Rapid weight gain pregnancy !

How much weight can you gain during pregnancy? There is no standard answer, doctors say in unison; it depends, among other things, on your initial weight. Let's take a look at your ideal weight gain during pregnancy.

You have to eat for two while keeping an eye on the scale, not gain too much weight without starting a diet while pregnant and falling into   the phenomenon of mommyrexia , treat yourself by banning any snacking... Clearly, reconciling weight and pregnancy is a real headache! Doctors are used to saying that in the last months of pregnancy the good average is around 12 kg. In fact, it is not that simple, and everything depends on your initial weight, your eating habits, your lifestyle and any illnesses you suffer from. The obstetrician-gynecologist or midwife who follows you must know all these parameters before giving you advice.

One thing is certain in any case: by adopting a good diet during pregnancy , you contribute to the proper development of the fetus and provide the necessary nutrients to what are called the annexes, that is to say the uterus , the placenta and the amniotic fluid. During the first four months of pregnancy, the embryo grows very little, but the mother's body takes advantage of this to store proteins and lipids. During the other trimesters of pregnancy, the fetus draws on the mother's reserves but also on what she eats daily. A good reason to eat well throughout the pregnancy.

Even if you are pregnant, you have to deal with additional needs, the number of calories you take in each day should not explode. At the beginning of pregnancy, 100 calories per day are recommended in addition to your usual ration. This is equivalent to a glass of milk at snack time. Then, an increase of 200 to 250 calories is recommended at the end of pregnancy. This means adding a fruit, or bread or a piece of cheese at snack time. Your daily ration should be between 1800 and 2600 calories per day, depending on your body type.

To find out, there is no need to rely on your mirror or your personal assessment. There is a much more reliable indicator that will allow you to know how many kilos you can gain during these nine months of pregnancy , it is the body mass index. It is calculated before being pregnant as follows: weight divided by height squared. For example, if you weigh 55 kg and are 1.65 m tall, your BMI is 20.2 (55: 1.65 ² = 20.2).

If your pre-pregnancy BMI is between 18.5 and 27, you are in the average range, which nutritionists call your ideal weight (or healthy weight). Below 18.5, your initial weight is insufficient. Above 27, you are overweight. It is therefore based on this data that you can calculate your ideal weight during your pregnancy, knowing that those whose BMI is between 25 and 27 would be better off referring to the third case.

Sure, you are rather very thin. It may be a simple question of temperament. On the other hand, if you are a fan of dietary restrictions, beware of mommyrexia. You should perhaps consult your obstetrician-gynecologist or your midwife, or make an appointment with a nutritionist, who will give you personalized advice. Know, in fact, that a future mother who does not eat enough can give birth to a hypotrophic baby, that is to say small size and low weight. Studies have also shown, although we do not know the reason, that future mothers who do not eat enough have a greater risk of premature delivery . Pregnant women whose BMI is less than 18.5 can gain between 12.5 and 18 kg during their pregnancy.

Our era oscillates between generous hips and buttocks correlated with a flat stomach (à la Kim K) and body positivity, where everyone must accept themselves as they are. You are carrying a baby and it needs proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, all these nutrients that you may tend to demonize. Proteins are often compared to bricks: they are the ones that build, maintain and renew the tissues of the fetus during its development. They are therefore vital. You find them in meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Carbohydrates, or sugars, are the main source of energy for fetal tissues. You just have to choose the right ones.

Instead of "pleasure sugars", prefer pasta, rice, potatoes and dried vegetables like lentils. They contain slow sugars that slowly and gradually diffuse their energy. While fast sugars, like sodas and sweets, provide a boost that is as quick as it is fleeting. And because sugar passes too quickly into the bloodstream and into the baby's body, it can cause hypoglycemia in the mother, or even discomfort. However, there is nothing to stop you from treating yourself to a piece of cake from time to time, but not at every meal.

