Re:Is weight loss common in the first 3 months?
It is not uncommon for a woman, especially one who has had morning sickness or another illness during the first three months of her pregnancy for weight loss to occur. In fact, weight losses of up to ten pounds are not uncommon and are nothing to worry about. You have to remember that, at twelve weeks gestation, the fetus is only 2 inches long and weighs 0.5 ounces or 14 grams. That is less than the weight of an M and M. The weight gain sustained in the first trimester of pregnancy is primarily extra blood volume and the extra size of the uterus. Only a small fraction of the weight has anything at all to do with the fetus.
Fetuses are also basically leaches. They will take nutrients and water from you before you get anything. So, especially if you try to eat a healthy diet during the first trimester, your baby will be fine if you end up losing a few pounds. This doesn’t mean you should actively try to lose weight during pregnancy. This involves withholding nutrients that your baby needs to grow and develop properly. Even overweight women shouldn’t try to actually lose weight during the pregnancy and should, at the very least, try to maintain their weight throughout the pregnancy.
On the other hand, some women go the other way and gain a lot of weight during the first trimester. Unfortunately, everything over about five pounds doesn’t go to the baby and just goes to extra weight the woman has to lose after the pregnancy. Weight gained during pregnancy is very difficult to get off and so women shouldn’t try to get a “running start” on the weight gain and gain more than the recommended five or so pounds. There is plenty of time to gain weight later in the pregnancy when the fetus is growing faster.
If you are of a normal weight or are overweight, there is absolutely nothing wrong with losing some weight in the first trimester. Causes of weight loss during the first trimester include morning sickness and food intolerance, which make it difficult for a woman to gain weight during this phase of the pregnancy.
Underweight individuals, especially those who have diets that are low in protein and fat, should make an attempt to gain some weight during the pregnancy. While the baby will probably be alright if you lose weight during the first trimester, your health will suffer because of low protein and low nutrients in the diet. You may feel weak and feel debilitated if you lose too much weight during the first trimester and are underweight to begin with.
If your weight loss is due to excessive vomiting, you may be getting dehydrated and might need to have intravenous fluids at the hospital to build up the water stores in your body. Other women resort to protein shakes, smoothies or to food supplements like Ensure or Boost, which contain some calories, protein and other nutrients.
The expected weight gain during the first trimester of the pregnancy is about five or so pounds. Losing weight due to food intolerance or morning sickness is not uncommon and is okay as long as the weight loss is less than 10 pounds or so. Those who lose more weight than this or those that are underweight to begin with should start drinking some kind of supplement or protein shake. Even fruit smoothies have some calories and water in them so as to combat dehydration and to give some nutrition.
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