Putting on Weight in Pregnancy

Putting on weight in pregnancy is not only normal, it is encouraged. When a woman is carrying a child, it is recommended she eat three hundred more calories a day than normal. This number may change if the woman is already overweight or if she is carrying more than one child. Generally, a woman gains between three and five pounds during the first trimester; she then gains one pound weekly for the rest of the term.

Women gain weight during pregnancy because they must eat more in order to supply their baby with proper nutrients. For this reason, it is important to gain weight by eating healthy, vitamin and nutrient rich, foods. Pregnant women should eat foods with a lot of protein. They should also take care to eat breakfast daily, eat healthy snacks, eat foods that have healthy fats and avoid excessive amounts of junk food.

Putting on weight in pregnancy may lead to problems. Because a woman gains weight in such a short period of time, she may experience backaches, and may experience some minor coordination problems. However, these are not the most serious problems. If a woman gains too much weight, she may experience varicose veins, high blood pressure or may require a Cesarean Section delivery. For this reason, it is important to gain weight at a steady rate and do so in a healthy way. It is also important for a woman to monitor her weight gain and tell her doctor if she loses weight at any time after the first trimester.