Weight gain during pregnancy is an absolutely physiological event and, if it remains within certain limits, fundamental for the good health of the child and the mother. In the first three months of gestation weight gain is mainly due to the accumulation of energy reserves (adipose tissue), necessary to guarantee the child an adequate supply of nutrients in the last months of pregnancy. In fact, this is the phase in which the fetus grows faster, contributing concretely to the mother's weight gain.
The mother's weight is important not only during gestation, but already at the moment of conception. Starting a pregnancy with the right weight and gradually increasing it at a moderate pace is in fact the best way to raise a child optimally.
To find out in just a few seconds what your ideal weight is we have prepared the following automatic calculation form, which together with the weight form also returns the recommended weight gain during the entire pregnancy.
This graph shows the average fetal weight at different times during pregnancy. In the first months this increase is limited, so as not to significantly interfere with maternal weight. In this first trimester of pregnancy, the increase in maternal body mass is of limited importance and is essentially linked to the need to satisfy future fetal needs and the physical preparation for breastfeeding.
The actual weight gain becomes more evident starting from the fourth month, only to slow down in the last three months of gestation. At this stage the increase in maternal weight is essentially due to the development of the fetus.
By way of example, we report the increase in the average body weight of pregnant women during pregnancy:
- FIRST QUARTER: 1.5-2 Kg (500 grams per month)
- SECOND QUARTER: 4.5-5.5 kg (350-450 grams per week)
- THIRD QUARTER: 2.5-3.5 kg (200-300 grams per week)
In absolute terms, an increase of around 12 kilos throughout the pregnancy is considered normal.
Importance of constant monitoring of one's weight
The result provided by the calculation module above must be a guide, not a law. A slight deviation from the recommended values is often physiological but it is good not to take it too lightly. The weight must therefore be checked regularly so as to catch any anomalous changes in time. If, for example, body weight rises more than 1 kg in ten days, it is advisable to seek medical attention, especially when this increase is accompanied by swollen and oedematous hands and feet.
Both an excessive increase and a poor growth in maternal weight require adequate medical checks. An excessive increase would increase, for example, the risk of "macrosomic" fetuses (weighing more than 4kg) with possible complications at the time of delivery. Overeating during pregnancy would also burden the pregnant woman's digestive system, with possible repercussions on the metabolic progression of the fetus and baby (increased risk of childhood obesity).
On the other hand, reduced weight growth could indicate poor fetal nutrition or an ongoing disease and, consequently, increase the risk of premature birth and developmental delays, with repercussions of various kinds during the following ages. Low birth weight is generally associated with higher fetal and perinatal mortality, increasing the risk of malformations and anemic states due to iron, vitamin A or vitamin B12 deficiency.
Nutrition for a reasoned increase in body weight during pregnancy
Once the importance of constant monitoring of one's own body weight is understood, the expectant mother should realize that in this particular period of life it is not necessary to "eat for two" as the popular tradition recommends, with too much sufficiency.
During pregnancy the maternal organism must construct the tissues of the developing fetus (3-3.5 kg), the placenta (500-600 g) and the amniotic fluid (1 kg), deposit reserve fats (ca 3kg), support the expansion of blood and interstitial fluids (2, 5-3kg) and the growth of sine (400 g) and uterus (1 kg); all this results in an increased need for energy and nutrients (the weights reported in brackets refer to the average weight of the respective anatomical structures at the end of gestation).
The increased metabolic demand is on average satisfied through a daily supplement of about 250 calories, the equivalent of 100 grams of bread or a slice of apple pie. In any case, it is good practice to obtain this energy from nutritious foods, rich, for example, in proteins of high biological value (meat, fish in moderation due to the possible presence of mercury and dairy products, rich, among other things, calcium, a very important nutrient for pregnant women). A good supply of fiber is important to combat constipation and hemorrhoidal problems that occur frequently during pregnancy.
As the weight gain, the amount of caloric intake also depends on the mother's condition at the beginning of pregnancy: an expectant mother is recommended an increase of 150-200 calories per day, to an underweight mother an increase of 350 -400 Kcal and an overweight mother an increase of 100-150 Kcal per day.
