Every pregnancy is a miracle that brings cherished and unique experiences, but gaining the right amount of weight is a topic remains prevalent on the minds of mothers for months and sometimes even years after delivery. Weight gain is one of the most challenging aspects of pregnancy for many women, but it is essential to healthy development of a baby and for avoiding complications for the mother. Gaining weight is not convenient, but it is necessary and normal for anyone who is bringing a child into the world.

Gaining the Right Amount of Weight
Most mothers come to terms with the fact that they must gain weight for the sake of their babies and for the maintenance of their own health, but few want to gain more (or less) weight than is necessary.

The Simple Answer: a rough estimate
So how much weight should a woman gain during pregnancy?
The simple answer would be somewhere between 11 and 40 pounds, but this is a rough and far from precise or ideal range. This range is fairly broad range and it is better narrowed down by using a set of parameters that narrow down weight gain for individual needs.

Ideal Weight Gain
To identify one’s ideal weight gain, one should always consult with a doctor, who is able to personally assess the health conditions and potential risks that may occur to individual mothers during pregnancy. The ideal weight is calculated based on factors such as BMI (Body Mass Index), and specific health factors that affect the mother and the baby.

While a doctor should be consulted in every pregnancy to determine a precise range of appropriate weight gain, the body mass index method can help to identify a closer target range of weight gain during pregnancy than the simple answer given above. It assesses body mass in proportion height to determine whether a person is underweight, at normal weight, overweight, or obese. A number, or BMI is produced which is used in determining how much weight is appropriate and safe to gain during pregnancy. Calculate your BMI here, then use the BMI table below to identify typical weight gain for your specific BMI group.

Advantages of Being Fit Before and During Pregnancy
As is clearly indicated on the table, weight before pregnancy is a significant factor in determining how much additional weight should be gained for a healthy pregnancy. The more overweight a person is, the less weight they need to gain. This is particularly frustrating to those who exercise regularly and stay fit, as they need to gain more weight than those who don’t, but it should be noted that staying fit before and during pregnancy does provide advantages to both the mother and baby that cannot be obtained in a sedentary lifestyle.

Women who exercise regularly before and during pregnancy enjoy the following advantages: they have reduced discomfort during pregnancy, they have more stamina for labor and delivery; and they are able to lose excess weight accumulated during pregnancy faster than women who have not exercised regularly. Exercise can be continued during pregnancy, but it should be reduced to a lighter regimen such as regular walking. It is necessary to consult with a doctor about any exercise program that will be engaged in during pregnancy.

How to Gain Pregnancy Weight
While it is important to reach a target weight during pregnancy, it should be achieved gradually, without a sharply intensified or dramatically reduced rate of intake. During pregnancy, it is normal to eat more, and to feel hungry more frequently. Eating a greater quantity of food and doing so more frequently are normal and expected behaviors that are a part of being pregnant. It is acceptable and even desirable to satisfy the urges and cravings of the body for food during pregnancy, but also it is also necessary to strive for more healthy eating habits and less sugary, junk foods. By keeping regularly scheduled doctor visits and monitoring weight with a scale, weight can be managed and kept within the ideal range.

There should be no shame in gaining weight during pregnancy. It is essential and necessary to the health of the mother and baby alike. Being aware of eating habits and knowing the appropriate target weight range will promote optimal health for the mother and child. It is not necessary or desirable to gain the weight all at once, but more weight should be gained in the second two trimesters than in the first. While it may be tempting to gain the minimum amount of weight necessary during pregnancy, it is a better idea to concentrate on staying comfortably in the middle of the recommended range. As with every aspect of pregnancy, it is necessary to consult with a doctor for any questions about maintaining the most healthy weight during pregnancy.

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References:

Adult BMI Calculator: English, Accesed 8/13/2010
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_ calculator/bmi_calculator.html

Pregnancy and Weight Gain, Accessed 8/13/2010
http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/healthy-weight-gain

Seven Great Benefits of Pregnancy Exercise, Accessed 8/13/2010
http://www.babycenter.com/0_seven-great-benefits-of-pregnancy-exercise_7864.bc

Things to Think About Before You’re Pregnant, Accessed 8/13/2010