Pregnancy Signs & Symptoms, Week by Week Pregnancy Guide

For those who are overweight and pregnant, there are chances that you are looking into losing weight during pregnancy.

There are a number of ways that you can do this, but you should always consult your doctor or midwife before you start; this will help make sure you are doing it in a healthy way for both you and your baby.

Gaining weight is a good thing

While you are looking at losing weight during pregnancy, you should bear in mind that gaining weight is a good sign. This means that your baby is growing healthily. However, that does not mean that you will pile on a lot of weight.

It is worth talking to your doctor about a healthy weight gain throughout your pregnancy so that you can be prepared. This will also help to determine how far along you are and if there are going to be any problems during labor. You will also be able to track just how much your unborn is growing each week, which is always exciting to see.

Losing weight during pregnancy is not always bad

There are times that you will lose weight during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. This is common for all women and not just for those who are overweight.

The first trimester is when most of the changes will occur and when morning sickness is more likely to hit. This will mean that you will struggle to keep some food down and will find yourself turned off from many of your favorites.

This usually stops from the second trimester onwards but there are women that will suffer from nausea throughout the duration. However, it is worth watching how much weight you are losing and talking to your caregiver if it is a lot and constant. This could be a sign that there is something wrong.

Your baby needs nutrients

The worst thing that you can do is follow a diet fad while you are pregnant. Dieting will be dangerous because it will cut out the nutrients that your baby needs, especially iron, calcium and protein. Do not purposely try to lose weight during pregnancy.

However, healthy eating will help you with losing weight during pregnancy and it will be in a good way. Switch high fat content for high protein instead and add lots of fruit and vegetables to your diet. It is always a good idea to talk to your doctor about this to make sure you know which foods offer the best nutrients for your unborn child.

Adding some light exercise will also be beneficial to help with losing weight during pregnancy. However, you need to do this sensibly and start off slow – especially if you have not done exercise beforehand. Talk to your doctor or midwife about this to find out your best options and what is safe to do.

Exercise during pregnancy will also offer other benefits during your pregnancy, including helping to ease labor pains and get your body ready for the birth of your baby.