Weight gain during pregnancy: norms and how to keep weight under control. How to control your weight during pregnancy How to control your weight during pregnancy

How to return to your former shape after the birth of a baby? This question worries all expectant mothers. In the old days, pregnant women were strongly advised to “eat for two.” Let’s paraphrase this advice and attach a piece of paper to the refrigerator with the motto: “I eat not for two, but for two!” It is unnecessary to remind that excessive weight gain threatens health complications for both the expectant mother and her baby. If your “pregnant” kilograms meet this norm, then late toxicosis, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, swelling and varicose veins will bypass you. And the baby will avoid hypoxia (oxygen starvation) and will not be born before the due date. And it will be much easier to part with the “correctly” gained kilograms after the birth of a child. Which, you see, also really warms the soul. So, the time has come to change your attitude towards proteins, fats and carbohydrates and think over a reasonable diet.

How to control weight during pregnancy - Main principles.
First and foremost
– don’t overdo it! Insufficient nutrition in pursuit of “preserving my perfect figure” will lead to the fact that the baby will be born thin and sickly. And that's the best case scenario. At worst, various pathologies may develop due to the fact that the baby did not receive the substances it needs in the required quantity. At the end of the first – beginning of the second trimester, estrogen is activated in the body of a pregnant woman, which is the culprit of the growing appetite. There is a desire to eat a lot, high in calories and - what’s most interesting! – harmful. Taste preferences change so much that a pregnant woman who previously preferred raw carrots and a leaf of lettuce for lunch now cannot calmly pass by a stall with pasties and chips or McDonald's. Tell this “toothed monster” (that is, the rampant appetite) “stop”, otherwise gluttony will lead to the consequences described at the beginning of the article. There are several ways to suppress your appetite:

• Eat often (5-7 times a day), but in small portions. The first meal should be no later than 8 o'clock in the morning, the last - 2 hours before bedtime. Remember that after 18.00 you can only eat something light: a vegetable salad, a fruit cocktail, a glass of low-fat kefir, a cup of yogurt with raisins or a teaspoon of muesli, a slice of whole grain bread spread with cottage cheese, tea with a bite of dried fruit, etc. Believe me, this is enough to kill the nasty worm sucking tediously in the pit of your stomach.
• If you really want something sweet, allow yourself some dark chocolate. You can deceive your appetite with candied fruits, milk with honey (but not before going outside), dried fruits, nuts, and - if the doctor allows - ginger tea, again with a spoonful of honey.
• Eat cabbage! It is useful in any form - fresh, boiled, stewed, pickled. Our people’s favorite vegetable not only saturates the body with vitamins and microelements, leaves you feeling full for a long time, but also burns excess fat.

The second principle
is no less important. Food should be of high quality and varied. This means that the diet should include vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs, eggs, durum wheat pasta, butter and unrefined vegetable oils, low-fat fermented milk products, hard cheeses, legumes, cereals and - of course! – fish, poultry and meat. Have you written everything down? Oh, are you a vegetarian?! Well, you’ll have to give up your beliefs while you’re waiting for the baby. You don’t want your baby to be rickety, anemic or mentally retarded? That's the same!

Principle three

– Use shrimp, mussels and other sea creatures with caution, they can cause an allergic reaction. And ask your doctor what herbal teas you can drink. Decoctions of some types of plants should not be consumed by pregnant women who are at risk of miscarriage or other health problems. One more thing. To ensure that nutrients are absorbed by the body as they should, eat meat and fish dishes in the first half of the day, dairy and vegetable dishes in the second half.

How to control weight during pregnancy - Water gain.

Very often, pregnant women gain weight due to fluid retention in the body. And if you eat right, but the kilograms continue to “grow” at the speed of light, take action. First of all, tell your attending doctor about your problem. the doctor will suggest taking tests to find out if everything is okay with your kidneys, thyroid gland, and endocrine system. Has your health failed? Then take action! Pay attention to the amount of liquid consumed. At the beginning of pregnancy, the recommended drinking rate is at least two liters per day. After the 20th week - one and a half liters. Moreover, this includes the liquid that your body receives from soups, fruits and vegetables. Limit your salt intake. Experts advise pregnant women (especially in the third semester) to reduce its amount to 5 grams per day.

How to control weight during pregnancy - We break down weight by month.

Of course, the female body is individual and reacts differently to pregnancy. Some people begin to gain weight immediately, and by the time they give birth, they suddenly lose 1-2 kilograms, while others lose weight in the first trimester, and then “catch up” in the last trimester. Nevertheless, there are certain norms for weight gain at each stage of pregnancy: up to 10 weeks - 200 g per week from 10 to 20 weeks - 300 g per week from 20 to 30 weeks - 400 g per week from 30 to 40 weeks - 300 g in Week

How to control weight during pregnancy - Get off the table!

Many food products will have to be completely removed from view. Talk to your household so that they study the list below and do not fill the shelves of the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets with “dismissed” products. There is no need for you

Provoke! By the way, at the same time teach your loved ones and dear ones to eat right. You will be surprised, but there is a high probability that they will not want to return to the “pre-pregnancy” menu at all. Your, and therefore now theirs, 9-month diet may be to your liking. Or rather, not so much himself, but his consequences: clear skin, good health and “suddenly escaped somewhere” excess fat.

We exclude:

• pastry delicacies
• various sausages
• semi-finished products
• fried dishes and dishes prepared deep-fried, grilled, we also include kebabs here
• carbonated drinks and juices from a package
• alcohol
• milkshakes, ice cream, fatty and sweet curd masses, glazed curds and other delicious, but extremely harmful “joys of life” for the expectant mother and baby
• fatty meats and fish
• smoked meats, salted foods, canned food
• spicy seasonings
• chips, salted nuts, crackers and other “rubbish” that can be so pleasant to chew on while sitting near the TV or computer
• margarines, spreads, mayonnaise
• sweets, milk chocolates, cakes with rich cream
• concentrated sauces
• spicy seasonings
• strong tea and coffee

How to control weight during pregnancy - Get saturated... with sports.

Be sure to walk often and a lot. Fresh air and leisurely walking will help burn off extra calories, stabilize the appetite, and help the baby take the correct position in the stomach. If there are no contraindications from a doctor, do exercises in the morning. The best option would be to get a personal fitness instructor during pregnancy. He will select exercises for you based on your position, level of physical fitness and your preferences. And you will feel safer under the supervision of a specialist! Have you decided to do it yourself? Then remember that sudden movements, jumping, running, abdominal and hula hoop exercises, “riding” an exercise bike, and training with lifting heavy weights are contraindicated for pregnant women. It’s great if you suddenly decide to purchase a subscription to the pool (of course, again, subject to the consent of the doctor observing you). Calm swimming strengthens muscles, burns a lot of calories, gives pleasure and a peaceful mood. By the way, now in many swimming pools there are water aerobics groups for expectant mothers. Don't miss the opportunity to take advantage of this circumstance!

And don’t ignore the school for expectant mothers. After all, here you will not only receive instructions on how to breathe correctly during childbirth, which muscles to relax or, conversely, tense, how to handle a newborn, but at the same time with close relatives who are eager to begin raising him immediately after the baby arrives home. At the school for pregnant women, you will be surrounded by like-minded women, among whom you will definitely find new friends. And as you know, it’s much easier to keep your weight under control, go for walks, and play sports when you’re with a friend.

During pregnancy, the habit of losing weight becomes irrelevant. There is still an opinion that you need to eat for two, but it would be more correct to say for two. You need to know that any woman gains weight from 9 to 18 kilograms during pregnancy, if her weight was normal before.

If you gain weight too quickly, then after childbirth stretch marks will appear on your skin, it will become saggy and it will be very difficult to return it to its previous appearance. Uniform weight gain indicates that the child will receive nutrition in a timely and regular manner.

Weight gain during pregnancy: calculation by week

The number of kilograms that a expectant mother will gain during pregnancy is determined by several factors. One of them is a woman’s body weight before pregnancy. It has been noticed that women in labor with a thin build gain more weight during pregnancy, and vice versa, those with excess body weight gain less (see Table 1).

Weight gain by week of pregnancy

Something like BMI is body mass index.

BMI less than 19.8 - women of thin build. 19.8 more BMI less than 26.0 - women of average build. A BMI greater than 26 means large women.

The rate of weight gain during pregnancy is an equally important parameter for monitoring weight during this period. In the 1st trimester of pregnancy, there is no intense weight gain; the expectant mother usually gains 1-2 kg. Body weight increases mainly in the second half of pregnancy , then the weekly weight gain averages 250-300 g. From the 30th week of pregnancy, the weight of the expectant mother increases by about 50 g per day, by 300-400 g per week and no more than 2 kg per month.

Fighting excess weight for conception

At the stage of pregnancy planning, with a high BMI, it is advisable for a woman to get her shape in order. To do this, experts recommend adhering to the following tips:

1. Proper nutrition. The balance of BJU in the diet will help normalize the functioning of the endocrine system and replenish the supply of nutritional components in the body of the expectant mother. You need to lose weight slowly - no more than 500 grams per week - otherwise rapid weight loss will negatively affect the functioning of the hormonal system.
2. Physical activity. It doesn't have to be a grueling workout. Moderate physical activity is quite enough: fitness, swimming, jogging, cycling, etc. You need to do little by little, gradually increasing the intensity of the exercises.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to resort to any extreme methods of losing weight. This can negatively affect the functioning of the endocrine system.

https://youtu.be/JG1d6tdlHs4

Gain during pregnancy: step on the scale!

Weighing during pregnancy becomes a mandatory procedure. But only a doctor can help you more accurately determine acceptable weight gain and take into account all additional circumstances. An approximate calculation is as follows: weekly weight gain should not exceed 22 g for every 10 cm of height. This means that with a height of 150 cm, a woman can gain 330 g in a week, with a height of 160 cm - 352 g, and with a height of 180 cm - 400 g.

It is important to consider that it is quite difficult to accurately calculate weight gain in pregnant women, so the figures above are not a strict rule, but simply a guideline.

How to control your weight

Long gone are the days when it was considered normal for a pregnant woman to “eat for two.” Now it is necessary to approach the issue of nutrition wisely. The most important principle for weight control during pregnancy is a competent approach. You shouldn't gain too much weight, but you shouldn't diet either.

Try to adhere to the recommendations we outlined above. Remember, your weight should increase smoothly. This will make you feel good during pregnancy. You will be able to get back to normal faster after giving birth. A smooth change in weight indicates that the child is developing well and is provided with everything he needs.

If suddenly your weight suddenly increases or decreases, then it’s time to consult a doctor. Most likely, some disturbances have occurred in the body.

90% of women are still confident that having a baby will seriously ruin their figure. This myth in some strange way came to us from a past life. Apparently, the theory is very convenient: why fight with extra pounds, you won’t be able to improve anything anyway. If you are firmly convinced of this (and you even have evidence), then it is better not to read further. This article is for those who want to look wonderful after childbirth, during breastfeeding, and always, always, always.

CORRECT WEIGHT GAIN

Unfortunately, even during pregnancy it is not recommended to relax about your own weight. The idea that for once in your life you don't have to think about how much and what you eat can have a detrimental effect on your health. And grandmother’s advice to “eat for two” can lead to disruptions in the functioning of your body.

If you gain excess weight, you will experience swelling, shortness of breath, and fatigue. All this can be accompanied by hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, varicose veins, and back pain. You will endure pregnancy worse, and this will not add to your joy from expecting a baby.

In addition, with an increase in body weight, tissues, including muscle, lose elasticity due to an increase in the amount of water and fat in them. As a result, you end up with a difficult birth.

We recommend treating pregnancy as the time when it is best to put your life on the rails of a healthy lifestyle. Needless to say, pregnancy imposes a lot of restrictions, so at the same time you can adjust your diet - start eating right (link to an article about proper nutrition).

