A–Z Glossary

pregnancy weight gain

Weight gained during pregnancy from fetal growth, placenta, fluids, blood volume, tissue changes, and maternal energy stores.

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Weight gain diet planning

Weight gain diet planning

Start with individualized pregnancy weight-gain targets Weight gain diet planning in pregnancy begins with context. A person who enters pregnancy with a lower body mass index, a twin pregnancy, persistent nausea, gastrointestinal disease, food insecurity, or a high activity level may need a different strategy from someone with average pre-pregnancy weight and uncomplicated appetite. Your […]

Weight gain anxiety and self-esteem during pregnancy

Weight gain anxiety and self-esteem during pregnancy

Why pregnancy weight gain can trigger anxiety Pregnancy changes the body in visible, often irreversible ways, and that can be emotionally complicated even when the pregnancy is wanted. Weight gain may symbolize more than a number on a scale: it can represent reduced control, a shift in identity, fear of judgment, or concern that one’s […]

Weight gain and belly growth by trimester

Weight gain and belly growth by trimester

Why pregnancy weight gain is not just fetal weight It can be reassuring to know that pregnancy weight gain is distributed across several maternal and fetal compartments. By term, the fetus accounts for only part of the total. Additional weight comes from the placenta, amniotic fluid, increased blood and extracellular fluid volume, uterine muscle growth, […]

Is it true you eat for two during pregnancy

Is it true you eat for two during pregnancy

What “eating for two” gets wrong The developing fetus depends on the pregnant person for energy, amino acids, fatty acids, glucose, micronutrients, oxygen, and placental support. That reality is sometimes simplified into “you are eating for two.” Biologically, however, the second “person” is not another adult with adult calorie needs. Early in pregnancy, the embryo […]