One of the biggest challenges I have mentally had to face so far during this pregnancy is the weight gain. I have always been self conscious about my weight ... while not one of the fad-dieter types, I weigh myself frequency and have been pretty good my whole life about allowing little fluctuation. Sure I would like to weigh less (who wouldnt) but my primary focus has been on not weighing more. I am not the healthiest eater, but I watch what I eat, and I have always been pretty active.Basically, the weight gain necessary for pregnancy both shocks and depresses me. As I watch the lbs tick up on the scale I cannot help but feel like I have little control in this matter! And its not just the current gain, but the need to take it off post-pregnancy already weighs heavily on my mind.
The American Pregnancy Association gives some helpful guidelines on weight gain, and also lets you know a bit more about the distribution of that weight you get go carry around...
First of all, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a weight gain of 25 to 37 pounds during pregnancy for women who were a "normal weight" before pregnancy. Those lbs break down in this approximate weight distribution:
7 1/2pounds is about how much the baby will weigh by the end of pregnancy.
1 1/2pounds is how much the placenta weighs.
4 pounds is attributed to increased fluid volume.
2 pounds is the weight of the uterus.
2 pounds is the weight of breast tissue.
4 pounds is because of increased blood volume.
7 pounds is attributed to maternal stores of fat, protein and other nutrients.
2 pounds for the amniotic fluid.
Total: 30 pounds
On a trimester basis:
First trimester: 3-5 pounds
Second trimester: 1-2 pounds per week
Third trimester: 1-2 pounds per week
I am not in the mood to share how much I have gained so far, but I can tell you that I am worried I am going to push these limits by the time 40 weeks arrives :)