According to Russian canons, it is believed that during pregnancy you should gain 8-12 kg. Americans allow an increase of up to 17 kg. This largely depends on your build before you start bearing your baby. If you are thin, then it is quite possible that you will gain more due to the fact that your body decides to accumulate a few extra pounds in reserve.

Weight gain during pregnancy naturally consists of several components:

– child – 3.0 – 3.5 kg;

– uterus – 0.8 kg;

– blood volume 1.3 – 1.8 kg;

– liquid, fat, breast tissue – 4.5 kg;

– placenta – 0.45 – 0.8 kg;

– amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid) – 1 kg.

Weight gain is uneven; each component increases differently throughout pregnancy. In general, weight gain increases after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Keep in mind that if you gain weight too quickly, this may be a sign of a problem with your pregnancy and the development of one or another pathology (for example, polyhydramnios or gestosis). If you have any doubts about this, you should consult your doctor.

During a routine examination in the last three months of pregnancy, when the problem of the expectant mother’s weight becomes most pressing, the doctor can use a special scale of average physiological weight gain. The calculation goes something like this: weekly weight gain should not exceed 22 g for every 10 cm of height. This means that with a height of 150 cm, a woman can gain 330 g in a week, with a height of 160 cm - 352 g, and with a height of 180 cm - 400 g.

It is clear that all these values ​​are relative and depend on many factors, primarily on the initial body mass index (BMI) that existed before pregnancy.

BMI is calculated as follows: weight in kilograms must be divided by height in meters squared. Weight (kg): height (m)2. For example, height – 1.67 m, weight – 65 kg. Height squared: 1.67 x 1.67 = 2.7889. Now we divide 65 by 2.7889 - we get 23 (take the first two digits). This is the body mass index. If your BMI is less than 19.8, you are underweight. From 19.8 to 26 – normal weight, more than 26 – overweight.

Women with a BMI greater than 26 are advised to follow a special low-calorie diet, as they are at risk of high blood pressure caused by pregnancy, as well as the risk of having a large fetus. In addition, they may have problems accurately determining the duration of pregnancy, since it is difficult to determine the height of the fundus and the size of the uterus during examination due to excess fat deposits.

Women with a BMI less than 19 are often advised to delay pregnancy until they have gained weight, as 20% of their babies will be underweight. During pregnancy, due to the initial weight deficit, such a mother has the right to gain more kilograms.

And vice versa, if a woman’s weight before pregnancy was more than normal, then it is wiser to try to gain less weight.

Calculating your ideal weight gain is only a guideline. The doctor makes a conclusion about whether weight gain is normal based on the individual characteristics of the woman’s body.

BMI=19.8 – 26.0

There are several more objective reasons that can affect a pregnant woman’s weight. The first is age (link to how age affects the birth of a child). The older a woman is, the higher the risk of gaining more kilograms. The second is early toxicosis. Early weight loss due to toxicosis pushes the body to gain kilograms faster to compensate for the loss. In this case, when calculating body weight gain, one should focus on the weight that was before pregnancy, and not the one that was recorded after losses caused by toxicosis. The third is the weight of the fetus. If a large baby is expected (up to 4,000 g), then the placenta will be larger than usual. The fifth is twins.

LACTATION

After childbirth, natural weight loss occurs. On average, women six weeks after giving birth weigh 3 kg more than they weighed before pregnancy, and six months after giving birth the difference drops to 1 kg. And despite the fact that you are breastfeeding, your weight should not change for physiological reasons.

So why do many women often experience problems with excess weight after childbirth? If during pregnancy you are used to eating a lot and not following the rules of proper nutrition, then this habit will most likely continue in the postpartum period.

Please note that metabolic processes in pregnant women and nursing mothers proceed several times faster than in normal situations, so you may not gain excess weight before the baby is born. But as soon as you begin to reduce feeding or completely wean your baby off the breast, your habit of eating a lot will continue, and you risk gaining excess weight.

