It is a given that a woman should gain weight during her pregnancy. Correctly gaining the right weight means having a balance diet with all the proper nutrients in place. You do not have to eat for two during this stage in your life. However, you need to add about an extra 300 calories so that you will meet your unborn child’s dietary needs.

Normally a woman with average must gain an average of 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. Overweight women need to gain about 15 to 25 pounds during pregnancy and underweight women must gain 28 to 40 pounds during pregnancy. Depending on what your doctor or nutritionist suggests, you may need to gain less weight or more.

During her first three months of being pregnant, a woman must gain about two to four pounds. Then she may gain one pound a week for the rest of the pregnancy. If twins are expected, the woman should add a healthy weight of 35 to 45 pounds during the pregnancy.

One might ask where the extra weight would go during the pregnancy. The unborn baby gets to take 8 pounds, the placenta gets 2 to 3 pounds, the amniotic fluid weighs about two to three pounds, breast tissue weighs two to three pounds, the blood supply weighs 4 pounds, and fat stores are give five to nine pounds. The uterus gets heavy by two to five pounds. In all, there is a grand total of 25 to 35 pounds.

To keep your pregnancy weight in check, exercise is an essential part of your routine. Moderate exercise is acceptable. Pregnant women may engage in swimming or walking. But first, you must consult with your doctor before starting a pregnancy exercise regimen.

You could also gain a lot of weight during pregnancy, more than the recommended 25 to 35 pounds. Your doctor could suggest that you lose the weight safely but under his or her supervision. There are also women who gain only a little weight during pregnancy. The doctor might suggest to these women dietary modifications to ensure that they gain the proper weight.

Your doctor may suggest that you eat five to six small and frequent meals daily. The doctor may also suggest that your snacks include nuts, raisins, crackers, cheese, ice cream/yogurt and dried fruit. You could also spread peanut butter on crackers, toast, bananas, apples, or celery. To safely add weight, non-fat powdered milk may be added to foods like scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and cereal. To add flavor to your meals and gain a healthy pregnancy weight, you may add condiments like margarine, butter, gravy, cream cheese, cheese, and sour cream to you meals.

It is really important that you attain the correct pregnancy weight gain. If you gain too much weight, you might find it hard to lose that excess weight when you have given birth. If you gain only a little weight, the health of the baby may be compromised. Don’t gamble with your weight. Gain the right weight to ensure a healthy pregnancy.