Are You Worrying about Weight Gain During Pregnancy?
Weight gain during pregnancy is something that a majority of women face. Gaining weight can either mean increase in your muscle mass, increase of fat deposits or you have excess fluids like water. When expecting a baby, you will most probably gain weight due to increase in your fat deposits and due to additional fluids in your body.
If you gain weight during this time, do not worry. So long as you are eating a balanced diet at all times, it is usually a sign that your baby is developing well. Many changes take place in your body when you are expecting, causing natural weight gain. In fact, if you lose weight during this time you should be concerned. At the time of delivery you could gain between 25 to 35 pounds or more. You must be wondering where this extra weight comes from.
Where Does the Extra Weight Comes From?
Baby: You have a baby developing inside your womb. Every day it gains weight as it continues to grow. A mature foetus weighs approximately 8 pounds.
Placenta: This is a temporary organ that joins you and the foetus. Through it the foetus receives oxygen and nutrients. Waste from the foetus is also eliminated through it. It comes out with the baby during delivery and it contributed about 2 to 3 pounds to your weight gain during pregnancy.
Amniotic fluid: This fluid surrounds the unborn baby and allows it to move inside the womb for proper bone development. It helps development of lungs and keeps the baby warm. It also protects the baby from outside injuries. The fluid increases as the foetus develops and may weigh 2 to 3 pounds.
Breast tissue: During pregnancy your breasts prepare to feed the baby. As a result, they enlarge and grow heavier. Milk producing cells and milk ducts start to form. Layers of fat begin to develop under your breasts and this changes their size and shape. This additional growth of breasts adds about 2 to 3 pounds to your weight.
Blood supply: When you are expectant, the volume of blood in your body increases by about 50%. This is because the heart has to pump more blood to the uterus. This increased blood volume accounts for about 4 pounds of your weight gain during pregnancy.
Fat stores: When you are pregnant, your body stores up extra nutrition in form of fat. Nature intends this to act as a reserve for breastfeeding your baby after delivery. This fat is usually concentrated around the buttocks and thighs. It weighs about 5 to 9 pounds.
Uterus increase: During pregnancy your uterus increases in size. This is to accommodate the foetus, amniotic fluid and the placenta. It increases daily in length, depth, width, thickness and in weight. This adds up to about 2 to 5 pounds of your weight increase.
So, cheer up! Weight gain during pregnancy is natural. When the baby is born most of the things that contributed to the extra weight come out too. You are left to deal with the fat stores. The good news is that you can lose this fat gradually if you eat reasonable amounts of food. A well balanced diet and moderate exercises can also help.
