Pregnancy
During pregnancy, there are many psychological changes such as mood swings, irritability and depression, as well as physical changes such as chest pain, pelvic enlargement, and weight gain. It should be noted that weight gain is one of the most noticeable changes on the pregnant woman. We’ll let you know in this article, as well as tips to keep weight within normal.
Increase pregnant weight
Causes of weight gain
- Chest swelling, and increased waist width, due to elevated progesterone hormone in pregnant women.
- The weight of the fetus increases as the pregnancy progresses. The fetus’s length is about 10 cm by the end of the third month, and it weighs about 40 or 50 g, which affects the weight of the pregnant woman and increases the weight.
- Increased uterine volume by the end of the third month, as the size is close to the size of the fruit of grapefruit, and that can raise weight.
- Amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus must be noted. This fluid is necessary to support the fetus and to protect it from shocks and stress.
- Increased weight of placenta in pregnant body.
- The increase in the amount of blood in the body of the pregnant woman, due to the fetus’s need for blood.
- Accumulation of fluids and water in different parts of the body, such as feet.
- Storage of the body of the pregnant fat amounts in order to provide the body with the energy necessary for his daily activity.
- Eating too many salty foods such as pickles and sardines, and increasing desire to eat starchy foods such as pasta, potatoes and rice, as well as the desire to eat sweets and sugars, and drink soft drinks.
Tips to control weight gain during pregnancy
- Take care to eat four or five healthy and light meals during the day.
- Avoid fried foods, saturated with fat, and replace them with grilled foods, vegetables, or steamed foods.
- Avoid excessive sugars and replace them with fruits rich in fiber, minerals, and vitamins for the health of pregnant women and their fetuses.
- Careful to drink fluids between meals rather than during, and stay away from soft drinks, and replace them with fresh and natural juices.
- Regularly drink water daily, equivalent to eight cups each day.
- Reduce the amount of starchy foods, such as potatoes, pasta, and rice, and ensure that the amount of food does not exceed one third of the amount of food intake during the day.
- Pay attention to drinking milk, eating cheeses, skimmed or low-fat yogurt.
- Eat plenty of foods rich in protein and minerals for body health, such as fish, dairy products, and eggs.
- Too much folic acid-rich foods, because it is essential for fetal health.
- Regularity in exercise and light.
- Avoid high-fat diets, especially junk food.