It is necessary to be careful about the weight gained during pregnancy. Gaining too much or too little weight can be harmful to the baby. How much weight you need to gain during pregnancy depends on how much you weighed before pregnancy. Proper weight gain during pregnancy is important for the health of the baby. There is a possibility that the baby will be born underweight in women who gain too little weight. In women who gain too much weight, the baby is born prematurely and is born overweight. They may also have diabetes, high blood pressure, and varicocele problems.

Generally, most women need an extra 300 calories per day during pregnancy. However, exactly how many calories you need is proportional to your pre-pregnancy weight.

How Much Weight Should You Gain? Below are some charts regarding weight gain during pregnancy. However, be sure to consult your doctor for your specific weight.

If You Started the Pregnancy Period at a Normal Weight; It can be gained between 11 and 15 kilos in 9 months. Assuming that you will gain 500 g - 2 kg in the 1st 3 months, you can gain 500 g each week in the 2nd and 3rd 3 months.

If You Started the Pregnancy Period Weakly; It is beneficial to gain a little more weight in 9 months. Because the babies of weak mothers are likely to be born small. Usually 12 - 18 kg gain is recommended. Assuming that you will gain 500 g - 2 kg in the 1st 3 months, it would be beneficial to try to gain more than 500 g per week in the 2nd and 3rd 3 months.

If You Started the Pregnancy Period with Excess Weight; It can be gained between 6 and 11 kilos in 9 months. Assuming that you will gain 500 g - 2 kg in the 1st 3 months, 250 g of weight can be gained every week in the 2nd and 3rd 3 months. You can try not to gain too much weight, but you should not try to lose weight during pregnancy as this could harm the baby.

If You Started the Pregnancy Period with Obesity Problem; It can be gained between 4 and 9 kilos in 9 months. Assuming that you gain 500 g - 2 kg in the 1st three months, less than 250 g per week can be gained in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.

It is best to gain weight slowly and regularly. 1. Do not be upset if you gain less than 2 kilos in three months and try to make up for it in the next periods.

Pregnancy and Excess Weight

If a woman is overweight or obese before pregnancy, she faces certain health risks. However, she can follow some steps to protect her and her baby's health.

Health Risks for Pregnant Women with Overweight or Obesity Problems: Women with a high body mass index may have problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy. They may experience problems during birth, and their babies may develop serious health problems.

Pregnancy-Related (Gestational) High Blood Pressure: Gestational high blood pressure occurs in the second half of a pregnant woman's pregnancy, when there is a sudden rise in blood pressure. If a pregnant woman has high blood pressure, she may need to take medication and routine prenatal check-ups may be done more frequently. Gestational high blood pressure usually goes away on its own after the baby is born. High blood pressure during pregnancy can be a sign of preeclampsia.

Pregnancy-Related High Blood Pressure and Seizures (Preeclampsia and Eclampsia): Preeclampsia is a serious condition that manifests itself with high blood pressure and protein in the urine. If left untreated, it can develop into a life-threatening condition called eclampsia. Eclampsia can lead to paralysis and coma. Fortunately, this disease is a rare condition in women who take care of regular prenatal care. A patient with preeclampsia may need to stay in the hospital for a while after delivery. This is essential for the health of both the baby and the mother.

Pregnant women should be careful about the following symptoms;

- Headache

- visual impairment

- Rapid weight gain

- Swelling of hands and face

- Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen

Gestational Diabetes: Gestational diabetes occurs when a pregnant woman's body has problems controlling the glucose (sugar) level in the body. Glucose is the body's main fuel source. If your glucose level is too high, serious health problems can occur for you and your baby. Gestational diabetes may develop in 3 or 5 out of every 100 pregnant women. Gestational diabetes goes away after giving birth, but 50% of women may experience diabetes later in their lives.

Birth: An overweight or obese mother may have problems during or after childbirth. The higher the body mass index, the higher the cesarean delivery rate. Compared to other pregnant women, there may be a problematic process in the recovery of overweight pregnant women after cesarean section.

Babies Born to Overweight or Obese Mothers:

These babies will have their own problems to face. For example;

- Born prematurely

- Having certain birth defects

- Needing extra attention in the prematurity intensive care unit

- Childhood obesity

What You Can Do / Before Pregnancy: Regular check-ups are important before getting pregnant to prevent these health problems. If you are overweight or obese; With the help of a dietitian, you can lose weight, follow a healthy diet and do sports.

What You Can Do / During Pregnancy: If you are overweight at the beginning of pregnancy, do not start dieting. Diets made at this time prevent your baby from getting the nutrients it needs for growth and development. In general, it is normal for overweight mothers to gain 7-12 kg during pregnancy. Obese women can gain 5 to 9 kilos.

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• Pregnancy & Birth