Pregnancy Questions and Answers
How much weight gain is considered normal during pregnancy?
- Professionals assert that 8-9 kilograms in 9 months is a normal weight gain. Usually excess weight is gained starting from the 4th month of pregnancy. However, there is an opinion that there is no fixed standard of weight gain and it may vary depending on a certain woman. For example, a few kilos do not pose any risk to a thin woman and should not be considered a deviation. On the contrary, fat moms should control their weight and watch what they eat to allow minimal weight gain during pregnancy.
- Why it is bad for me to gain too much weight during pregnancy?
- Excess weight during pregnancy may lead to complications during pregnancy, the negative effects of which would first of all tell on mother`s health. Besides that it increases the risk of developing hypertension. And remember, that improper feeding during pregnancy would make it more difficult for you to lose weight after giving birth.
- Do I need to keep to a diet during pregnancy if I had excess weight before pregnancy as well?
- No way. Nutrition during pregnancy should be healthy and wholesome- you should never keep to some weight loss diets especially without talking to your doctor first. If you really need to lose some weight and your doctor has confirmed it, only he can determine what products and in what quantity you should eat for you and your baby to get all necessary nutrients and vitamins. But remember, no weight loss diets for aesthetic slimming.
- Who is most predisposed to gain excess weight gain during pregnancy?
- As a rule, women who have hereditary predisposition to obesity, those who lead sedentary life, do not exercise and do not keep to well-balanced diet during pregnancy.
- Should I limit salt intake during pregnancy?
- It is not necessary, if only your doctor has not told you about it. Usually women who have hypertension are recommended to reduce salt intake to minimum.
- Why iodized salt is useful during pregnancy?
- Scientific researches showed that using iodized salt during pregnancy helps avoid thyroid gland diseases.
- Should I cut out sweets from my diet during pregnancy?
- You may not stop eating sweets totally, but keep in mind that sweets contain many calories and very little nutrients. It is more reasonable to give your preference to products rich in proteins and vitamins. However, if your craving for sweets is really strong, try to satisfy it by home-made jams and dried fruit mainly to be able to control your sugar and fat intake.
-Should I restrict fluid consumption during pregnancy?
- It is determined by a doctor for each individual situation. As a rule it is recommended to drink 1,5-2 liters a day (including water contained in food). However, women who have kidney stones should consume more fluids. In every certain case it makes sense to consult a doctor.
- What dairy products and how much of them should I use during a day?
- No less than 2 glasses of milk and one yoghurt or 100 grams of sour cream and curds. As far as possible, give your preference to nonfat products.
-Should I take extra supplements containing calcium during pregnancy?
- If you eat enough dairy products, you do not need additional calcium containing supplements. However, it is better for you to consult a doctor, since there could be exceptions to every rule.
- In which cases should I use vitamin supplements?
- The supplements often prescribed for pregnant women are usually the ones containing iron and folic acid. Although, the supplements are determined individually for each woman and you may not need them at all. Anyway, do not use any supplements without consulting your doctor first, even if they are sold over the counter.
What foods should I exclude from my diet during pregnancy?
- You should not eat rare meat since it may become a cause of infection called toxoplasmosis. Also avoid eating liver, especially in the first trimester, since it contains very high levels of the retinol which can cause genetic changes in fetus. Refuse spices and products causing constipation and stomach upset.
- Can I have a cup of coffee or strong tea a day while I am pregnant?
No doubt it is necessary to limit consumption of these drinks to a minimum. However, just one cup of coffee or tea a day is not likely to cause any harm.
- Can I have an occasional glass of wine or champagne during pregnancy?
- In these case no “buts” are allowed: it is categorically prohibited to use alcohol during pregnancy. It is still unknown what the minimal dose is that may have a serious impact on baby`s development, that is why you`d better refuse these pleasant but unsafe drinks for a while.
- Is it normal that I feel nauseated and vomit in the first few months of pregnancy?
- Yes, these are manifestations of early pregnancy toxicosis. But if you lead healthy life style and keep to a balanced diet during pregnancy, these unpleasant symptoms will soon pass away. Anyway, consult a doctor about them.
- What are the myths about nutrition during pregnancy?
- There is still a wrong belief that a mother-to-be should “eat for two”, but it is erroneous. Nor you should keep to slimming diets. Your nutrition during pregnancy should be first of all baby-orientated. And of course, you should keep to a healthcare professional`s recommendations about your diet.
If you did not care much what you eat before pregnancy, now, when you are pregnant, you should pay much more attention to your nutrition. Food you eat must be balanced, diverse and rich in nutrients. It is ideal to eat 5-6 times a day, but be careful not to overeat. Include in your diet dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, fats, bread, cereals, fruit, vegetables and potato, and your baby is sure to be born healthy.
Weight gain during pregnancy
The most common questions pregnant women asked either by their doctor, friends or kinsfolk are: Have you had a weight gain? What is the duration of your pregnancy? Do you feel your baby move?
Comparison of the answers may instigate worry in most women. Women who have started eating with enthusiasm from the very start of the pregnancy gain about 5 kg during the first trimester of pregnancy and start to concern whether they have put on too much weight. Others, whose appetite has reduced due to nausea caused by intoxication, do not gain enough weight, and they start getting worried about too little weight. Moms who gain less than 10 kg weight during pregnancy have more chances of giving birth to low-birth-weight babies and feeling uterine action too early. Pregnant women are not recommended to eat much and gain too much weight. Excessive weight of a mother makes it difficult to define the size of the fetus, causes pain in the sacral bone (sacralgia), increases fatigue and may lead to varication. The fetus may grow to a size that delivery in a natural way without cesarean section would be impossible. In overweight women cesarean section may cause complications and it would be even more difficult to lose weight. The body weight of the mother and baby are not necessarily to correlate. You can gain 20 kg and give birth to a baby weighing 3 kg, or gain just 10 kg and give birth to a baby weighing 4 kg. The nutritive value of the food you consume during pregnancy is more important than its volume. The norm of weight gain during pregnancy may vary from 12-17 kg. The norm for delicate women is 12 kg, and 17kg for large women.
Women with low body weight who got pregnant should gain enough weight during the first trimester so that they could start the second trimester with the norm. Women, whose body weight exceeds the norm by 10- 20 % should start consuming food low in calories but rich in nutrients and be regularly supervised by a doctor. Pregnancy is not a proper period for weight loss or supporting weight in the same rate since the fetus would be unable to keep at the expense of mother`s fat deposits only. Consult your doctor if you do not put on any weight within two weeks. If your actual weight gain considerably differs from the planned (7kg instead of 1,5-2 kg in the first trimester or 10 kg instead of 6 kg in the second trimester) even if you keep to all recommendations, do not worry, it will soon get normalized by itself. Ask your doctor to make up a diet plan for you in accordance with the needs of your baby. Remember that the health of your baby depends on your dietary habits during the whole pregnancy period. Control your weight from the very beginning of your pregnancy so that to protect you against excessive weight gain at the end.
Pregnancy is not a proper period for weight loss or supporting weight in the same rate since the fetus would be unable to keep at the expense of mother`s fat deposits only. Consult your doctor if you do not put on any weight within two weeks.