarean section necessary.
It is best for overweight people to lose weight before conception. If this was not possible, the doctor may advise you to lose weight during pregnancy - namely when complications arise or are to be expected due to the high weight.
However, if you are toying with weight loss during pregnancy because of the current beauty ideals, be warned: If you do not want to endanger the development of your child, you should wait until after pregnancy and breastfeeding to lose weight.
Losing weight during pregnancy: changing your diet and exercising
Losing weight during pregnancy is best done with a change in diet and regular exercise. Pregnant women are best advised to discuss with their doctor what that looks like in individual cases. Regular medical examinations also help women lose weight in a controlled and healthy manner or maintain an acceptable weight.
On the other hand, one should not lose weight with one-sided diets or reduced food during pregnancy. The risk that the child will not be adequately cared for is too great.
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