First-Time Dads Gain 14lbs During Pregnancy
According to a survey of five thousand men in the UK, the average weight gain was 14lbs (6.35 kg) - equating to an extra two inches on the waist.
Several different lifestyle factors appear to have been responsible for the gain:
- 20% said they were given larger meals.
- 25% said they ate more to make their partners feel better about their weight gain.
- 41% said there were more snacks in the house.
- 42% spent more time eating out with their partner, making the most of their time together before becoming parents.
Unfortunately, only a third of the men joined their partners on a post-pregnancy diet!
The favourite snacks consumed included pizza, chocolate, chips, and beer. A spokesman from the company Onepoll, who conducted the survey, pointed out that:
The...problem seems to be that men are choosing to snack on unhealthier options such as sweets and cakes - and I don't think women can be blamed for their partner's drinking more beer!'
So if you're a bloke, what can you do to minimise the chances of looking like you're the one carrying the baby?
- Recognise that your partner needs more food while she's pregnant (an extra 250-500 calories per day, depending on trimester), and that she may crave fatty, sugary foods. That doesn't mean you need to eat them too! Editor's note: Calorie requirements during pregnancy are dependant on physical activity and pre pregnancy weight. In the UK it is recommended that pregnant women increase their intake by 100 calories per day for the first six months, and 200 calories per day for the last three months, while in the US an extra 300 calories per day is encouraged. These are however merely guidelines.
- Focus on healthy eating as a couple - it's an important time for your partner to eat nutritious, healthy foods.
- Enjoy long walks or other gentle activity together, instead of just long evenings in restaurants.
- If you're one of the 20% likely to complain that you're "being given larger meals" - offer to do the cooking yourself ;-)
If you're a dad, did you put on weight during your partner's first pregnancy? If you're a mom, did your partner gain weight during your pregnancy? Share your stories in the comments, or on Diet Blog Share...
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Editor's note: Calorie requirements during pregnancy are dependant on physical activity and pre pregnancy weight. In most cases pregnant women only need to increase their intake by 100 calories per day for the first six months, and 200 calories per day for the last three months.
You may want to totally retract any calorie intake suggestions - the above works out to only 10-pounds gained, BELOW recommendations.
ReplyHi Regina,
Thank you for your comment.
This is a statement from Nutrition.org on the subject of maternal energy intake during pregnancy:
"Contrary to the popular phrase ‘eating for two’, most pregnant women do not need to double their food intake. In fact, it is only during the latter part of pregnancy that extra energy is needed; an increase of 0.8 MJ or 200 kcals a day in the last 3 months of pregnancy is recommended, although the needs of individual women will vary, depending on how active they are."
"The recommendation for energy intake (an extra 0.8 MJ/day or 200 kcals during the last 3 months) assumes that, during pregnancy, activity levels fall and women will become more sedentary but this is not always the case. It is difficult to say how much an individual pregnant woman should be eating – the best option is for weight gain and fetal growth to be monitored."
A weight gain of 12.5kg is considered normal. However, there are a wide range of weight gains in women who have normal, healthy pregnancies - the average gain is somewhere between 11-16kg.
ReplyA weight gain of 12.5kg is considered normal.
Pregnancy (human) = 280 days (1st day being 1st day of last period)
You know you're pregnant = 250 days
12.5kg = normal weight gain
12.5kg = 27.5 pounds
27.5 pounds * 3500 calories/pound = 96,250 calories
96,250 calories/250 days = 385-calories extra calories per day average
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The American College of Obestetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) states it simply: "Most pregnant women need an additional 300 calories per day."
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Thus I remain of the opinion that your statements about calorie intake during pregnancy are misguided and probably not something you should have even included in the article above. Leave it to a woman's doctor to figure out how many calories she should eat a day....low-birth weight remains an issue, even in our obesigenic society here in the US and in the UK.
Perhaps you'd like to read up on how inadequate calories affect not only birth weight, but cognitive and physical development in the future of child born to women who didn't eat properly in pregnancy?
ReplyHi Regina,
Again thanks for your input.
As a UK registered dietitian, the guidelines we work with are 100 calories for the first 6 months, and 200 calories for the final 3 months as stated. Obviously, we take into consideration pre pregnancy weight and level of exercise/activity etc. However, the above is merely intended as a guideline, and I think it is useful for women to be aware of.
As I said previously, the recommendation for energy intake assumes that during pregnancy activity levels fall, and women will become more sedentary - obviously this is not always the case.
It is difficult to say how much an individual pregnant woman should be eating – the best option is for weight gain and fetal growth to be monitored.
For clarity, I've also added the US recommendation from The American College of Obestetricians & Gynecologists.
If pregnant women are concerned about how many calories they should be eating, I strongly recommend that they discuss this with their doctor, midwife or hospital dietitian.
As you say, there are complications for women who do not gain enough in pregnancy. But, there are equally complications for women who gain too much weight in pregnancy.
As Kellie states below, pregnant women should listen to their bodies as to WHAT and HOW MUCH they should eat.
ReplyMy mother gained 9 pounds when she was pregnant with me - and I was 7 1/2 of it. Everyone is different.
ReplyI am definitely no expert, but wouldn't some of the weight gain come from the baby itself, the water weight, the placenta, etc. and not necessarily from extra fat stores/extra calorie intake??
ReplyHave you ever been pregnant?
ReplyHow's this for men and pregnancy: My hubby said that our 4th child is the last because *my* pregnancy was a really rough on him.
What?!? Maybe he should've just ate more to relieve the stress.
ReplyI have not been pregnant so I really don't feel I have the right to comment.. BUT, I will! Being a woman that goes thru all kinds of women things, men should count their lucky stars they don't have to go thru half of what we do! I know, sounding feminist BUT this I feel I the background to talk to... hormones & all for umpteen years!!!! Let's see men do to work, work out, take care of kids & more feeling like we do half the month! :-) Hmmmm, maybe some hormones at work here!
ReplyAh yes, sympathy weight. My brother-in-law gained some weight when my sister was pregnant because she was always eating. Lucky for him, he's got a really high metabolism, so once she had the baby, he lost it all right away.
ReplyI thought this was funny. It seems the men (women do too!) used any excuse to eat more than they needed. Even blaming their pregnant wife! :)
I object to telling pregnant women you should have only 'x' more calories. When I was pregnant, some days I ate very little and felt off food. Other days I was ravenous. I think pregnant women should listen to their bodies or the little peanut within as to what and how much they eat. Within reason of course!
ReplyThis sounds hilarious that the husband becomes fatter to make the spouse happy.
ReplyI'm 27 years old and 5'2. I gained a total of 70 lbs when I was pregnancy. My husband didn't gain but a few lbs which he lost from cutting back and certain things the week our son was born.
Reply