Weight Gain

Prenatal care that is done to women during pregnancy not only affects the health of the mother but also includes his son. Within the parameters to control is the weight of the pregnant woman. Some years ago, weight control was so strict, that get on the scales for women was a tense moment in the query. Today we take into account the weight of the pregnant but not only related to the aesthetic, but also with their nutritional status by complications in pregnancy may have a lack of adequate supply of nutrients. Likewise, fetal growth and development need of good maternal nutrition.

During pregnancy there are no grounds justifying an excessive weight gain, because while women should increase their caloric intake at 300kcal per day over a pregnant woman, to help the baby's growth and development, it should be account that during pregnancy physical activity declines as the child grows inside the mother's belly.

Weight gain will vary according to trimester of pregnancy. In the first three months the increase will be minimal, and even women can lose weight if you have nausea and vomiting. Already in the second quarter begins weight gain steadily, which should be of 1kg to 1.5 kg per month. In recent months, the weight increase is more noticeable because it is the time when the baby gains more weight, at the expense of subcutaneous fat.

Progressive weight gain during pregnancy is achieved through a balanced and varied diet that includes foods that contain nutrients needed by the child for a good development, without consuming the reserves of the mother. The result of this increase will be the appropriate weight to have a child in good health.

Weight distribution is distributed as follows:

Fetus: 3300gr to 3500gr
Placenta: 500gr to 700gr
Amniotic fluid: 800gr to 1000gr
Blood: 1000gr to 2000gr
Uterus: 1000gr
Mamas: 300gr to 500gr
Extracellular Fluid 1500gr
Adipose tissue: 700gr to 2000gr

As we see from the above description weight gain can be broken down into a maternal and fetal side. During the second trimester maternal component influences the weight gain, and in the last trimester is fetal growth curve that determines the weight gain for pregnant women.

To determine whether a pregnant woman has the right weight is applied early in pregnancy calculate body mass index (BMI), which is the relationship between weight and height. When this value is greater than 25 indicates overweight. Values of 30 or more are considered obese.

Not considered desirable to weight loss during pregnancy, even in the obese.

Overweight or obese women during pregnancy may have adverse consequences for maternal health, which affects fetal vitality. In these patients is more frequent appearance of diabetes and infants of greater weight, which will most likely indication for cesarean delivery.

Faced with an excessive increase in weight the obstetrician refers you to the pregnant woman to a nutrition specialist for advice about a change in dietary patterns that indicate a diet. Fetal development may be affected if the mother makes a food restriction, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy which is when most babies grows, for this reason is that low-calorie diets are not indicated during pregnancy, although the mother is obese. It is generally advised to eat six times a day, while breakfast; homemade diets do not eat for two, but in moderation.

Will the physician in prenatal care, who will determine whether the weight gain curve is appropriate for the patient.