Healthy Weight Gain for Pregnancy

August 19, 2015 / mumzoneim / Leave a comment

There are a lot of doctors who will explain that a weight gain around 11 to 13 kilograms is normal during pregnancy. The first one-and-a-half kilograms should come during the first trimester, although there are a majority of women who lose weight instead.

A big reason for this inability to gain weight is due to one of the earlier side effects of pregnancy – morning sickness, which can prevent food from being kept down. In many cases, doctors might not be concerned with the loss of a kilogram or two during that first trimester as long as there is a healthy weight gain over the next two trimesters.

The second trimester is where most of that 11-13 kilograms should be picked up for an average of about 0.4 kilogram per week or four to five each month. There are some women who may fluctuate between months, which isn’t too much of a concern.

The seventh and eighth month of pregnancy should maintain the two-fifths of a kilogram per week average weight gain for a total around 3.5 to 4.5 kilograms – then the weight gain begins to slow down in the ninth and final month of pregnancy. In fact, this usually comes to a halt when the due date is right around the corner – a sign of the upcoming labor.

But what about all of that gained weight when the baby is born? If the average baby weighs only seven-and-a-half, so what was the other eight to 10 kilograms meant for? Let’s break down where all of the extra weight goes within mommy.

First, there’s the baby. Some babies weigh more – up to around four kilograms – and some weigh as little as nearly three kilograms. The amniotic fluid the baby swam in for nine months is usually worth about two pounds and there’s another kilogram that is accounted for mommy’s breast enlargement for milk production.

There’s also another three-fifths of a kilogram for her placenta and two pounds for the uterus, which used to be about the size of a golf ball. The body also needs to produce nearly two kilograms of blood before deliver, as well as about three extra kilograms of fat and about four pounds of extra fluid the body might hold onto – all equaling towards a grand total of 13 kilograms.

Keep in mind that these numbers are estimates of how much weight is gained that may vary among women – there’s a difference in weight gain and subsequent weight loss between delivering a 4.5-kilogram baby and a 2.2-kilogram baby. Regardless, the important thing is to be able to maintain a healthy weight gain throughout the nine-month process.

The body needs extra calories for both mommy and baby, preferable that come from nutritional options that are the most beneficial for both parties – including fruits, vegetables and proteins. That means staying away from junk food that could create a bigger weight gain than desired.

When it comes to taking that extra baby weight off after having the baby, the body might want to hang onto those kilograms. While you might try to do strenuous workouts to lose the weight quickly, remember that the weight was gained over nine months and could take just as much time to lose it all.
– See more at: http://www.mumzone.com.au/healthy-weight-gain-for-pregnancy/#sthash.ZvMsJW4J.dpuf

Week By Week Pregnancy Guide – All About Pregnancy By Mumzone

November 18, 2014 / mumzoneim / Leave a comment

Week By Week Pregnancy Every parent’s one of the most joyous moments is bringing a new life into this world. Along with this happiness you would also want your maternity period running smoothly. So knowing about the different stages of pregnancy and changes related to them can be a great help to you. So you can always opt to follow week by week maternity guide to check on if everything is going right or not.

With the help of pregnancy week by week guide you shall be able to foresee the future body related changes with the week by week development of baby inside your body. The normal pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks and these 40 weeks are divided into three trimesters which covers all the body changes the mother will face along with the new born development inside her. Also it is not that the trimesters are equally divided, they are distributed as per the growth and development of the baby.

It is during the first trimester of the pregnancy period that the mother starts experiences great changes because of the new life growing within her. This starts with feeling of nausea, morning sickness and suffering from backaches. Perhaps all this is not common for all the ladies, there are few who does not suffer from any of these. During such phase it is advisable to visit your family doctor or gynecologist for a medical checkup or required blood test.

12 Weeks Pregnant

By twelfth week you shall start hearing the heartbeat of your baby. Well that’s one amazing feeling for any to-be-mother. All this will take place in initial 3 months.

Then if you are lucky one you would stop facing or at least might have reduced on the morning sickness. The second trimester will be covering third to sixth month. You mostly might have got used to the swollen tummy by this time. Here the bay will grow at a faster pace and you can also feel it kicking inside you. This period you can get stretch marks so make sure you apply lots of lotion on the required areas of your body. You can by this time start decorating your room with baby furniture and buy new cloths.

The third trimester which will cover twenty ninth to fortieth week, this is your final stage of maternity. This period the baby will start growing in height and gaining weight. Here the actual development of the baby’s internal system like respiratory system will take place. It is by the thirty seventh week that the baby will become fully ready to come out in this world. During this phase the mother will start facing breathing problem and start heavy breathing, real contractions, more backaches which at times can get severe.

To find out more details on week by week pregnancy you can check mumzone.com.au , it has described each week and step very clearly and distinctly. Hope you enjoy reading and have a safe maternity.

The Whole Nine Months: Low Carb Diets and Pregnancy

October 13, 2014October 13, 2014 / mumzoneim / Leave a comment

When you are pregnant it is important to watch what you eat. You are eating for two. That does not mean you need to eat more, it just means that you need to eat smart! You are the baby’s only source of nutrients, and all the good stuff that it needs in order to grow in you. Therefore, you are going to need to follow a diet filled with vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fiber in the right mix.

Most prenatal dietitians today, are strongly against mums who want to follow a strict no carb diet. If you do not have a good amount of carbs, your body will produce something called ketones. The ketones can put your baby at risk for brain damage as it grows.

You may be curious about low-carb diets then. Low carb diets do have the risk of mental retraction for the child along with worsening the discomforts you can experience during the pregnancy. Low-carb diets can lower the levels of dietary fiber which can worsen constipation since many pregnant women need iron supplements. Prenatal dietitians also recommend taking lots of fruit because of its vitamin content. However, most of the ingredients you find in a shake are banned by diets such as Atkins and South Beach because of the sugars.

You shouldn’t go on a low-carb diet, or follow a restrictive or weight-loss diet, while you’re pregnant. This is because we can’t be sure that diets are safe for you or your baby.

Going on a low-carb diet while you’re pregnant may affect your baby’s weight, and how she develops. It may also prevent you both from getting the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Drastically reducing or increasing the amount you eat may even increase the likelihood of your baby having weight problems as she grows up.

Low-carb diets, such as the Atkins, South Beach and Dukan diets, may increase the levels of toxic chemicals (ketones) in your blood. These acids remain when your body burns its own fat. The same applies to any other diets that cut out food groups.

Low-carb diets tend to be high in fat, and may also restrict the amount of fruit, vegetables and fibre you eat. You may deny yourself and your baby important vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid and calcium. It’s also unlikely that you’ll be able to sustain these diets in the long term.

Fans of low-carb diets say that carbohydrate-rich foods are fattening. But gram for gram, carbohydrates contain less than half the calories of fat. Low-carb diets also tend to be high in protein, which can cause side-effects such as tiredness and bad breath, as well as increasing your risk of getting kidney stones.