Eating sweets and starchy foods during pregnancy is most harmful. Let's say that before you always kept yourself in shape, went on diets and did not eat sweets. And during pregnancy, we decided to pamper ourselves with these products every day. In this situation, after giving birth, you risk starting to accumulate fat due to a slower metabolism. And sweets, as you know, are addictive in the body, and it’s not easy to give it up.

The second important reason for weight gain can be postpartum depression. Unfortunately, many women, even with repeated births, are completely unprepared for the new lifestyle that they will encounter immediately after the birth of a child. The body requires compensation for stress, so there is nothing left to do but “eat up” difficulties and experiences. After all, the usual joys are not available to you at the first stages.

By the way, there are variations of these processes. The stress of the first few months, feeding, and a lot of hassle can, on the contrary, turn you into a top model. But by the end of the first year, you suddenly notice in surprise that you have gained more than normal. Unfortunately, this is not explained by hormonal changes in the body, like any ailment during pregnancy. While calming down, your body may begin to work more slowly after suffering stress, but the habit of eating or eating high-calorie foods remains. The situation is aggravated by a passive lifestyle. Hence the extra pounds.

The third reason is an acute feeling of hunger when feeding the baby, which you really want to eat and drink. Doctors, of course, recommend drinking it down. When feeding, up to 1.5 liters of fluid per day are lost. It is advisable to replenish it to maintain healthy well-being (and not to increase the volume of milk, which will already arrive depending on the child’s needs). It is recommended to extinguish “hunger attacks” with the help of low-fat and low-calorie foods. Then, six months after the birth of your baby, you will have a great figure, because feeding consumes a lot of energy. And if you compensate it correctly, it will only be beneficial.

By the way, the statements of our grandmothers that we need to add honey or condensed milk to tea to make the milk sweeter and fattier, and other similar thoughts do not bear any scientific truth. The baby receives milk at the level of fat it needs .

What do doctors and psychologists advise? First, stick to proper nutrition. Pregnancy is a great opportunity to start leading a healthy lifestyle. But the birth of a baby is not a reason to return, or even more so, to fall into a “food hysteria.”

Secondly, respected doctors recommend preparing for a new way of life during pregnancy - having conversations with your husband and other household members about the distribution of responsibilities, buying the necessary household appliances that will make your life easier (washing machine, steamer, blender, vacuum cleaner, etc.

Waiting for the birth of a baby is perhaps the most pleasant time in the life of any woman. But pregnancy is associated not only with pleasant emotions and impressions, but also with various worries and anxieties. And one of the reasons for them is often excess weight during pregnancy.

After all, such an indicator as the body weight of the expectant mother is very important for the health of both the woman and the baby. Ideally, a woman will gain the right amount of weight during pregnancy by eating healthy - this is a good sign that your baby is getting all the nutrients and growing at a normal rate.

However, unfortunately, this does not always happen. Excess weight during pregnancy is a very common phenomenon. Moreover, many expectant mothers do not see anything wrong with this phenomenon, believing that getting rid of extra pounds after the birth of the baby will be as easy as shelling pears. However, they overlook the fact that excess weight during pregnancy has a very negative effect on the course of pregnancy:

• Development of hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a very unpleasant disease that can bring a lot of unpleasant emotions to the expectant mother. And during childbirth, hemorrhoids are not the best helper. And if the mother is overweight, the chances of developing hemorrhoids increase significantly.

• Hypertonic disease

In some cases, the presence of excess body weight during pregnancy leads to a systematic increase in blood pressure levels. And hypertension during pregnancy, in turn, can lead to the development of very serious complications that pose a serious threat to the health and sometimes the life of both mother and baby.

• Phlebeurysm

The next problem that expectant mothers often face is varicose veins. This problem is by no means a simple cosmetic defect, but a very serious independent disease. And if a mother gained more kilograms during pregnancy than she should, she is almost guaranteed to develop varicose veins.

• Pain in the back

Excess weight is a serious burden on the muscular corset of the back. But he is already under enormous stress due to the growing belly of the expectant mother. As a result, the pregnant woman experiences nagging pain in the lumbar region.

