Failure to Gain Weight During Pregnancy

At my last visit to the doctor, I discovered that I hadn't gained any weight. In fact, since the beginning of my pregnancy, I have lost a total of 8 pounds without trying to lose weight. I eat constantly throughout the day. My midwife is slightly concerned about my weight loss because I was 16 weeks and should have gained at least a little weight. After speaking to her for a while, we came up with a game plan that will hopefully help me to gain weight by my next visit. I have tried some of these tips already and will know the first week in January if they are working.

Eat Breakfast Twice

When I wake up, I eat a full breakfast. This usually consists of eating pancakes or waffles, eggs, turkey bacon or ham and some fruit. After I get finished eating, I set a timer for 90 minutes. When the timer goes off, I eat a small breakfast. This one usually consists of fruit and peanut butter toast.

Whole Milk

I drink whole milk throughout the day. That is in addition to the eight glasses of water that I drink anyway. Twice a day, I add Carnation Instant Breakfast drink mix to my milk so I get extra nutrients.

Healthy Snacks

I eat healthy snacks throughout the day because I want to gain healthy weight instead of gaining fat weight. Nuts, fresh vegetables, whole grains, peanut butter, string cheese and yogurt are some of my favorite snacks. I try to stay away from ice cream and other snack foods so that have a high fat content or a lot of calories.

Eggs

If I feel tired during the day and think that I need some protein, I grab a boiled egg. I don't eat the yolk of the egg. I limit my egg intake to two eggs per day total. So, if I eat an egg with breakfast, I only eat one boiled egg. When I boil the eggs, I put a tablespoon of oil in the water. This makes peeling the eggs easier and it gives me a little bit of healthy fat that my body needs to function properly.

Conclusion

Many people think that gaining weight during pregnancy is easy, partially because of the misconception that a pregnant woman can eat anything she wants to eat simply because she pregnant. However, for some women, gaining adequate weight during pregnancy is a challenge, but it is usually possible if you are willing to follow an eating plan.