Weekly Tips – Page 6

Weight Gain During Pregnancy

One of the most frequent questions pregnant women have is regarding how much weight they should gain during pregnancy. This is an important issue, as gaining too much or too little weight can have a negative impact on your baby’s growth and your birth outcomes. Gaining too much weight can cause your baby to be too large and/or require a c-section at delivery. It can also cause your baby to have a higher chance of becoming obese as an adult- how crazy is that? Not gaining enough weight can cause you baby to be too small or put you at risk for going into pre-term labor.

Fortunately, there are clear “rules” for weight gain during pregnancy that can help you. The recommended rate of weight gain is approximately 1 lb per week during the second and third trimesters. (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, n.d.). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends the following ranges for weight gain during pregnancy. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and you and your healthcare provider should determine what’s best for your pregnancy.

The guidelines use a calculated body mass index (BMI). You can determine your BMI at this link. Use your pre-pregnancy weight and height.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm

ACOG Guidelines for Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Pre-pregnancy BMI Recommended Gain

Underweight (BMI less than 18.5): Should gain 28-40 lbs

Normal Weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 ): Should gain 25-35 lbs

Overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9): Should gain 15-25 lbs

Obese (BMI 30 and higher): Should gain only 11-20lbs

Your diet and exercise level play an important role in helping you keep your weight gain within healthy limits. Talk with your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about your weight gain and ask for a referral to a registered dietician if you feel you need help with your diet.

References:

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Nutrition Care Manual. Anthropometric Measurements, Normal Pregnancy. https://www-nutritioncaremanual-org.wku.idm.oclc.org/topic.cfm?ncm_category_id=1&lv1=272980&lv2=26918&lv3=268750&ncm_toc_id=268750&ncm_heading=Normal%20Nutrition. Accessed July 12, 2023.

https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2013/01/weight-gain-during-pregnancy

Liu P, Xu L, Wang Y, et al. Association between perinatal outcomes and maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index. Obes Rev 2016;17:1091–102. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12455

How Much Water Should I be Drinking During My Pregnancy?

Consuming enough water is very important to help you and your baby meet each of your needs for growth and health. Water will help absorb vitamins that are key to healthy development of your baby. Additional fluids will also help with any constipation that you may be experiencing, and it helps your body prepare for labor. In addition, dehydration can cause unwanted symptoms such as contractions, so it is wise to stay well-hydrated to avoid unnecessary hospital visits. You should expect to increase your water intake during pregnancy. As a general rule, you should consume at least 300ml of additional fluid during late pregnancy. In total, this means you should drink approximately 12 cups of water per day.

Some other tips:

Drink water throughout the day, not all at once.
Keep in mind if you are exercising, you should consume even more!
You want your urine to be pale yellow or almost clear. If it is darker than this, drink more!
Keep in mind carbonated beverages such as soft drinks can actually make you more dehydrated. Water is best!

References:

Montgomery KS. Nutrition Column An Update on Water Needs during Pregnancy and Beyond. J Perinat Educ. 2002;11(3):40–42. doi:10.1624/105812402X88830

Rigaud M, Sevalho Corçao C, Perrier ET, Boesen-Mariani S. Assessing a tool for self-monitoring hydration using urine color in pregnant and breastfeeding women: A cross-sectional, online survey. Ann Nutr Metab. 2017;70 Suppl 1:23-29. doi:10.1159/000463000

García-Arroyo FE, Cristóbal M, Arellano-Buendía AS, et al. Rehydration with soft drink-like beverages exacerbates dehydration and worsens dehydration-associated renal injury. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2016;311(1):R57-65. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00354.2015