When moms-to-be gained about 20 pounds, they delivered about 49 percent male babies—so under half. But when pregnant women gained 40 pounds, the study found that more than two-thirds were boys.
When moms-to-be gained about 20 pounds, they delivered about 49 percent male babies—so under half. But when pregnant women gained 40 pounds, they birthed a whopping 62 percent girls.
When moms-to-be gained about 20 pounds, they delivered about 49 percent male babies—so under half. But when pregnant women gained 40 pounds, they had 60 percent boys! This makes sense because normally around the 50% mark, on average, there are equal numbers of males and females. So if you gain weight really fast, it can tip the scales in favor of baby boys.
If you’re expecting a baby girl, some extra pounds could go a long way toward producing a healthy baby. That’s because gaining weight during pregnancy seems to increase the odds that your child will be a girl, according to researchers tracking more than 8,000 women
Causes of No Weight Gain During Pregnancy
People are always looking for patterns to connect pregnancy symptoms with baby’s gender. And while we know that even educated guesses at a baby’s sex in the womb can’t predict the baby’s gender identity, many parents-to-be mull over small signs predicting a little-one-on-the-way’s sex. And while many such connections are just myth-based, there’s hard data to show that the latest pattern to emerge is totally grounded in reality: The more weight you gain during pregnancy, the more likely you are to deliver a boy.
This news comes from a study published in PLOS One, which analyzed data from nearly 70 million births over a close to a quarter-century. It suggested that increased pregnancy weight correlated with male babies.
7 Celebrity Parents Raising Kids Without Gender Stereotypes
When moms-to-be gained about 20 pounds, they delivered about 49 percent male babies—so under half. But when pregnant women gained 40 pounds, they delivered boys about 52.5 percent of the time. And when they gained 60 pounds, they delivered boys a notable 54 percent of the time. (Above 60 pounds, the connection went away.)
Why is this the case? Well, it’s not completely known. But Kristen J. Navara, the doctor who analyzed the data, wrote, “It is possible that this relationship results from the fact that male embryos and fetuses have higher metabolic rates, and likely need more caloric energy to develop successfully.”
Given that I delivered a boy and girl at the same time following my twin pregnancy, I’m never a great test of these theories. But if you’re looking to read the tea leaves while you’re waiting for your baby to arrive (and then grow into a person with fully-fledged gender identity), you can have some fun reading the scales.
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Alesandra Dubin is a new twin mom, as well as a Los Angeles-based writer and the founder of home and travel blog Homebody in Motion. Follow her on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
What To Eat To Gain Weight During Pregnancy
Understandably, there is a lot of focus on ensuring that you don’t gain too much weight in pregnancy, as over 50% of pregnant people gain more than their weight gain goals.1 However, some people actually need to gain more weight than they have been gaining.2 Approximately 20% of pregnant people may not gain enough weight to adequately fuel their growing babies and pregnant bodies.1
Additionally, studies show that inadequate weight gain poses serious risks to the baby, including low birth weight, less likelihood of breastfeeding, and increased odds of death in infancy.1
If you are underweight and/or having trouble gaining enough weight, here are some tips to help you get your weight gain where it needs to be. Note that you should always consult your doctor or midwife before making any big changes in your eating habits and prior to starting any kind of nutritional supplement.
Eat More Frequently
Sometimes, you don’t gain weight in pregnancy because your stomach is so squashed that you can’t add extra calories to your meals without feeling ill. By eating smaller, but more frequent meals, you have the ability to add extra calories throughout the day. This can also help with some pregnancy complaints like nausea and heartburn.3
How to Manage Morning Sickness
Carry Food With You
To help you snack throughout the day, try carrying some food with you. Think portable, calorie-rich foods with no preparation required. For example, pack carrot sticks nuts, or dried fruit. If you have a place to keep food cold, try yogurt or cheese with fruit. Cheddar tastes great on sliced apples or pears.
Fruit makes a perfect snack. Pack a banana or an orange in your purse to remind yourself to eat. Pair it with almonds or another handful of nuts for a boost of protein.
Healthy and Delicious Pregnancy Snacks
Drink Your Calories
If you are having trouble eating or having trouble getting in calories during the day, consider what you drink as an added way to increase your calories. In fact, it’s known that drinking higher-calorie beverages promotes weight gain.4 An easy way to do this is to swap water for milk or juice.
Prepare and take a smoothie with you and sip it throughout the day. Add protein powder to your shakes for a bit of a caloric punch. It doesn’t really taste any different, but it can add calories. Fruit and vegetable smoothies help you get your needed vitamins and minerals as well.
How Much Weight Should You Gain?
Generally speaking, it’s recommended that most people gain between 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. It should be a bit more if you were underweight to begin with, and a little bit less if you were overweight when you got pregnant. If you are expecting multiples, you will need to gain more weight, and the weight gain in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy is crucial for healthier babies.5
Don’t Abandon a Healthy Diet
You might think you should focus on eating fried, processed, and high-fat foods in order to gain weight. However, while It’s fine to have occasional sweets and higher fat foods, studies show that underweight pregnant individuals are more likely to reach the optimal pregnancy weight by following a healthy diet, as in in lots of veggies, fruits, lean meats, and whole grains.6
Add Supplements
Try adding protein powders to foods for extra calories. They can also be added to shakes. If powdered supplements aren’t your thing, then you can also do bars.
There are a ton of nutrition bars out today, including those made specifically for pregnancy. Different products offer a variety of ingredients to meet the needs of almost everyone out there, including vegetarian and vegan options.
A Word From Verywell
Gaining enough (but not too much) weight during pregnancy is important for your health and the health of your baby. If you are concerned about your lack of weight gain, consult your midwife or doctor. They can let you know more exactly how much weight you should aim to gain and help you devise an effective eating plan to reach your goals. If needed, they can also provide a referral to a dietitian or nutritionist.