• Dyspnea

Excess weight in almost all cases leads to the development of severe shortness of breath. And shortness of breath is a sure way to the development of hypoxia. And both for mother and child. And hypoxia is a sure way to the development of various complications.

• Metabolic disease

One of the most dangerous complications of the normal course of pregnancy is the development of diabetes mellitus. And the excess weight of the expectant mother significantly increases the risk of developing this complication.

In addition, extra pounds directly affect the condition of all body tissues. They largely lose their elasticity and stretchability. It is easy to guess that during childbirth this feature can significantly complicate the normal course of labor. Moreover, we must not lose sight of the fact that mothers who are overweight are much more likely to give birth to larger babies. And their birth process can hardly be called easy.

Diets during pregnancy

Of course, during pregnancy you should not eat for two. Excessive food consumption leads not only to overweight of the mother, but also often to the large size of the child, toxicosis and even diabetes. But going to the other extreme - different diets - is also harmful. Some in their situation decide on a strict low-calorie, but vitamin-enriched diet. Remember: low-calorie fruits and vegetables cannot contain all the vitamins. Moreover, eating monotonous (albeit healthy) food leads to loss of useful substances in the body. A deficiency of vitamins and microelements can result in problems for a newborn in the development of all internal systems, which will be very difficult to solve in the future. In addition, the lack of microelements in the body will significantly affect your own mood. The same effect can be caused by a lack of calcium and vitamin C. It is necessary to eat a variety of healthy foods.

As for women who are overweight before pregnancy, there is no need to reduce it while waiting for the baby; this is also fraught with all sorts of problems.

Low weight during pregnancy

Very often, pregnant girls try to limit themselves in food in order to quickly bring their body to normal after childbirth. As a result, they do not gain enough weight. It is very harmful to do this. You can provoke a miscarriage by constant fasting. A child's low birth weight often becomes the cause of his psychological problems, not to mention physical illnesses.

With little weight gain, the child’s body does not receive enough nutrition and the vitamins and microelements it needs. This can negatively affect the formation of the child's organs.

Amount of calories needed during pregnancy

The number of calories consumed by the expectant mother should vary depending on the stage of pregnancy. It is believed that a non-pregnant woman needs 2000-2100 kcal per day, and a pregnant woman needs 2400-2500 kcal. But during the first 15 weeks of pregnancy you do not need to change your daily dose of kilocalories. Only from weeks 15 to 28 it is recommended to consume an additional 25-30 calories for every 1 kg of body weight. From the 29th week until the end of pregnancy - 30-35 calories per 1 kg of body weight. Before giving birth, it is advisable to lose a little weight, this will increase the flexibility and elasticity of muscle fibers, which bear the main burden during childbirth. In this case, you need to focus on the vitamin content of your diet. Based on daily consumption standards, it should include: proteins - 75-100 g per day, fats - 50-60 g, carbohydrates - 10-15 g, calcium - 1000-1200 mg, iron - 18 mg, magnesium - 40-45 mg, vitamin C - 60-80 mg.

Try to take into account in your daily diet:

• low-fat dairy products;
• vegetables and fruits (at least 500 g);
• meat, fish and eggs;
• vegetable and butter;
• starchy foods, whole grain or bran bread, cereals

Doctors have long refuted the idea that if you try to gain fewer pounds during pregnancy, it will be easier to return to your original weight.

If during pregnancy you experience increased appetite and strange taste desires:

• Check if your body is deficient in iron, calcium, zinc, or vitamins.
• Eat regularly. A full breakfast, lunch, and dinner will help you give up eating in large quantities.
• “Deceive” your taste urges by offering your body a healthier substitute for junk food (replace cake with large-grain bread with natural jam, ice cream with frozen low-fat yogurt, cookies with crispbread with fruit, herring with lightly salted sea fatty fish).

How obesity affects pregnancy

If you have a large amount of excess weight, which can already be considered some degree of obesity, you can talk about the presence of hormonal problems. Hormonal imbalances make it much more difficult for a woman to conceive, as this affects reproductive function. If conception is still successful, then with obesity it becomes much more difficult to bear a child. All this creates additional stress on the body. The muscles and cardiovascular system find it difficult to tolerate increased load, which increases with fetal development. The higher the degree of obesity, the more difficult it is to bear.

