Everyone knows that a woman will gain weight during her pregnancy. This weight gain is important for the health of the baby. Weight gain during pregnancy is more important for someone who is underweight before pregnancy and less important for someone who is overweight before pregnancy. Did you know that it’s not uncommon for a woman to put on over 50 lbs. during the cycle of her pregnancy? Do you think this much weight is actually necessary for the health of the baby?

The saying “eating for two” may be taken a little too literally during pregnancy. Just because you are feeding a second human life doesn’t mean you should be doubling your caloric intake. How many more calories do you think you should consume in a given day during pregnancy? It’s probably a lot less than you think. During the first trimester, you should only be adding 100 additional calories to your daily diet. During the second and third trimesters, you should only be adding about 300 calories per day. You can reach these additional calories just by adding something as simple as a bowl of cereal into your daily diet.

Is it important to gain weight during pregnancy for the baby? Yes. Someone who is average weight should gain about 25-35 lbs. during pregnancy. Someone who is underweight should gain 28-40 lbs., and someone who is overweight should gain 15-25 lbs. Anything additional and you are just making your life more complicated after the pregnancy. It’s a lot more difficult to lose weight after giving birth. Also, gaining to much weight can lead to future health problems for both you and the baby. Don’t use pregnancy as an excuse to eat as much as you want for 9 months straight. It does come at a high cost. Your baby’s health and your health should be the main priority.

-Tom