Where do the pounds go?


On the average, women gain about 30lbs (or 14kgs) of which very little will be in the form of fat. Approximately 7lbs is your baby. Your uterus weighs about 2lbs now and the placenta and amniotic fluid add up to another 3.5lbs. Fluid constitutes about 4lbs of the weight while the remaining 9lbs will be the body fat, including breast tissue. Studies show that excess fat deposit either goes to the thighs which is favorable as compared to deposits making its way to the tummy area. Fat stored on the thighs is a plus because it is richer in omega-3 fatty acids (which is good for your baby) while the fat stored on the tummy causes a state of insulin resistance.



About 3kg of excess fat is stored the mother's body which converts into the energy store your baby will utilize, especially in the second half of pregnancy. Your baby will create its own energy reserve towards the end of pregnancy term as your baby prepares for birth. As mentioned, fat that naturally accumulates on the back or thighs is a normal repercussion during your pregnancy phase, and fortunately not bad while women who accumulate fat on the abdomen tend to be resistant to the effects of insulin and hence predisposes them to diabetes and may even make their babies fat.