Pregnancy and Weight Gain

Several decades ago, women were strictly admonished by their doctors to gain a maximum of ten to fifteen pounds during pregnancy. Women who were over weight upon becoming pregnant might find themselves being given even more stringent restrictions. A woman who gained twenty pounds or more was looked at as lacking self-control or even as self-indulgent.

However, over the last twenty years, the medical community's thinking on weight gain during pregnancy has been radically changed. Instead of receiving a stern look from your doctor for gaining seventeen pounds, you will now receive that same look for gaining only seventeen pounds. The standard healthy weight gain during pregnancy is considered to be 25-35 pounds, though this might be adjusted slightly if a woman is significantly overweight. Many physicians felt that this change in standards was necessary in order to avoid the stigma faced by women of gaining too much weight. Doctor's realized, and rightfully so, that by pressuring a woman to strictly watch her weight gain, the well-being of the unborn baby as well as that of the mother could be compromised.

Though 25-35 pounds is considered to be a healthy weight gain during pregnancy, a woman should not get so focused on that number that she makes it a license to eat whatever she wants if she seems to be gaining weight slowly. Women tend to put on weight at different times during pregnancy. Some gain fifteen pounds in the first trimester, then slow down for the second and third trimesters. Others gain hardly anything through the second trimester and then rapidly put on weight in the final three months. The key is that a woman's body will add the weight as she and her baby are ready for it. If you are the type of woman who gains slowly in the beginning, and you take the opportunity to eat more than your body needs, you could find yourself gaining 40 or more pounds by the end of your pregnancy.

Though cravings are strong during pregnancy, and a woman is often vacillating between ferocious hunger and overwhelming nausea, she still needs to be cautious of what she eats. Moderation is key. Cravings need to be indulged at times. In a sea of morning sickness and lack of sleep, eating foods that bring you comfort can be an important part of making it through. However, these cravings must not be indulged on a daily basis. If you are hungry, by all means eat! Even pamper yourself with chocolate or cheeseburgers once in awhile, but don't eat out of boredom.

During pregnancy, every woman's weight gain needs are different. Some women can gain ten pounds and have completely healthy babies. Others can gain forty pounds and still be within reasonable limits if they were under weight when they became pregnant. Know your body and what your ideal weight is. Then, eat healthfully throughout pregnancy. Try to eat just when you are hungry, but give into cravings when you have had a particularly difficult day.