Average Gain

What should be the average gain during pregnancy? This is the question that most of the women don't have an answer to. Many pregnant women are so perplexed about this weight gain thing that they start eating whatever.s on their plate without giving a thought to its nutritional value. For them, pregnancy is a license to gorge on food!

Stop!

If you're sitting with a huge plateful of junk food right now while reading this, stop! Don't think filling yourself with carbohydrates and processed food will do any good to you and your baby. Your baby needs proper nutrition. And if you don't give it, she.s gonna suck up from your body, leaving you nutrient-deficit!

Gaining weight doesn't mean gaining it anyhow. You need to have an average gain of healthy weight, which provides all the important nutrients for the normal development of your baby.

Overweight And Underweight - Both Spell Trouble

Overweight women face the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, difficult labor, and other pregnancy complications. Also, if you don't check your pounds, you are inviting obesity in your life.

Don't think underweight women are free of troubles too! There is risk of fetal malformations or giving birth to undernourished babies, if you're underweight. The best weight is somewhere in the middle, which is the average gain. This is the door to a healthy pregnancy.

Recommended Average Gain

This varies with countries. The general recommendation by doctors is 2.2 pounds (1 kg) every month. This amounts to a total gain of 18-25 pounds (9-10 kg) during the complete nine-month period. Although this is a general recommendation; it's NOT exactly true for all. The amount of weight you need to gain depends on your body type, which differs with every woman.

Formula For Average Gain

Divide your body weight (kg) by your body height (meter squares). You get a number that serves as an indicator for the right amount of weight gain.

• If you get a number between 18 and 20, it indicates you are thin. Your average weight gain should be between 28.6 and 37.4 pounds (13-17 kg) during the entire pregnancy.
• If you get a number between 20 and 23, it indicates you are normal. Your average weight gain should be 26.4 pounds (12 kg) during the entire pregnancy.
• If you get 23 as an indicator, you are large. Your average weight gain should be just between 17.6 and 24.2 pounds (8-11 kg) during the entire pregnancy.

Remember, you need only 300 calories extra everyday during your pregnancy. If you add more than this, you are bound to get overweight. And if you don't reach up to the extra 300 calorie mark, you'll become undernourished.

So, go on now and change the food on your plate and fill it up with some nutritious stuff!