Pregnancy is a magical experience. While it comes with challenges, it is a stage of life that every couple looks forward to. However, as a soon-to-be mother, bringing a new life into this world also takes you through some major physical experiences.
For example, if you are pregnant, at some point, your body will have almost 50% more blood to ensure you and the baby are getting necessary nutrients. But sometimes this can have an unexpected side effect on you (the mothers). As the baby grows, you grow as well, and we mean physically. This means there is a chance that you might put on weight yourself, besides the baby’s weight.
While the extra weight can be good for the baby, it can affect your health adversely after the delivery. Therefore, expecting mothers are advised to follow a balanced diet and manage their weight.
Here are a few insights into what weight management involves during pregnancy.
Risks of Putting on Too Much Weight During Pregnancy
Gaining too much weight during pregnancy does not just affect you, but can cause unnecessary health concerns for your baby as well. Here are some of the problems it can cause:
- Unreliable Ultrasound Result
An ultrasound is one of the regular procedures that help track the growth of your baby inside the womb. It detects any future complexities in your pregnancy that can cause problems for you and the baby during delivery. If you gain too much weight during pregnancy, it can affect the result of your ultrasound. It can get difficult to get an image of the baby as the fat per cent in your body has increased.
- Higher Discomfort
Any woman that has ever been pregnant is like an encyclopedia for pregnancy-related experiences. If you talk to them, you are likely to understand that while pregnancy is a magical experience, it can be discomforting too. However, distress is one of the most common experiences during pregnancy.
On the other hand, putting on unnecessary weight can multiply your levels of discomfort. It is bound to cause backaches, leg pain, and exhaustion. Other things that cause distress during pregnancy due to unnecessary weight-gain are heartburn, joint aches, calf cramps, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, and much more.
- Elevated Blood Pressure
Usually diagnosed after the first trimester, gestational hypertension can cause major issues right up to the time of delivery. Furthermore, it can raise health concerns in your baby as well.
Looking at these health risks during pregnancy, especially due to weight gain, can be scary and overwhelming. The ideal option to avoid these issues is by keeping track of your health and taking efforts to maintain a balanced diet. However, to cover all your bases, it is also great to buy health insurance with maternity cover from a trusted provider.
How to Know the Right Amount of Weight for Pregnancy?
Let’s clear one thing – gaining weight healthily during pregnancy is okay. It only ensures that you and your baby are getting enough nutrition. Simply put, if you are in good health, your baby will also have a healthy development. When it comes to weight gain during pregnancy, there is no fixed number that can be described as a healthy weight.
The ideal pregnancy weight depends on your body type and health condition. It usually depends on your weight right before the pregnancy. More precisely, it depends on your BMI (Body Mass Index). BMI allows you to measure the amount of fat in your body based on your height and weight. Knowing your BMI will allow you to evaluate your weight gain during pregnancy and make healthy changes to your diet accordingly.
A BMI calculator for women is an online tool that soon-to-be mothers can use to track their BMI values during pregnancy. You can use this tool anytime and anywhere. Besides, consult your doctor and nutritionist and chart a diet plan for healthy weight gain during pregnancy.
