Weight Gain 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.

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The topic of weight gain & pregnancy concerns many women: How much can or should an expectant mother gain? Should overweight women put on less weight during pregnancy than normal weight women? How does too little or too much weight affect the child? Read everything you need to know about weight gain & pregnancy here!

Pregnancy: both mother and child gain weight

In the first three months after conception, a pregnant woman gains little weight. Some women even lose weight from vomiting frequently.

After the first trimester of pregnancy, a woman then puts on some weight. On the one hand, of course, the child becomes steadily heavier, on the other hand, physical changes lead to weight gain in the woman herself:

Pregnancy: table of the main reasons for weight gain
Adolescent child	3 to 3.5 kg
Increase in blood	approx. 1.2 kg
Amniotic fluid	approx. 1 kg
placenta	approx. 0.3 to 0.6 kg
Muscles of the placenta (myometrium)	approx. 1 kg
Uterus with contents	3.9 to 4.5 kg
Water retention in the tissue	2 to 2.5 kg
Breast augmentation	approx. 0.8 kg

Optimal weight gain: pregnancy

Current recommendations for healthy weight gain are usually based on the woman's weight before pregnancy. To do this, the woman's body mass index (BMI) is calculated as follows:

Body weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of the body height (in square meters)

Example: A woman weighs 60 kilograms and is 1.65 meters tall. The square of the height is therefore 1.65 x 1.65 = 2.7225 square meters. The weight divided by this value gives the BMI, i.e. 60: 2.7225 = BMI 22.

The BMI value is rated on the following scale:

• Underweight: BMI under 18.5 kg / sqm
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5 to 25 kg / sqm
• Overweight: BMI 25 to 30 kg / sqm
• Obesity (adiposity): BMI from 30 kg / qm

Pregnancy: how much can I gain weight?

For a woman of normal weight, the optimal weight gain is 10 to 16 kilograms. Underweight women should put on a little more weight with 12 to 18 kilograms. Experts advise overweight women to gain only 7 to 11 kilograms, and not more than 6 kilograms if they are very overweight.

Gain weight slowly!

Gaining pounds too quickly is not advisable for pregnant women. Since the woman's weight hardly changes in the first three months, between 250 and 300 grams per week should be gained in the fourth to sixth months. From the seventh month onwards, pregnant women should not gain more than 400 grams per week.

By the way: the doctor often uses the regularly measured body weight of the pregnant woman to create a weight curve for a better overview.

Pregnancy: Eating for Two?

Pregnancy and the growing child cost the maternal body energy - but not as much as many suspect. For example, energy consumption in the second trimester of pregnancy only increases by around 250 kcal per day, depending on physical activity. This corresponds, for example, to a plate of vegetable soup with noodles or a slice of wholemeal bread with sliced ​​cheese (40% fat in dry matter) and a tomato. In the third trimester, the energy intake increases by 500 kcal per day.

Pregnant women should therefore not consume double portions, but rather eat them in moderation. This will prevent you from gaining too much weight during pregnancy. If the weight gain too much, the child could, for example, become diabetic, i.e. develop diabetes mellitus. Therefore, eat regularly, varied and balanced in order to take care of your health and that of your child.

Pregnant women with a little too much or too little on their ribs usually don't need to worry. As part of the medical prenatal care, their weight and the condition and well-being of mother and child are regularly checked. The doctor will also advise the expectant mother individually if the weight is too high or too low.

Pregnancy: waist circumference

Pregnancy means that a new person grows up in the mother's womb. It goes without saying that this does not go hand in hand with a flat stomach - even if current ideals of beauty also provide for slim model measurements for pregnant women. But don't let that put you under pressure! Gaining weight and stomach during pregnancy is normal and above all necessary.

In addition, pregnancy only lasts a few months, and after giving birth the woman usually loses weight steadily. Exercise and a balanced diet help with this. So it is better to think of the health of your child than of supposed ideals of beauty, which - if lived excessively - can endanger both your health and that of the child. You are pregnant - showing your stomach is very nice!

Dangers in pregnant women who are overweight or underweight

Only through the mother does the unborn child receive everything it needs for healthy development. Severe underweight can therefore impair the development of the child: the offspring do not receive enough nutrients and are born with a birth weight that is too low. There is also the risk of premature birth.

Even being very overweight can cause damage. The risk of gestational diabetes is increased in pregnant and overweight people. Extreme weight gain during pregnancy itself can also make you diabetic. The child can also get diabetes if the mother was overweight before pregnancy or gained too much weight during pregnancy.

Furthermore, complications can occur during childbirth, for example if the child has become very large and heavy as a result of the oversupply.

Weight gain & pregnancy - the bottom line

Diet plays a huge role in your own health and that of your child. Therefore, eat a balanced and regular, but not excessive, diet - make sure you gain healthy weight. Pregnancy is a wonderful experience in a woman's life. Enjoy the time and take care of your and your child's well-being!

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