Pregnancy & Baby 

Advertisement

Weight Loss

In evaluating the health of a mother and baby during pregnancy, we look for patterns. Some patterns of maternal weight gain are more closely related to foetal development and well-being than others.

When a mother gains consistently (three to five pounds in first trimester, 10 to 14 pounds in the second and third) it is generally healthier for both mother and baby.

Weight loss can represent foetal growth at the expense of the mother, and, of course, eventually the foetus is compromised as well. Weight loss or gain is only a rough estimate of maternal nutrition stores and intake, but the only objective one we have during an average antenatal care visit. If there is some deviation from the expected, then this needs to be looked into. For example, your doctor might ask questions about any recent illness, nausea and vomiting, exercise, dehydration, rest/sleep patterns, work and stress history, and look at your diet.

If your doctor explains that weight loss is only one indicator of a healthy pregnancy, you are more likely to concentrate on getting essential nutrients rather than filling up on junk food just to see weight gain. If you gain five pounds by the next visit, this does not mean that you have necessarily been eating a good diet. Neither does weight loss translate to a poor diet.

If you honestly believe that your nutrient intake has been adequate, I would not worry. Occasionally, we see weights stabilise or drop after a month of particularly rapid weight gain. Fluctuations are normal; weight gain does not follow a smooth curve.

Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon

  Get the latest iVillage news on your desktop    Sign up for more iVillage RSS feeds

© iVillage Limited 2000-2008. All rights reserved. | © iVillage inc. 1995-2008. All rights reserved.
iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB