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Ask A Childbirth Educator
Questions and Answer

Q. I am twenty five weeks (six months)and up until about seventeen weeks I had all day sickness and lost two pounds. Well now I have gained twenty in two months. I rarely eat meat and don't eat sweets. I can't understand ware it's all coming from and how do I keep from being two hundred pounds?

A. It sounds to me as if your body is building up the stores that were depleted while you were so nauseated. If you were a little underweight before pregnancy this can also occur. Your body needs to do a lot of work, including growing a baby it needs to increase its blood volume by 30-40%, build maternal fat stores, grow a placenta, etc. Now that you are no longer sick, it is making up for lost time. There is no set amount to gain during pregnancy as long as it is gained on wholesome food. Your weight gain will most likely slow down a little in the next weeks. Whatever you do, don't avoid eating when you are hungry. Good food grows healthy babies and mothers, and well-nourished mothers have much more strength for labor and parenting.

Karen Klimsak-Ungar, CCE has been a certified childbirth educator for Birth Works® since 1996. She is currently Managing Editor for the Birth Works newsletter, sits on the Birth Works Board of Directors, and serves on their National Trainee Review Committee. A happily married mother of two, she also continues to teach Birth Works classes as well as private classes.

Karen will answer your questions on fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies. Her advice does not take the place of your practitioner. Personal answers will not always be possible.