As for lipids, they are also essential for your health and that of your baby. A little butter in the morning on toast or bread, different varieties of oils (rapeseed, soya, olive, etc.) in salads, red meat or oily fish (tuna, salmon, sardines) once a day will provide you with the necessary quantities. A low-fat diet is heresy, because lipids are responsible for covering 40% of the energy needs of the mother and child, transporting vitamins A, D, E and K and providing essential fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6). These are essential because they contribute to the production and functioning of the baby's central nervous system. However, the organism of the future mother and that of the baby are incapable of producing them. The fetus can therefore only find them in the mother's diet.

Don't worry about what comes next: if you are naturally rather slim and have a balanced diet, the few extra pounds from pregnancy will disappear in the months following your delivery. But in the meantime, eat, it's good for you and your baby! To be healthy during pregnancy, you have to eat well!

Good news, your weight is just average. You can therefore gain between 11.5 and 16 kg, but no more. You just need to have a varied and balanced diet , and this is true for all future mothers: a good breakfast with buttered toast, a dairy product, a fruit and a hot drink. At lunch, raw and cooked vegetables, a little starchy food and meat or fish, a dairy product and a fruit over the last six months. Finally, at dinner, vegetables (in the form of soups, gratins) and starchy foods with a dairy product and a fruit.

Then it's up to you to vary the pleasures. Cook seasonal vegetables, you will see that there is no shortage of choice. Alternate red and white meat, oily fish and eggs. Ban alcohol during pregnancy and drink one to one and a half liters every day: water, herbal teas, fruit or vegetable juice.

But even if your BMI is in the right average, this is not a reason to throw yourself on food. You have to eat well to be healthy during pregnancy, eat for two but not for four! You have a favorable genetic capital and probably good eating habits, maintain this healthy lifestyle during your pregnancy!

Nutritionists are used to saying that the ideal diet for pregnant women is in fact the one that the entire population should adopt to maintain good health. Take advantage of it. If you can, practice a sport during your pregnancy , a gentle and regular physical activity to facilitate digestion and keep in shape: walking, swimming or aquagym are all indicated.

You are overweight and you would do well to consult a specialist. A nutritionist would help you review the basics of your diet, overcome your cravings - if you have any - and regulate your appetite. Of course, the ideal would have been to lose a few pounds well before becoming pregnant. However, you should not embark on a very restrictive diet immediately before pregnancy. This can cause serious deficiencies.

When pregnant, you should only gain between 7 and 11.5 kg, and it is the advice of a professional that will help you not to exceed your quota!

Your obstetrician-gynecologist will closely monitor your pregnancy in any case, because your health and that of your baby may be at risk. Indeed, being overweight can lead to hypertension during pregnancy , which itself is responsible for gestational diabetes : this condition only lasts for the duration of the pregnancy and disappears when your baby is born. Hypertension is also responsible for toxemia of pregnancy , a serious renal complication, causing edema and preeclampsia (seizures). Of course, pregnancies are now under close surveillance, as are the fetus, but is that a reason to take so many risks?

In addition, overweight mothers-to-be more often give birth to so-called macrosomal babies, i.e. weighing more than 4 kg. And, very often, a caesarean section is necessary. In addition, the baby can suffer from growth retardation if you abuse sugar because, taken in excess, it slows down your blood flow.

The nutritionist will explain to you how to compose your menus without starving yourself. He will also take into account your lifestyle. At lunchtime, if you are more of a woman in a hurry who eats on the go, he will advise you to have a sandwich plus a dairy product and a fruit. If you have a lot of business lunches, it will help you choose nutritious dishes, without unnecessary calories and avoid certain mistakes (cakes at every meal for example). If you are rather very sedentary, in addition to dietary advice, it will surely recommend a sport during pregnancy, gentle and daily.

Whatever your weight, it is important to discuss this subject with your obstetrician-gynecologist or your midwife: the extra or less kilos cause a lot of guilt and do not help to live these nine months of pregnancy serenely. This is why it is better to ask all the questions that worry you and ask for practical advice during each prenatal visit. They are also made for that!