An obsession with thinness and dieting pervades the North American culture. Figure conscious women may find it difficult to make transition from guarding against weight gain before pregnancy to valuing weight gain during pregnancy.  It is essential to know the positive effects of good nutrition, as well as the adverse effects of maternal malnutrition (manifested by poor weight gain) on infant growth and development. The pregnant women must be informed of the normal weight gain during pregnancy and how much of this weight will be lost after giving birth.

Pregnancy is not the time for a weight reduction diet. Even overweight or obese pregnant women need to gain at least enough weight to equal the weight of the products of conception (fetus, placenta and amniotic fluid). If pregnant women limit their caloric intake to prevent weight gain, they also may excessively limit their intake of important nutrients. Diet restriction may also result to the breakdown of fat stores, which in turn increases the production of ketones (a byproduct of the breakdown of cells). Ketonuria, a medical condition where in ketone bodies are present in the urine, has been found to be correlated to preterm labor. It should be stressed to obese and pregnant women for that matter, that the quality of weight gain is important, with emphasis on the consumption of nutrient-rich foods and the avoidance of empty calorie foods.

Weight gain is important, but pregnancy is not an excuse for uncontrolled dietary indulgence. The old saying that the pregnant woman is “eating for two” should not be interpreted to mean that the food intake should be doubled. Instead the woman should place an emphasis on the quality of her food intake as she considers her needs and those of her fetus. Excessive weight gained during pregnancy maybe difficult to lose, thus contributing to chronic overweight or obesity, a factor to multiple chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. The woman who gains 18kg or more is especially at risk.

Recommended Weight Gain During Pregnancy

• Normal weight women should gain 25 to 35 pounds
• Underweight women should gain 28 to 40 pounds
• Overweight women should gain 15 to 25 pounds

Months 1 to 3 – You probably will not gain much weight, 1 to 2 kg at most. You may even lose weight if you have morning sickness.

Months 4 to 6 – You will start to gain weight faster at an average of 0.5kg a week.

Months 7 to 9 – You will gain a lot more slowly. Expect to add about 1kg a month.

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1. Discover The Foods You Can Eat While You’re Pregnant