Foods that help baby gain weight in pregnancy

Diet Tips To Increase Fetal Weight In Third Trimester – Pampers India

For 28 weeks, you’ve dealt with morning sickness, swollen legs, and uncomfortable nights. Over the next three months, your baby’s final developments will cause your bump to grow larger, and your body will get ready for childbirth. The third trimester of your pregnancy are most crucial for your baby’s health and well-being. To better understand what’s going on during this time, let’s take a look at the developments that will increase your baby’s weight week by week over the next 12 weeks with the help of this baby weight chart during pregnancy in grams:

Week of pregnancy	Developments	Baby weight chart during pregnancy in grams	Baby height chart during pregnancy in centimetres
Week 28	At this point, your baby can partially open its eyes and its central nervous system controls body temperature and rhythmic breathing.	1,000 grams	37.6 centimetres
Week 29	You will start to feel your baby’s kicks and movements as your little one starts to make grasping motions.	1,200 grams	38.6 centimetres
Week 30	Your baby’s hair has started to grow out now, and red blood cells will begin to form in the bone marrow.	1,300 grams	39.9 centimetres
Week 31	At this point, your baby’s development is almost complete. The only thing left is for your little one to quickly put on the required weight.	1,500 grams	41.1 centimetres
Week 32	Until now, a soft layer of hair, known as lanugo, was protecting your baby’s skin. This week, the hair will shed and you should be able to see your little one’s toenails.	1,700 grams	42.4 centimetres
Week 33	This week, for the first time ever, your baby’s pupils will respond to light stimuli. All their bones, except the skull, will start to harden.	1,900 grams	43.7 centimetres
Week 34	This week, your baby’s fingernails will develop.	2,100 grams	45 centimetres
Week 35	Your bundle of joy is growing nicely and their skin has started to turn smooth and rosy.	2,400 grams	46.2 centimetres
Week 36	It’s starting to get a little cramped inside, with your baby taking up most of the amniotic sac.	2,600 grams	47.4 centimetres
Week 37	Your baby has got a firm grasp now, and his or her head will start to descend to prepare for childbirth.	2,900 grams	48.6 centimetres
Week 38	You’re almost there. Your baby’s head and body will have the same circumference by now.	3,100 grams	49.8 centimetres
Week 39	It’s almost time for your baby to come out, and this week their body will start to accumulate fat to help them stay warm once they are born.	3,300 grams	50.7 centimetres
Week 40	Your baby is fully developed and your due date is finally here.	3,500 grams	51.2 centimetres

Of course, the way your baby develops and how tall or heavy your little one is will depend from pregnancy to pregnancy. This baby weight chart will give you a rough guide of what is happening each week and how your baby is gaining weight. Since the third trimester is crucial in preparing your baby for the outside world, it’s imperative that you track your pregnancy weight. If you haven’t quite put on the required amount of weight, your doctor may ask you to increase your calorie intake to help your baby grow.

If you’re wondering how to increase baby weight specifically, here’s a look at some nutritious foods that you should include in your diet:

1. Eggs, Milk, Yogurt & Tofu

All of these foods have a high protein content, sufficient intake of protein in pregnancy is very crucial. The proteins you consume during this time will mostly be used to keep your baby’s growth on track while also maintaining your maternal tissues.

2. Broccoli, Watercress & Cheese

These are some fabulous sources of calcium. You’ll need to incorporate this baby weight gain food to your diet to ensure that your baby’s teeth and bones grow and harden as required.

3. Fruits

Fresh fruits like kiwis, bananas, melons and strawberries can help you meet your daily vitamin C requirement. This vitamin is necessary to ensure that your baby’s placenta continues to function properly. Additionally, vitamin C helps your little one absorb the iron from the food you eat, which is required to maintain a healthy immune system.

4. Lentils

If you still feel like your 9 month baby pregnancy weight is below average, you should definitely load up on your lentils. Apart from adding protein to your diet, lentils are also rich in vitamin B1, known as thiamine, and fibres. You can consume lentils in the form of a dal, stew, or even porridge.

5. Avocados

Avocados are a crucial baby weight gain food as they are rich in fibre and vitamins C and E. Plus, it’s a good source of healthy fats, which will help them stay warm after birth.

6. Salmon

As your baby’s brain completes its development, it’s essential that you consume a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon will provide you with the omega-3 you require, along with giving you a healthy dose of Docosahexaenioc Acid or DHA.

7. Dark, Leafy Green Veggies

It’s time to stock up on your intake of spinach, kale and other leafy vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Rich in magnesium, these foods help the development of your baby’s bones, while also preventing your uterus from early contractions and cramps.

Even though you now know how to increase baby weight during your third trimester, it’s important that you don’t make any major changes to your third trimester diet plan without the approval of your doctor.It’s crucial to remember that your pregnancy journey is different from anybody else’s experience, so even if your friend’s or sister’s baby was a certain weight in the 38th week of pregnancy, its okay if your baby’s weight is different. As long as you continue to eat healthy and get the nutrients you and your baby require, you’ll enjoy a healthy and happy pregnancy.

How to Increase Baby Weight during Pregnancy

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How to Increase Fetal Weight While Pregnant

Once you find out that you are pregnant, it is important to pay heed to your diet, exercise, and lifestyle for the optimal growth and development of your unborn baby. Every mother wishes to have a healthy baby, and one of the parameters that help you know about your baby’s well-being is the foetal weight.

Video : How to Increase Fetal Weight During Pregnancy

How is Foetus Weight Measurement Done?

Most pregnant women will have their first ultrasound scan in the first trimester. Your radiologist will take various measurements to understand the foetal growth and development. Following are some measurements that your radiologist will make:

• FL or Femur length
• HC or Head circumference
• AC or Abdominal circumference
• OFD or Occipitofrontal diameter
• BPD or Biparietal diameter
• HL or Humerus length

With the above-mentioned parameters, your radiologist will establish the foetal weight and gestational age. You will also be told about your EDD or estimated date of delivery. The measurements made by the doctor may not be exact, but it will help your doctor establish the overall well-being of the foetus.

Also Read: Foetal Anaemia – Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What is the Ideal Weight of a Foetus?

Every baby grows differently; therefore, the table below is only to give you an idea, and not the ideal baby weight gain, week by week during pregnancy.

Effective Tips to Increase Foetal Weight During Pregnancy

As a mommy-to-be you may wonder how to make your unborn baby gain weight, Follow some of these tips to increase foetal weight during pregnancy:

1.  A Healthy and Balanced Diet

   Diet plays the most important role in pregnancy. You should include fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meat, and poultry in your diet if you wish to increase foetal weight.

2.  Include Nuts and Dry Fruits in Your Diet

   A well-balanced diet also constitutes nuts and dry fruits. You may eat almonds, apricots, figs, walnuts, and other nuts and dry fruits. However, it is recommended not to go overboard with them.

3. Prenatal Vitamins

   You will be given prenatal vitamins for your baby’s proper growth and development. These vitamins also help your baby gain weight. You should take these vitamins regularly for optimal foetal weight gain during pregnancy.

4. Stay Hydrated

   Drink adequate amounts of fluids to avoid any kind of dehydration in pregnancy. Dehydration in pregnancy may lead to some serious medical complications. You may take fruit juices, vegetable juices, milk, buttermilk or water to keep your body well-hydrated.

5. Take Adequate Rest

   It is very important for a pregnant woman to have plenty of rest. Over-exertion or unnecessary pressure may affect foetal development and growth. Try and get a minimum eight hours of uninterrupted sleep to keep your energy levels intact.

6. Stay Calm And Positive

   It is not only important to take care of your physical health, but also mental wellbeing. Any kind of stress and anxiety can affect you as well as your unborn baby’s health. The resulting emotional outbursts may lead to over-eating, under-eating, or making wrong food choices, and all these may affect foetal health.

7. Medical Guidance

   Your doctor will guide you in case your baby is not gaining a sufficient amount of weight. You may be told to take additional supplements or make dietary changes to increase foetal weight.

The above-mentioned tips may help your baby gain weight during pregnancy. However, it is recommended to take your doctor’s advice in this matter.

What Can You Eat to Increase Baby Weight During Pregnancy?

