Weight Gain When Pregnant - For You and
Your Baby
While pregnant, women averagely gain about
25 pounds.
This weight gain includes 6 to 8 pounds
for the weight of the baby.
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The remaining weight consists of
a higher fluid volume, larger breasts, larger uterus, amniotic fluid,
and the placenta. Make sure to visit your doctor throughout your
pregnancy for an assessment of your weight gain. Your doctor can
make recommendations about how much weight you should be gaining
to ensure that your pregnancy is progressing smoothly and that you
are getting the right amount of nutrients.
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Reasonable weight gain is essential. Women
who do not gain enough weight have an increased risk for delivering babies
with low birth weights (less than 2500 gm, or 5.52 pounds). The National
Institutes of Health considers low birth weight (LBW) a major public health
problem in the United States. LBW is a major cause of infant mortality,
as well as many childhood developmental, physical, and psychological problems.
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