Wait! It’s the Baby Weight!
“She snapped back to her pre-pregnancy weight so fast!” “Her belly is HUGE!” “She doesn’t even look pregnant!” “She looks like she could be pregnant with triplets!”
Women are subject to comments about their appearance throughout various stages of their lives. From childhood to adolescence and adulthood, females experience constant bodily changes and find themselves under society’s scrutiny. Women’s bodies are powerhouses that are strong, flexible, and truly work in miraculous ways. Many of these changes are often made evident during pregnancy and childbirth. To accommodate pregnancy, women’s bellies expand, their breasts become fuller, and the uterus enlarges.
A common concern during pregnancy is about pregnancy related weight gain. The scientific term, gestational weight gain, refers to the amount of weight gained by a pregnant woman between gestation and right before birth of the infant. The amount of weight gained varies from woman to woman. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, an average of 25-35 pounds is gained by a pregnant woman. While the newborn baby will only weigh a mere fraction of that count, a majority of the weight gain will be a direct result of the changes in the body. Johns Hopkins Medicine roughly attributes pregnancy weight gain to a variety of different factors:
7.5 pounds: average baby’s weight
7 pounds: extra stored protein, fat, and other nutrients
4 pounds: extra blood
4 pounds: other extra body fluids
2 pounds: breast enlargement
2 pounds: enlargement of your uterus
2 pounds: amniotic fluid surrounding your baby
1.5 pounds: the placenta
Children that are born to women with excessive gestational weight have an increased risk for childhood obesity. Cesarean deliveries and childbirth complications are also associated with increased gestational weight. According to the Mayo Clinic, excessive weight gain during pregnancy can increase the risk of postpartum weight retention, making it harder to lose weight. While it is important to track your weight gain during pregnancy, too little weight gained can also result in a variety of complications. From premature birth to delivering a smaller infant, being underweight during pregnancy can jeopardize the baby’s health. Often smaller infants have trouble being breastfed, are prone to illnesses, and can have developmental delays.
Healthy lifestyle habits is the optimal way to manage gestational weight gain. A healthy diet, consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein is essential for a safe pregnancy. Regulating fluid intake, avoiding alcohol, and engaging in low to moderate intensity exercise is also recommended. Consult your physician to help you create a lifestyle plan that best suits your individualized needs.
It is important to understand that while all women undergo bodily changes, each carries and distributes weight differently. A pregnant woman’s fitness is not necessarily correlated with her appearance. The best way to know whether your pregnancy related weight gain is optimal for you is to schedule regular appointments with your gynecologist or physician and follow their recommended advice.