It can be so difficult to experience gaining weight in pregnancy. Especially if it’s something that you were especially conscious of pre-pregnancy. Experts suggest that an average pregnancy weight gain could be up to about 16kg. This is completely dependent on your pre-pregnancy weight.
Your body isn’t just growing a baby. Please remember that your body is also preparing for the birth and getting ready to feed and nurture a growing baby.
The main weight gain comes from…
- Blood volume – your blood volume increases rapidly at the beginning of your pregnancy. It will continue to increase throughout. At the end of your pregnancy the extra blood volume can have added up to around 3kg.
- Uterus – your pre-pregnancy uterus is about the size of a pear. By the time you get to the end of your pregnancy it will have grown massively and will weigh about 1kg.
- Baby – your baby could weigh anywhere between 2-4kg.
- Placenta – this provides oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby and can weigh around 1kg.
- Amniotic fluid – the fluid that surrounds and protects your baby can weigh around 1kg.
- Larger breasts- ready to produce breastmilk, they can weigh around 1kg.
- Fat stores – your body will gain this to nurture your baby once they’re born and can weigh around 3kg.
If you’re at all concerned, keep an eye on what you’re eating. Also exercising is a good way to keep pregnancy weight under control. Generally, pregnancy isn’t really the time to introduce new high impact exercise. However, walking, swimming and pregnancy yoga are brilliant ways to stay active. In addition low impact exercise increases levels of relaxation and you’re likely to sleep better!
Come along and join us for the upcoming pregnancy yoga workshop on Sunday the 6th August!
For information on the hypnobirthing classes I run or to find out more on whether it is right for you (it is!) pop over to my website JustExhale or my Facebook page: Just Exhale | Facebook