You may include the following foods to help the foetus gain weight during pregnancy:

1. Sweet Potatoes

   Sweet potatoes are loaded with fibre, potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, iron, copper, and beta-carotene. The presence of beta-carotene (an antioxidant) in sweet potatoes gets converted into Vitamin A by your body. Vitamin A, as we know, is essential for foetal skin, bones, and eyes. Sweet potatoes increase the iron levels in the body. You may eat them in mashed, baked, stewed, or shallow-fried form.

2. Lentils And Beans

   Lentils and beans are jam-packed with iron and protein. You will also get enough fibre, folate and calcium by including beans and lentils in your diet. If you are a vegetarian, beans will provide you with minerals that you may otherwise get from a non-vegetarian diet (meat and poultry). Being rich in zinc, beans are great for reducing the risk of prolonged labour, low birth weight babies, or premature deliveries.

3. Orange Juice

   Start your day with a glass of fresh orange juice and spike up your Vitamin C, potassium and folate levels. Folate and folic acid are extremely important in pregnancy. By meeting your body’s daily requirements of these nutrients, you can reduce the baby’s chances of catching certain birth defects. Orange juice helps in keeping your overall health, metabolism, and muscle functions in place.

4. Yoghurt

   Calcium, protein, Vitamin B, zinc and other bone-building nutrients are power-packed in yoghurt. As a mommy-to-be, your daily calcium requirement is 1000 mg, and you can meet this requirement with yoghurt. Apart from keeping your bone and teeth health in place, adequate amounts of calcium in the body reduce the chances of preterm labour or low birth weight babies.

5. Green Leafy Vegetables

   Green vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and asparagus are loaded with essential nutrients and anti-oxidants. Green leafy vegetables work wonders for a pregnant woman and her developing foetus. You may get your daily dosage of calcium, potassium, Vitamin A, folate, and fibre by eating leafy vegetables. You may eat them in raw, cooked, baked, or stir-fried form for maximum benefits.

6. Salmon

   Salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Omega-3 fatty acids are very beneficial for a growing foetus as they help in brain and eye development, as well as supplying the required amount of protein to mothers. Salmon is considered safe for pregnant women, as it has very low levels of mercury in it.

7. Eggs

   Egg are a powerhouse of protein, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D, all of which are incredible for the growth and development on the foetus. In fact, the protein profile of eggs is unmatched by any other food, making it beneficial to eat during pregnancy. Eggs are also rich in folic acids and iron, which work towards strengthening amniotic membranes and preventing birth defects and low birth weight in the foetus.

8. Milk

   A daily intake of 200-500 ml of milk per day can help pregnant women increase foetal weight. Milk contains a high amount of protein and calcium, which are essential for the growth and development of the foetus. You can drink milk in plain form or come up with interesting porridge and smoothie recipes.

9. Chicken

   Chicken is a great food that helps increase foetal weight. This lean meat is high in proteins that promote cell and muscle development in the body. Besides proteins, chicken also has a high amount of iron that reduces anaemia in the mother and fetus.

10. Soybean

    Soybean is a rich source of protein for vegetarians and can be consumed in various forms. High in iron as well, soybean prevents anaemia due to its high iron content. You can consume soya in the form of soy milk, soya nuggets, tofu, etc.

Precautions to Take While Trying to Increase Your Baby’s Weight in the Womb

Some dietary choices may help you increase your baby’s weight in the womb. However, it is very important that you do so in a healthier manner. Overdoing anything may lead to complications. These are some precautions that you should take:

1. Avoid Alcohol and Smoking: You should strictly avoid alcohol consumption and smoking in pregnancy. Both these habits can prove to be fatal for your developing baby and may also lead to serious medical complications.
2. Reduce Caffeine Intake: Consuming high amounts of coffee, tea or aerated beverages can have a negative impact on foetal health.
3. Avoid Fried, Sugary or Fatty Foods: Regular intake of such food items may make you prone to obesity, which in turn increase the chances of cholesterol and hypertension. It is recommended to go easy on oily, fatty, and sugary food items. Staying away from certain food categories will help you have a healthy pregnancy and also be beneficial for your unborn child.

