Many women worry about weight gain during pregnancy, about gaining too much weight during pregnancy or not being able to lose it afterwards. In fact women vary a great deal in the amount of weight gain during pregnancy, and theres no such thing as an ideal weight gain.
On average, a healthy, average-sized woman who eats normally in pregnancy will gain around 12.5kg, but women can gain anything form almost nothing up to 23kg. This depends a lot on your pre pregnancy weight, your metabolism and your level of activity before and during your pregnancy.
Many pregnant women may worry they are just putting on fat, when in fact your weight gain during pregnancy is made up of many things; your baby, placenta, amniotic fluid, increased uterine muscle, enlarged breasts, extra blood, extra fluid and fat supplies (needed for making breast milk). Most weight is gained between 4 and 7 months, although for some women this is different.
You may be routinely weighed during your antenatal checks with your midwife, this is a routine thing, however research has shown that weighing during pregnancy is often inaccurate, a source of considerable anxiety, and unhelpful in clinical terms. Routine weighing is generally reserved for women who are significantly over or under weight.
What can I do about my weight gain?
Rather than worrying got much about how much or how little weight you have gained, concentrate on eating a healthy balanced diet. Pregnancy is not a time for dieting, nor an excuse to eat empty calories. Both you and your baby need to be well nourished.
Keep active throughout your pregnancy, gentle exercise can help you stay fit and health during your pregnancy and may help you get back into shape quicker after the birth. Exercises such as walking, yoga and swimming are all great forms of gentle exercise.
When can I start to lose weight after the birth?
To give your body some time to recover from labour and birth, it is advised to weight six weeks or so before you think about slimming. Bear in my mind that pregnancy can change the shape of your body, and you may find it difficult to return to your exact pre-pregnancy weight. You can start to gently exercise as soon as you feel up to it, like walking and pelvic floor exercises. However you should wait six weeks or so before taking up more strenuous exercise.
