The phase of pregnancy is always associated with weight gain. You gain about 25 to 30 pounds of weight on average and the exact amount depends on your weight before conception. The healthy weight gain is important for the normal delivery and health of your baby.
Why Do Women Gain Weight During Pregnancy
Out of these 25 pounds, your little baby takes only 6-8. Have you ever wondered where does the rest come from? Well, there are various causes of having increased body weight during the pregnancy and it happens to prepare your body for a healthy delivery.
Major Causes
Increased Body Fluid
The human body comprises a sufficient amount of fluids to maintain the flow of nutrients and blood throughout the body and these are also responsible for keeping very organ hydrated. When you get pregnant, the amount of fluids is increased to ensure a more efficient and regular flow of nutrients. This increase in fluids contributes to your weight gain and adds about 4 pounds to your body. This fluid is usually stored in tissues and often results in swallowing of feet and ankles.
Increased Amount Of Blood
Now your heart has the responsibility of two, it has to pump more. Your body requires more quantity of oxygen-rich blood. As a result of an increase in blood volume, the weight also goes up. This increased blood increases the weight up to 4 pounds.
Increased Breast Size
Certain development changes occur in the breasts in order to prepare them to feed the baby later on. The hormones including HCG and progesterone activates milk ducts and swells the breast tissues that results in increasing their size and weight. Thus, about two pounds of weight is added this way.
Increased Uterus Size
This temporary abode of your baby also expands, thickens and grows with time to provide the child with a comfortable and secure environment. It adds about 2 pounds to your total weight.
You might know that pregnancy is related to several developmental changes that occur in the body. As a result, these changes made some new additions inside your body including Placenta, ammonitic fluid and deposits of fats and other nutrients. Let’s have a look at how much they add up to your body weight.
Placenta
The development of this new organ for feeding and nourishing the baby inside you also contributes to increasing the weight to some extent. The basic purpose of this duct is simply to transfer the required nutrients to your baby. It carries about 1.5 pounds of weight.
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Amniotic Fluid
This protective fluid surrounds the unborn child while he enjoys floating around inside your uterus. It helps in the exchange of nutrients to keep the baby healthy. It also keeps the baby warm and safe and acts as a cushion. This liquid comprises electrolytes, water protein, and other important nutrients. The addition of this fluid obviously adds some weigh too. It results in an increase of about 2 pounds.
Nutrients Storage
During these 9 months, along with several other changes, your body goes into storage mode. It tends to deposit protein, fats and other useful nutrients that will help in milk production for breastfeeding. This storage in the body results in a prominent increase in weight and often makes your thighs and hips heavy. The total weight that these storage deposits add is about 7 pounds.
Baby
Your baby that you are carrying inside weighs about 6 to 8 pounds that are added to your overall weight.
Read also:
- Abdominal Tightening During Pregnancy
- Symptoms Of Baby Boy During Pregnancy
- Eating Mayonnaise During Pregnancy – Benefits, And Risks
WOMEN STICK TOGETHER, SHARING IS CARING!
