| Here are general guidelines for pregnancy weight gain from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:
There is Underweight, Normal weight, Overweight, and Obese
Pre-pregnancy weight Recommended weight gain
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Underweight 25-40 pounds
Normal Weight 25-35 pounds
Overweight 15-25 pounds
Obese At least 15 pounds
TWINS/TRIPLETS -You'll need to gain more weight - often 35-45 pounds.
According to the Mayo Clinic guidelines, where does it all go?
Let's assume one baby weighs 7-8 pounds. This accounts for some of your weight gain but not all of it. Here's the break out.
*One Baby: 7-8 pounds
*Larger breasts: 1 to 3 pounds
*Larger uterus: 2 pounds
*Placenta: 1 1/2 pounds
*Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds
*Increased blood volume: 3 to 4 pounds
*Increased fluid volume: 2 to 3 pounds
*Fat stores: 6 to 8 pounds
Overweight - pregnant or not being overweight pre-pregnancy carries risks - gestational diabetes and high blood pressure-- pregnancy is NEVER the time to lose weight. Even women that are overweight should gain some weight during pregnancy. Keep an eye on the scale. If you gain more than the above recommended guidelines during pregnancy and fail to lose the weight six months after giving birth, you may have a higher risk of being obese later.
Underweight- if you were underweight pre-pregnancy you will need to gain a reasonable amount of weight while you're pregnant particularly during the second and third trimester. If you do not, your baby may be born prematurely and be smaller as a result.
Healthy weight pre-pregnancy, you'll need only gain a few pounds the first few months . You can do this by increasing caloric intake by 150 - 200 calories a day preferably in calcium-fortified orange juice or a serving of low fat yogurt. A normal appetite will typically provide these calories.
As Mayo Clinic suggests; steady weight gain is more important in the second and third trimester. Especially if you were pre-pregnancy healthy weight or underweight. Plan on gaining 3-4 pounds a month until delivery
"I gained 59 1/2 pounds with my twins. One was under 4 pounds the other 6 pounds. I lost all the weight after within 6 months. I never got on the scale at home. Only at the Doctor's office. Took prenatal vitamins everyday. Drank lots of water. I started out at 115 pounds and was down to 115 pounds with all three pregnancies after three to six months. I have been the same weight my entire Adult life and I am 44 years old. My recommendations are no white bread choose wheat every time. When you crave sweets reach for natural sweet fruit instead. I ate at least one egg every day. Everything needed to start life is contained in an egg. I always bought cage free, or organic. Lots of green vegetables like broccoli, spinach and green beans. Frozen grapes are refreshing to snack on along with fishy crackers. If you crave ice cream, eat frozen yogurt instead. After the babies are born continue to take a multi vitamin every day. Eat carbs in the morning, try to eliminate soda from your diet, and artificial sweeteners. Eat at least one to two lean proteins each day. Eat green vegetables every day. Reduce by half or eliminate fried foods from your diet. Reduce the amount of cheese in your diet. Have a half rule when it comes to candy. Eat only half of a candy bar versus the whole thing. Eat half a dessert. Eat half of the birthday cake. If you eat sweets, your body will crave them! When this happens eat sweet fruit instead of empty calorie, no nutrition foods. Don't deprive, reduce by half. Don't go on fad diets, take diet pills etc., that put your body in crisis mode --you'll only gain it back in the long run. Stay active, park far away from the entrance to the store, get out and play with your kids. Your life should be your workout. Eat to live...don't live to eat. Teach good eating habits to your children. Don't let your kids snack on bags of chips when they come home from school. Always try to have fresh fruit like apples, oranges, pears, and bananas for them to snack on. A bowl of cereal is more nutritious than a bag of chips." --- Twin Mom of four
Remember, any questions consult your health care provider all factors must be considered for these general guidelines. Should your weight drop below your pre-pregnancy weight substantially and rapidly, or should you gain substantially more than your pre-pregnancy weight, consult your health care provider.
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