Weight loss and weight gain are normal processes of a healthy pregnancy. However, you should take unexplained weight loss in pregnancy seriously when 5-10% of your body weight disappears after the first trimester.
Research has shown that most pregnant women have raised concerns on issues bordering on weight gain and weight loss.
In fact, the subject of unexplained weight loss in pregnancy still remains a rather touchy and overwhelming one. If you check online, there are vast opinions on this topic. Yet none of them deals with the subject in-depth.
In this article, I am going pass across detailed knowledge on why you should take unexplained weight loss in pregnancy seriously.
Causes of Unexplained Weight Loss in Pregnancy
- Morning Sickness
Many pregnant women complain of morning sickness around the 6th-12th weeks of conception. This is often characterised by a general feeling of unwellness with a strong urge to vomit. Most times, this leads to the consumption of fewer calories needed for the body’s function.
However, this should be no cause for concern. Losing a small percentage of weight due to morning sickness is quite common and does very little harm to the baby growing inside of you.
- Strenuous exercise and activities
Some expectant mothers are under the belief that strenuous exercises help to keep the body fit and manage labour pains. While there may be a little element of truth in this, you might want to be careful with the kind of activities you engage in.
Thankfully, there are lot of exercise that doesn’t pose a threat to you or your unborn child.
Remember, a new life is developing, and totally dependent on you!
- Careful feeding
While it is absolutely okay to follow a healthy diet when you’re expecting, some women may lose a good number of required calories as a result of following a stricter diet regime.
According to Experts, It is totally normal in to the occasional food craving, as long as you continue to eat a good variety of healthy foods.
Nonetheless, when you find yourself craving a lot of unhealthy foods, such as sweets or chocolate, try not to over-indulge. Too much sugar can cause excessive weight gain and dental problems.
You should always check with your doctors and midwives on the kind of healthy snacks to consume as your pregnancy progresses.
Other causes of sudden weight loss you should watch out for include;
- Autoimmune disorders
- Cancers
- Eating disorders
- Endocrine imbalance
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Infections
- Neurologic abnormalities
- Psychiatric disorders
- Substance use
- Uncontrolled overactive thyroid
- Undiagnosed diabetes
- Other chronic diseases
- Autoimmune disorders
- Cancers
- Eating disorders
- Endocrine imbalance
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Infections
- Neurologic abnormalities
- Psychiatric disorders
- Substance use
- Uncontrolled overactive thyroid
- Undiagnosed diabetes
- Other chronic diseases
What is a Normal Weight Loss?
First, we need to point that the first trimester of pregnancy is a total package of discomfort and excitement.
Nausea, dizziness and physiological changes in the body are contributing factors to weight loss during the first trimester of pregnancy.
It is totally normal for pregnant women to lose about 2-3 pounds during the first trimester of pregnancy. There is really no cause for alarm when next you find out you’ve lost a few pounds owing to the aforementioned factors of the first trimester.
To re-emphasize, Shedding a few pounds in the first trimester has no effects on baby developments. In most cases, a normal weight woman should not gain more than two-four pounds in the first trimester.
Nevertheless, you should still ensure you speak to your doctor once feel your weight loss is getting suspicious. Most importantly, You should also cultivate eating a balanced diet, and drinking plenty of clean water.
What is classified as Unexplained Weight loss in Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through a lot of physiological and psychological changes.
While some changes may seem normal, some may be out of hand which calls for some medical attention.
Severe case of morning sickness, medically known as Hyperemesis gravidarum has been identified as the leading cause of unexplained weight loss in pregnancy.
The symptoms of Hyperemesis gravidarum include vomitting more than you consume, extreme stomach pain, visible signs of dehydration, dark-coloured urine and a general sense of illness.
If left unchecked, condition might pose a danger to both mother and child.
While, it is normal for some pregnant women to experience a decline in weight gain in the last trimester due to the body’s accumulation of enough fats needed to nurse a baby after delivery and the storage of suffecient blood volume in the first trimester
However, you should speak to a doctor or mid-wife immediately you take note of an unexplained weight loss accompanied by some weird feelings.
In some cases, losing weight at the last trimester could be linked to complication with featal growth and development including hypertension or preeclampsia.
Tips for Maintaining an healthy weight in Pregnancy
- Always ensure you have a well-balanced meal
- Refrain from eating sweets daily
- Never miss a dose of your prenatal supplements
- Indulge in healthy snacks between meals
- Always have a clean bottle of water at hand.
- Be active.
You can check for more suggestions by medlineplus on managing your weight during pregnancy.
What Trimester is the most important in Pregnancy? (Bonus)
Research has it that the first-three months of pregnancy is very important for an healthy baby development.
The first trimester is the stage where all of the major body organs and systems of the fetus are forming.
Although your pregnancy may not be showing at this stage, your body and that of your baby is going through a lot of changes.
According to Hopkins medicine, The three major formation that occur in the first trimester includes;
- Amniotic sac
- Placenta
- Umbilical cord
Considering how important the first trimester is, you should never miss any of your doctor’s appointment at this stage.
Final Thoughts
We hope that the information we presented to you convinces you on why you should take unexplained weight loss in pregnancy seriously.
Losing some pounds during the first-three months of your pregnancy is no cause for alarm.
However things start to get alarming if pregnancy weight loss hits 5 and 10 percent of a woman’s total body weight.
You should talk to your doctor when you start to experience a general feeling of unwell accompanied by unexplained weight loss.
Also Read: Our 6 Best lotions for Pregnancy Dry Skin
