Anticipated Weight Gain in the Final Pregnancy Trimester: A Guide
Expectant mothers often wonder about the ideal weight gain during the third trimester. The amount of weight a woman gains during this period depends on her pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI).
For women with a normal BMI (18.5–24.9), the recommended weight gain during pregnancy is typically 25 to 35 pounds, with about 1 to 2 pounds per week gained in the third trimester. This rate may be slower for overweight and obese women to stay within safe guidelines.
Underweight women (BMI <18.5) should aim for a total gain of approximately 28 to 40 pounds, while overweight women (BMI 25–29.9) should aim for a gain of 15 to 25 pounds. Women with obesity (BMI 30 or higher) should aim for a gain of 11 to 20 pounds.
Several factors may contribute to excessive gestational weight gain. These include excessive caloric intake, poor nutrition choices, lack of physical activity, metabolic and hormonal changes, pre-existing overweight or obesity, and psychosocial factors like stress or emotional eating.
Excessive weight gain can increase risks such as gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery, delivery complications, and postpartum weight retention. It may also affect the baby’s health, increasing chances of being larger than average, blood sugar issues, and obesity later in life.
To manage weight gain during pregnancy, it's crucial to maintain a balanced diet, appropriate caloric intake, and healthy lifestyle habits. Eating several small meals per day may help minimize uncomfortable digestive issues such as nausea and heartburn. Regular exercise, when approved by a healthcare provider, can help reduce the risk of complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and obesity.
When it comes to seafood, choosing options from sustainable sources can help ensure they are of good nutritional quality. However, certain fish and seafood may contain mercury, which can negatively impact the woman's health and the fetus's development. To avoid potential risks, it's recommended to avoid bigeye tuna, mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, sharks, swordfish, tilefish, and limit canned tuna consumption to no more than six ounces a week.
Safe fish and seafood options include cod, salmon, canned tuna (in moderation), herring, oysters, shrimp, trout, tilapia, and catfish. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends that pregnant women eat 8-12 ounces of seafood each week.
Tracking calories can help a person meet their daily caloric needs without overeating. Working with a healthcare provider and adhering to their advice is key to ensuring a healthy pregnancy and baby. Regular exercise during pregnancy offers numerous benefits, including reduced back pain, reduced constipation, improved cardiovascular health, and improved postpartum weight loss.
- Predictive science in health-and-wellness can help expectant mothers manage their weight gain during the third trimester by providing insights based on their Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Pfizer, as a pharmaceutical company, could potentially develop a pharmacological solution to address depression, a psychosocial factor contributing to excessive gestational weight gain.
- Aq, as a hypothetical health-and-wellness app, could offer a feature to track calories and suggest balanced meals, thus aiding in managing weight gain during pregnancy.
- If a woman experiences depression during her pregnancy, she should address it to minimize its impact on her weight gain, as depression can lead to poor nutrition choices and a lack of physical activity.