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When understanding how excess weight affects pregnancy, you can take into account all the same factors influencing the body without pregnancy, only here everything is intensified several times. Pressure on the fetus makes it difficult to develop. Taking into account the need for the expectant mother to move, when she needs to get up, walk up the steps, and so on, this leads to rapid fatigue. It is for this reason that frozen pregnancies often occur, when the body simply cannot cope with all this.

Pregnancy with stage 3 obesity

This option happens much less frequently, since the chance of conceiving in women with third degree obesity is very small. The chance of a successful birth also decreases. Without the help of specialists, everything often ends in miscarriage. When it comes to childbirth, doctors try to use a caesarean section. The natural birth of a child becomes difficult and in obese patients there may be no initiation of natural processes, such as contractions, etc.

Expert opinion Despite all the difficulties, there are many cases in modern practice when childbirth was successful. The main thing here is to approach everything responsibly, undergoing examinations, adhering to a diet and taking appropriate medications.

Abdullina Alina Arturovna Reproductologist, obstetrician-gynecologist Work experience 6 years

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Low weight and infertility

Obesity or overweight is a risk factor for infertility, but the other extreme is no less dangerous. According to some data, even with a BMI of 19 or lower, the chances of pregnancy tend to zero. Being underweight has an even more adverse effect on fertility than obesity. Women with low body weight produce too little estrogen and have problems producing other hormones. Menstruation becomes irregular and long delays occur.

If you are underweight and are having problems conceiving, do not hesitate to visit your doctor. He will help you create a plan for further action and tell you how to achieve the ideal weight for conception.

Pregnancy with 2nd degree obesity

This is a rather complex case, but modern medicine is quite capable of coping with such situations. The course of pregnancy must be monitored by a doctor so that no complications arise. The patient is prescribed a diet that must be followed throughout the entire pregnancy. As the fetus develops, further hormonal changes are possible, which should not lead to weight gain. In the final stages, mobility should be limited to avoid injuries and fatigue.

The Impact of Eating Disorders on Women's Fertility

Today, there are many diseases that have a significant impact on your chances of getting pregnant. Particular attention should be paid to situations where a woman has confronted or continues to have problems associated with anorexia or bulimia in her life. These ailments disrupt the stability of hormonal levels, which makes fertilization difficult.

Anorexia and conception

In the case of the first disease, we are talking about a very modest amount and variety of foods, and often about grueling training - up to a dangerously low level of body weight. Therefore, without treatment, anorexia can lead to cessation of the menstrual and ovulatory cycles, as well as to serious disturbances in the reproductive system.

Bulimia and conception

People suffering from bulimia, due to constant overeating and then “returning” food through vomiting, can also have problems conceiving. Despite the fact that, as a rule, their body weight is normal, menstrual cycle disorders occur. In this case, even a weight that does not differ from the norm and conceiving a child are “bad friends.”

Any chance?

In both cases, we are dealing with a poor diet that does not provide the body with the necessary microelements, minerals, nutrients or vitamins. Therefore, the libido of patients with such eating disorders is often very low, the quality of the eggs is not the best, and sufficiently favorable conditions for the development of the fetus are not created in the uterus.

However, treatment increases the chances of pregnancy in women with bulimia or anorexia. Therefore, despite so many threats and obstacles, there is a very real possibility of becoming a mother.

Is there a connection between weight loss and infertility?

We know of at least one study that convincingly proves how fertility problems in obese women with ovulation disorders were successfully resolved as a result of weight normalization. A normal weight has a beneficial effect on overall health. Don't forget that your future children need healthy parents!

If you are concerned about being overweight or underweight and how it may affect your ability to conceive, talk to your doctor first. Ask him to make recommendations for you to increase your chances of conceiving according to your BMI. Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are your faithful helpers on the path to normal weight, pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby.