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As an expecting mother, you want to ensure that your baby is born with a healthy birth weight. Doing everything you can to increase fetal weight during pregnancy is important so that your baby is able to develop normally and reach the recommended birth weight for either a baby boy or girl. This blog post will provide an overview of how to increase fetal weight during pregnancy as well as the ideal fetal weight week-by-week and healthy birth weights of baby boys and girls.
How to increase fetal weight during pregnancy for a healthy birth weight:
The best way to ensure that your baby has a healthy birth weight is by taking care of yourself throughout your pregnancy. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of protein, fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, and healthy fats will make sure that your baby has all the nutrients necessary for proper growth.
Vegetarian diet to be supplemented with “more” protein intake:
During pregnancy, one should get a minimum of 60 grams of protein a day or it should be directly proportional to one’s growing body weight. Ideally should account for approximately 20 percent to 25 percent of your calorie intake.
In some cases, being a vegetarian means, one might have to figure ways to include protein via sources such as milk, greek yogurt, organic peanut butter, cottage cheese, tofu and even mix protein powder in their daily intake of milk, better still – banana milk shake!
Staying active:
Staying active throughout your pregnancy is also important for not only keeping you in shape but also ensuring that your baby receives enough oxygen and nutrients while in the womb. Additionally, getting adequate rest (at least 8 hours per night) will help keep both you and your baby healthy throughout the pregnancy.
Week-by-week ideal fetal weights during pregnancy:
During each trimester, the average fetal weights should be as follows:
• First Trimester (Weeks 1 – 12): 2-3 ounces
| Ounces (oz) | Kilograms (kg) | Kilograms+ Grams (kg+g) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 oz | 0.05670 kg | 0 kg 56.70 g |
| 3 oz | 0.08505 kg | 0 kg 85.05 g |
• Second Trimester (Weeks 13 – 28): 8-12 ounces
| Ounces (oz) | Kilograms (kg) | Kilograms+ Grams (kg+g) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 oz | 0.22680 kg | 0 kg 226.80 g |
| 9 oz | 0.25515 kg | 0 kg 255.15 g |
| 10 oz | 0.28350 kg | 0 kg 283.50 g |
| 20 oz | 0.56699 kg | 0 kg 566.99 g |
Third Trimester (Weeks 29 – 40): 2 pounds or more
| Pounds (lb) | Kilograms (kg) | Kilograms+Grams (kg+g) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 lb | 0.907 kg | 0 kg 907 g |
| 3 lb | 1.361 kg | 1 kg 361 g |
| 4 lb | 1.814 kg | 1 kg 814 g |
| 5 lb | 2.268 kg | 2 kg 268 g |
| Pounds | Kilograms |
|---|---|
| 6 lb | 2.72 kg |
| 7 lb | 3.18 kg |
| 8 lb | 3.63 kg |
| 9 lb | 4.08 kg |
Healthy birth weights for baby boys and girls:
At full term, a healthy birth weight for any newborn should be between 5 ½ pounds and 10 pounds. Babies who weigh less than 5 ½ pounds are considered low birthweight babies which can be caused by health problems with either mother or child or due to premature delivery. On average, newborns typically weigh 7 ½ – 8 pounds at birth; however, this can vary depending on factors such as race or gender. Generally speaking, newborn boys tend to weigh slightly more than newborn girls at birth—typically about one pound heavier on average—although this varies from case to case.
Conclusion:
It is important for mothers-to-be to take steps to ensure their unborn child’s development and growth by increasing fetal weight during pregnancy through eating nutritious foods, engaging in light physical activity when appropriate, getting adequate rest each night, and staying informed about ideal fetal weights week-by-week based on their stage of gestation . By following these steps throughout the entire course of their pregnancies, mothers can help ensure that their babies are born with healthy birth weights within the recommended parameters for either a baby boy or girl. Doing so will give them peace of mind knowing that they have done everything possible for their growing child!
