Weight gain is one of the most important things to consider during pregnancy. The reason is, if the weight of pregnant women does not increase as it should, this can cause a number of serious health problems that also have an impact on the condition of the fetus in the womb.
Normal weight gain during pregnancy ranges from 11-16 kg. In the first trimester, pregnant women can gain 2-4 kg of weight. In the next trimester until birth, body weight will increase by about 0.5–1.5 kg every week.
If the weight of pregnant women does not increase according to the recommended weight, then this condition is at risk of causing health problems for the mother and fetus, such as premature birth to low birth weight in babies.
Causes of Pregnant Women's Weight Not Rising
One of the causes of not gaining weight during pregnancy is being underweight or undernourished by the mother before she became pregnant. In addition, there are several factors that can also inhibit weight gain in pregnant women, including:
1. Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are actually normal things that happen during pregnancy. However, if pregnant women experience excessive nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum), this condition can lead to dehydration and loss of appetite. This can make it difficult for pregnant women to gain weight.
2. Malnutrition
Diet and food intake choices that pregnant women consume certainly greatly affect body weight. If you rarely eat foods with balanced nutritional content, pregnant women can experience malnutrition, making it difficult to gain weight.
3. Emotional disturbance
Difficulty gaining weight can also be caused by stress or emotional stress experienced by pregnant women. When stressed, the appetite of pregnant women may decrease, so that their energy and nutritional needs are not fulfilled. This then makes it difficult for pregnant women to gain weight.
4. Genetic or hereditary factors
Apart from the conditions above, pregnant women's weight does not increase, it can also be caused by genetic factors or inherited from the family. Pregnant women may have a small appetite, but their metabolism is fast, making it difficult to gain weight.
Tips for Getting the Ideal Weight During Pregnancy
To reduce the risk that endangers pregnancy due to low weight, the following are tips that pregnant women can do:
- Eat small but frequent meals, for example 5–6 times a day, and as much as possible avoid eating large meals at once
- Choose healthy foods, such as vegetables and fruit. In addition, pregnant women can also eat more foods that are rich in good fats, such as nuts, fish, avocado, and olive oil.
- Drink lots of milk to meet the calcium needs during pregnancy. Pregnant women can also consume special milk for pregnant women to meet the nutritional needs that are important for pregnant women's health and fetal growth and development.
- Take additional nutritional supplements. To determine the type of supplement and the right dosage for consumption, pregnant women can consult a doctor. This supplement is usually given with prenatal vitamins.
In addition, pregnant women can also record what foods and drinks need to be consumed during pregnancy to ensure adequate calorie and nutritional intake. If the weight of pregnant women still does not increase after applying the various tips above, immediately consult a doctor.
