Can Pre-Pregnancy Weight A Determining Factor For Pregnancy Complications?
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It is normal for a woman, body mass index between 20 and 27, to gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. If you are obese with a body mass index more than 29 you may gain 15 pounds during pregnancy. If you are approximately 20 pounds or more above your desirable weight before pregnancy, a weight gain of 24 pounds is recommended.
It is therefore important to eat nutritious and balanced meals that help to maintain your weight gain during pregnancy. The rate at which women gain their pregnancy weight varies among different women, so do not worry unless it is extreme, either too much too soon or too less for a longer period of time.
Increased risk of pregnancy related complications such as cesarean deliveries and diabetes are of growing concern to public health officials. Only your doctor can tell you what your healthy pregnancy weight is. Maybe it’s better for you to maintain your current weight (and stop gaining), rather than actually trying to lose weight during your pregnancy.
An excessive weight gain during pregnancy, however, has an insulin resistant effect, just like the hormones produced by the placenta, and will make your blood sugar level higher. This in turn will cause the baby to get a higher than normal blood sugar and cause the baby to increase its body weight. Babies that are born to mothers who have too high blood sugar levels are at risk for increased complications at birth and are more likely to require additional medical treatment right after birth.
Pre-pregnancy weight chart
|
Without Shoes
|
Underweight If You Weighed This Or Less |
Normal
Weight Range |
Overweight If You Weight This Or More |
|
4′ 10″
|
88
|
89-108
|
109
|
|
4′ 11″
|
91
|
92-112
|
113
|
|
5′
|
94
|
95-115
|
116
|
|
5′ 1″
|
99
|
100-121
|
122
|
|
5′ 2″
|
104
|
105-127
|
128
|
|
5′ 3″
|
108
|
109-132
|
133
|
|
5′ 4″
|
113
|
114-138
|
139
|
|
5′ 5″
|
118
|
119-144
|
145
|
|
5′ 6″
|
123
|
124-150
|
151
|
|
5′ 7″
|
127
|
128-155
|
156
|
|
5′ 8″
|
132
|
133-161
|
162
|
|
5′ 9″
|
137
|
138-167
|
168
|
|
5′ 10″
|
142
|
143-173
|
174
|
|
5′ 11″
|
146
|
147-178
|
179
|
|
6′
|
151
|
152-184
|
185
|
How Should I Eat During My Pregnancy?
As with any pregnancy, it is important to eat the proper foods to meet the nutritional needs of the mother and baby. The daily need for calories increases by 300 calories during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The need for protein also increases throughout pregnancy. Most vitamins and minerals are also needed in larger amounts during pregnancy. To make sure you get enough Folate (a water soluble B vitamin critical during pregnancy) and iron. Your obstetrician will probably recommend a particular prenatal vitamin to take during your pregnancy. Obstetrician’s now are recommending that women who are considering getting pregnant start taking prenatal vitamins at least two months before trying to conceive.
Other Nutritional And Non Nutritional Considerations
There is no known safe level of alcohol that can be consumed during pregnancy. The Surgeon General’s office warns: Women who are pregnant or even considering pregnancy should avoid alcohol completely and should be aware of the alcohol content of food and drugs. Salt restriction is no longer routinely advised during pregnancy. Recent research shows that during pregnancy the body needs salt to help provide the proper fluid balance. If taken regularly, along with a balanced diet, you will be getting all the vitamins and minerals needed during your pregnancy. During pregnancy you need 1200 mg calcium daily to build the baby’s skeleton without drawing from maternal calcium stores.
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