Making healthy food choices during pregnancy is key to ensuring your baby’s growth and development is on track. We have made some suggestions in context to dietary changes that you can make during pregnancy to increase foetal weight. However, consult your doctor before making any changes or amends to your diet. With expert guidance and support, you will not only have a healthy pregnancy, but also a healthy baby.

References & Resources: Livestrong

Also Read:

Foetal Development: Growth in First, Second and Third Trimester
Baby Size — Week by Week Comparison with Fruits and Veggies

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What foods make the baby gain weight in the womb

During the period of intrauterine development, the fetus is completely dependent on the mother's lifestyle. A woman throughout her pregnancy is obliged to monitor her health, give up bad habits and carefully consider nutrition. The correct diet, filled with a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, is switched at the planning stage. What and how much should a pregnant woman eat so that the child does not lack nutrients, and his body weight remains within the normal range?

Contents [ show ]

• How the diet of a pregnant woman affects the weight gain of the fetus
• What foods affect the weight gain of the child in the womb
• What should be the mother's menu
  • Diet of the expectant mother by trimesters
  • What to eat with a lack of mass body weight of the fetus
  • Diet for overweight fetus
• Does a strong weight gain of a pregnant woman affect the fetus
• To summarize

How does the diet of a pregnant woman affect fetal weight gain

It is important to eat right at any stage of life. But pregnancy is a special period for a woman when the body needs a balanced menu. All foods that the expectant mother eats have a direct impact on the development of the fetus and an increase in its anthropometric indicators.

In general, a pregnant woman's diet is not much different from a normal healthy diet. It is recommended to increase the total calorie content by no more than 300 kcal and eat fractionally. Eating in small portions 5-6 times a day, the mother provides the fetus with a constant supply of useful trace elements.

If a woman eats little and limited food during pregnancy, a mechanism is “launched” in the child's body that is responsible for the maximum assimilation of micronutrients from a minimum amount of food. This is fraught with the threat of obesity in adulthood - in conditions of sufficient food, the body will consume substances in such a way that they are not enough.

Why does the weight of the baby in the womb depend on what and how much the mother eats? Child and maternal organisms are inextricably linked from the moment of the birth of a new life until childbirth. Whatever a woman eats, her child gets. With a lack of nutrients, the baby does not gain weight, its internal organs and systems do not develop according to the standards. If a pregnant woman abuses fatty, high-calorie foods or fast food, the fetus accumulates subcutaneous fat too quickly, which is fraught with serious complications during childbirth.

What foods affect the baby's weight gain in the womb

Many pregnant women only hear from their doctor about the need to change their diet when the scale shows a large increase or after detecting an increase in blood glucose levels. If a woman does not gain weight or her weight does not increase according to the standards with each week of pregnancy, gynecologists are in no hurry to sound the alarm. Note that both states are invalid. During the gestation period, a woman is obliged to monitor her diet in order to avoid health problems - both her own and the baby she is carrying.

To avoid excessive weight gain by the fetus, the expectant mother will have to give up a number of unhealthy and high-calorie foods. In the "black list":

• fast food: french fries, hamburgers, pizza and other types of fast food;
• chips, crackers, snacks;
• smoked products;
• preserves and preserves;
• pastries, baked goods and sweets in large quantities;
• semi-finished products.

Avoid high salt intake during pregnancy. Salty food causes water retention, which leads to an increase in the load on the kidneys. This causes swelling, increased pressure and other health problems for the mother and child.

What should be the mother's menu

Expectant mother must be responsible for the preparation of the daily diet. If a woman does not receive enough nutrients from food, this is fraught with nutritional deficiencies for the fetus. Because of this, during the gestation period, the child is more susceptible to the development of autoimmune reactions, in the future he is threatened with metabolic problems. The task of the mother is to provide the fetus with all the conditions for stable weight gain and development. In addition, the weight gained by the mother and the fetus depends on how safely, quickly and easily the birth will take place.

Nutritional deficiency is a protein-energy deficiency that negatively affects the development and functioning of all systems of the human body.

During pregnancy, a woman should eat for two. The menu is thought out so that daily food covers the daily need for valuable substances.