Tips for Underweight Pregnant Women

• 18/07/2024
• 0

Tips for Underweight Pregnant Women – Weight gain during pregnancy is important for your baby’s healthy growth, as your body needs extra energy to support the pregnancy. Being underweight affects the production of breast milk after childbirth. If a pregnant woman does not gain enough weight, she risks miscarriage, premature birth, fetal growth retardation, and low birth weight of the baby.

Being underweight is usually not a big problem. You can compensate for this by gaining weight during gestation and throughout your pregnancy with proper nutrition. A pregnancy nutritionist and specialist can help you achieve an appropriate weight and nutrition during your pregnancy. 

Importance of Putting Up Weight during Pregnancy

Some underweight pregnant women may not be aware of the importance of putting up weight during pregnancy. Underweight pregnant women feel tired during pregnancy. Thus, one of the obvious symptoms of an underweight pregnancy is fatigue. It is difficult for underweight pregnant women to do normal work. Here are other risks and effects associated with a low birth weight pregnancy, which are mentioned below:

• Low birth weight in the first trimester can negatively affect the nutritional needs of the growing baby.
• A mother is more likely to have a Premature birth of a baby 
• Low birth weight is also a risk of low birth weight pregnancy disease after the baby is born
• Possibility of diabetes, high blood pressure of the baby
• They may have digestive problems
• Babies may miss developmental milestones
• Reduced supply of milk
• You might face trouble in breastfeeding
• Possibilities of heart diseases in baby
• Restricted growth of the baby

Note: Maintaining your weight during pregnancy is crucial, make sure you are not underweight. Manage your weight properly to enjoy a healthy and safe pregnancy. 

What are the causes of Low Weight during Pregnancy?

Several factors can contribute to slow or no weight gain during pregnancy. This includes:

• Fast metabolism
• Morning sickness
• Appetite loss
• Anxiety or mental issues
• History of eating disorders
• Concerns over body image
• Food aversions
• Other medical-health reasons

Tips to Achieve a Healthy Weight Goal During Pregnancy

Underweight women should aim to add about 400 calories a day in the second trimester and 400-600 calories in the third trimester. Strategies to promote sustained weight gain during pregnancy include:

• Eat small, frequent meals every few hours throughout the day. Instead of eating three meals a day, try eating six smaller bite-sized snacks about every two hours. Eating small and frequent meals also helps fight morning sickness.
• Drink high-calorie drinks, smoothies – full fat, whole milk with added protein powder, etc.
• Don’t skip breakfast, especially if you feel sick or have morning sickness.
• Choose mashed potatoes instead of baked potatoes and add cheese. Cheese is also great to add to steamed vegetables like broccoli. Use oily salad dressings on your salads
• Eat nutritious pre-workout snacks or follow your workout with a high-calorie protein shake
• Make sure you include a mix of protein, fibre, and healthy fats at every meal
• Skip processed foods like bread, chips, and crackers, and add more to you and your baby-friendly calories (eg whole grain bread, kale, and walnuts)
• Add extra high-calorie olive oil, butter, cream cheese, and fat cream or cheese. Or toss a few tablespoons of powdered milk into hot cereal or scrambled eggs. 
• Take a prenatal vitamin before and during pregnancy. The daily consumption of certain nutrients such as folate (folic acid), calcium, and iron increases during pregnancy. These supplements are essential for your baby’s full and healthy growth and development.
• The right way to get adequate nutrition is to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. calcium-rich foods such as milk, almond milk, and Greek or plain yoghurt; protein sources such as beans, eggs, fish, and chicken; and healthy fats such as fatty fish, nuts, seeds, and oil.
• Snack on nutrient-dense, high-calorie snacks, such as nuts; whole-grain crackers with cheese, nut butter, hummus, or avocado, sliced ​​fruit with nut butter spread; sandwiches on whole grain bread; creamy soups; high-fibre oats added with fresh fruit; and chopped nuts

Note: Gradual and steady weight gain during pregnancy is important. It is important to check your weight regularly. If you’re having trouble gaining weight, talk to your doctor about how to achieve a healthy weight during pregnancy.

What is Considered Low Weight During Pregnancy?

weight gain is needed for a healthy pregnancy. But remember that after your baby the extra fat will put up. So, do not gain too much, as this can make your baby too big and would be difficult to deliver. A healthy diet and regular exercise will help you to obtain optimum weight and have a healthy pregnancy and baby. BMI can assess a healthy body weight. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. You should aim to gain according to the following recommendations:

Pre-Pregnancy BMI	Recommended Pregnancy Weight Gain
Underweight: BMI under 18.5	13 to 19 Kilograms
Normal: BMI under 18.5 to 24.9	12 to 16 Kilograms

Conclusion

If you are underweight and pregnant, see your doctor for guidance on how much weight you need to gain to promote a healthy pregnancy. Working with a nutritionist specialising in maternal nutrition can help you achieve the right nutritional goals. The most important thing is to focus on losing enough weight and eating right during the critical second and third trimesters to optimize your baby’s health.