The kilos you gain depend on what you had before you got pregnant. We explain
By Jessica López Cervantes María Goya Canino Consulting iStock Photos
Weight alone says very little about mom’s health. According to Dr. María Goya, it is time to forget old beliefs: you do not have to eat for two, nor does your figure recover more quickly after childbirth if you have gained little weight during pregnancy. Ideally, you should have a preconception consultation before seeking pregnancy; The gynecologist will assess if you need to lose weight before pregnancy and, if this is not possible, at least teach you how you should eat before and during the first trimester, following a healthy, non-restrictive diet; It will also recommend accompanying it with exercise. In itself, your doctor will advise you how many kilos more or less you can increase in pregnancy, but there are some considerations that can help you.
A PLUS OF CALORIES
The average caloric intake for women is around 2,000 calories. According to experts, during pregnancy, the need for daily calories increases to approximately 2,200 in the first six months and increases to 2,300 during the third trimester. These extra calories are the “fuel” that the pregnant body needs to carry out all the processes that are taking place inside it. Of the total number of calories (2,200 – 2,300), almost half will serve as deposits for fats and proteins, especially during the first stage of pregnancy. However, in the last trimester your future baby who requires more energy: nothing more for his own development, demands during this period from 100 to 150 calories for each day.
THE IDEAL WEIGHT OF THE FUTURE MOM
The specialists are clear: this is the calculation according to the body mass index, the lifestyle before pregnancy and family history. The body mass index (BMI) in those over 20 years of age is calculated by dividing the weight by the height in meters squared. Thus, for example, the BMI of a woman who weighs 70 kilos and is 1.73 meters tall is 23.7 (70 divided by 2.99). A person is considered to have an adequate weight when their BMI is between 18.5 and 25. Based on this data, the gynecologist will calculate how many kilos the future mother can gain throughout the entire pregnancy:
• With a normal weight, you can gain between 12 and 16 kilos. If you follow a healthy diet and do physical exercise you can continue with your same lifestyle.
• If you are extremely thin (with a BMI below 18) you can increase between 12 and 18 kilograms.
• If you are overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9) you should only gain between 7 and 12 kilos.
• If your BMI is greater than 30, the weight gain is restricted to 7 kilos, since it is considered that you already have enough reserves of adipose tissue.
• In the case of a twin pregnancy, with a normal starting weight, the above indications apply. The future mom doesn’t have to eat for three.
• There is also no need to limit the diet if the mother suffers from hypertension or diabetes prior to pregnancy.
WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSULT THE DOCTOR?
If you gain abnormal weight (one kilo per week, for example), consult your doctor, who will look for the causes. It is also necessary that you go to the doctor if you do not gain kilos; In these cases, the specialist usually checks by ultrasound that your baby’s growth is adequate. Retaining fluids during your pregnancy is normal, but it can become a problem if it does not subside after taking a break and if it focuses on your hands and face. If this swelling is accompanied by a sudden increase in weight (more than a kilo a week), it could be a symptom (along with hypertension and proteinuria, or the presence of protein in the urine) of preeclampsia, a complication that must be treated.
IF YOU GET A LITTLE OR LITTLE FAT?
Excess is as dangerous as underweight:
• In both cases, it has been verified that the baby does not grow naturally outside the uterus since his metabolism is altered and he does not assimilate the energy that comes through the feeding.
• In an overweight woman, the energy she gains passes to the little one through the placenta and turns into adipose tissue; It can also cause you to be born with obesity or congenital malformations, such as heart disease or
neural tube problems.
• Being overweight also affects women, since it increases the risk of hypertension and diabetes, which usually disappear after childbirth but sometimes become chronic.
• If the mother does not gain the proper weight, the baby does not receive the necessary energy and may be born too small and immature.
ON AVERAGE
Although it can vary according to the characteristics of the woman, the normal thing is to increase the following:
• First trimester: 1 kg
• Second trimester: 3-4 kg
• Third-quarter: maximum 8 kg
IF YOU GIVE CHEST …
YOU MUST TAKE 300 MORE CALORIES A DAY. THIS CALORIC PLUS DOES NOT USELY TRANSLATE IN AN INCREASE IN WEIGHT SINCE IT SOILS TO BURN DURING BREASTFEEDING.
IDEAL WEIGHT …
IF THERE IS A CORRECT AND HEALTHY WAY TO CALCULATE IT: YOU NEED YOUR DOCTOR TO TELL YOU, DON’T LET YOURSELF BE FOLLOWED BY “POPULAR WISDOM”.
Dread to get fat?
This fear is leading pregnant women to suffer from pregorexia, a condition characterized by exercise abuse, low-calorie consumption, induced vomiting, and body rejection during pregnancy. If gaining weight and losing your figure is an issue for you, talk to your obstetrician about the exercise you can do and go to a nutritionist to recommend the healthiest diet; The consequences of this disorder can range from anemia to malformations in the child or fetal death. You are not alone, seek help!