Your dietary plans and nutritional health are two very important
factors in keeping a healthy pregnancy and a well-developed baby. Proper
knowledge on their roles in your pregnancy can very well determine your
baby's health and development even after labor and delivery. Luckily,
there are a number of diet plans accessible for pregnant mothers today.
However, you also need to know that not all pregnancy diet plans are
suited for everyone out there. There are actually variables that you
have to consider when deciding on how to go about your diet.
Your pre-pregnancy BMI is one important variable to note. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. This calculates your weight in accordance to your height. Your BMI will tell you if you are considered of normal weight, underweight, overweight, or obese. This will help you decide how you should approach your pregnancy diet.
How do you determine your BMI though? The formula is simple enough. All you need is your weight in kilograms and your height in meters. You need to divide your weight by the square of your height (m) or simply refer to this equation: kg/(m x m). Better yet, there are numerous BMI calculators available online. You only need to input your weight and height and you'll get the result in an instant.
After you've gotten you BMI value, check on the list below and see in which category your BMI falls under:
Now, one of the simplest ways to know if your diet is taking effect is by measuring your weight gain. There is actually an expected rate of weight gain for women as they go along their pregnancy. For those with a normal BMI, you are must gain around a total of 25 to 30 lbs for the whole pregnancy period. To put things in perspective, the rate of normal weight gain for pregnant women generally follows this pattern:
If you are underweight, you can expect your doctor to advise to add more than just 300 calories to your daily calorie requirements. As such, your weight gain should also be greater. You might be asked to have a 0.5kg increase monthly or even weekly. You should adjust your diet accordingly, increasing your calorie and other nutritional intake. However, for the obese and some overweight women, the expected weight gain is lesser at around a total of 15 to 25 lbs to prevent complications like increased blood pressure.
These values are just a general guide to monitor your weight gain though. It's still best to consult your doctor regarding your own weight, particularly if you are underweight or obese, so that the doctor can advise you based on your personal needs.
Your pre-pregnancy BMI is one important variable to note. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. This calculates your weight in accordance to your height. Your BMI will tell you if you are considered of normal weight, underweight, overweight, or obese. This will help you decide how you should approach your pregnancy diet.
How do you determine your BMI though? The formula is simple enough. All you need is your weight in kilograms and your height in meters. You need to divide your weight by the square of your height (m) or simply refer to this equation: kg/(m x m). Better yet, there are numerous BMI calculators available online. You only need to input your weight and height and you'll get the result in an instant.
After you've gotten you BMI value, check on the list below and see in which category your BMI falls under:
- Under 18.5 is underweight
- 18.5 to 24.9 is normal weight
- 24.5 to 30 is overweight
- Above 30 is obese.
Now, one of the simplest ways to know if your diet is taking effect is by measuring your weight gain. There is actually an expected rate of weight gain for women as they go along their pregnancy. For those with a normal BMI, you are must gain around a total of 25 to 30 lbs for the whole pregnancy period. To put things in perspective, the rate of normal weight gain for pregnant women generally follows this pattern:
- Month 1 to 3: 1 lb/month
- Month 4 to 9: 1 lb/week
If you are underweight, you can expect your doctor to advise to add more than just 300 calories to your daily calorie requirements. As such, your weight gain should also be greater. You might be asked to have a 0.5kg increase monthly or even weekly. You should adjust your diet accordingly, increasing your calorie and other nutritional intake. However, for the obese and some overweight women, the expected weight gain is lesser at around a total of 15 to 25 lbs to prevent complications like increased blood pressure.
These values are just a general guide to monitor your weight gain though. It's still best to consult your doctor regarding your own weight, particularly if you are underweight or obese, so that the doctor can advise you based on your personal needs.
Arnold Basken is a pregnancy diet expert. For more information on how to diet while pregnant
and quick tips on how to improve your diet. you can also get an
absolutely free ten-part email mini-course on the 10 Essential Facts to
achieving a happy, healthy pregnancy when you visit http://www.pregnant-women-diets.com.
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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arnold_J_Basken
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