How much weight did you gain in pregnancy: Weight Gain During Pregnancy | Pregnancy | Maternal and Infant Health
Pregnancy weight gain chart, plus average weight gain during pregnancy
-
Pregnancy
-
Health & Safety
By Kate Marple
|
|
April 28, 2022
To find out what a healthy weight gain is for you during pregnancy, use our pregnancy weight gain chart and talk to your doctor or midwife. Keep in mind that guidelines aren’t set in stone. Your target weight gain will be different depending on your health needs. If you’re overweight, obese, or underweight, it’s especially important to have a customized approach to your pregnancy weight gain to balance your baby’s needs and your own.
Photo credit:
Nathan Haniger for BabyCenter
- How much weight should you gain during pregnancy?
- Pregnancy weight gain chart
- Pregnancy weight gain by week
- What if I’m gaining too much weight in pregnancy?
- What if I’m not gaining enough weight during pregnancy?
- Average weight gain during pregnancy
- How do I lose weight after pregnancy?
How much weight should you gain during pregnancy?
It depends on your pre-pregnancy weight and height (used to determine whether you were underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese), as well as whether you’re having twins or multiples.
You can use our pregnancy weight gain calculator or the chart below to find out how much you’re recommended to gain and whether you’re in your target weight range. Be aware that the chart and calculator use BMI (body mass index), a formula that is controversial, and may be inaccurate for Black, Latinx, and Asian women.
Your doctor or midwife should give you guidance, support, and information about healthy weight gain for you, specifically, during pregnancy. Expect to talk to them about weight gain regularly at your prenatal appointments. If you’re overweight, obese, or underweight, it’s important to have a customized approach to your pregnancy weight gain to balance your baby’s needs and your own.
Another thing: It’s normal to feel anxious about gaining weight, especially if you’ve suffered from an eating disorder. Even though you know it’s important to gain weight now, it can be hard to see the number on the scale going up. If you’re struggling, talking to a therapist or dietitian can help.
Try to keep in mind that healthy weight gain is important for you and your baby. It’s not safe to lose weight during pregnancy. If you’re overweight or obese, you may be able to safely gain less than the recommended amount during pregnancy – but only with your healthcare provider’s guidance and monitoring.
Pregnancy weight gain chart
To find your target weight gain, you’ll need to know your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). Calculate your BMI here.
| Your pre-pregnancy BMI | Your target weight gain if you’re carrying one child | Your target weight gain if you’re carrying twins |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 18.5 | 28 to 40 pounds | 50 to 62 pounds |
| 18.5 to 24.9 | 25 to 35 pounds | 37 to 54 pounds |
| 25 to 29.9 | 15 to 25 pounds | 31 to 50 pounds |
| 30 or higher | 11 to 20 pounds | 25 to 42 pounds |
These guidelines for pregnancy weight gain are issued by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and are the most current available.
(The recommendation for underweight pregnant women carrying twins, however, is provided by the CDC.) Keep in mind that these are just guidelines – they aren’t set in stone. Depending on your health needs, your target weight gain will be different.
Pregnancy weight gain by week
On average, women who start pregnancy at a healthy weight gain 1 to 5 pounds in the first trimester, and about 1 pound per week for the rest of their pregnancy. (Some sources estimate a 1 to 4 pound weight gain in the first trimester, which is fine. It’s also okay to gain no weight in the first trimester.)
If you’re overweight or obese, it’s recommended to gain about half a pound per week in the second and third trimesters.
During your first trimester, you don’t need to eat additional calories. Experts recommend getting about 340 extra calories a day during the second trimester and 450 extra calories a day in the third trimester.
| Your pre-pregnancy BMI | Recommended weight gain (second and third trimesters) |
|---|---|
Less than 18. 5 |
1 to 1.3 pounds per week |
| 18.5 to 24.9 | 0.8 to 1 pound per week |
| 25 to 29.9 | 0.5 to 0.7 pounds per week |
| 30 or higher | 0.4 to 0.6 pounds per week |
What if I’m gaining too much weight in pregnancy?
Talk to your doctor or midwife. Your provider can help you manage your weight gain by recommending a healthy diet and exercise program that works for you.
It’s important to try your best to stick to weight gain recommendations. Gaining more than recommended during pregnancy puts you at a higher risk for high blood pressure disorders, including gestational hypertension (high blood pressure that starts during pregnancy) and preeclampsia. These conditions may result in a preterm delivery.
Unless you start out underweight, gaining too much pregnancy weight also increases your risk of:
- C-section birth
- Gestational diabetes
- Having a large baby, which can mean a difficult delivery
If you’re gaining excess weight, consider a visit with a nutritionist online or in person.
Pregnancy can be an opportunity to let go of some less-than-healthy eating habits you may have unconsciously adopted over time. For instance, some moms-to-be replace soda with water, add more healthy fats to their diet, cut back on sugar, and eat more whole foods and fewer processed foods.
What if I’m not gaining enough weight during pregnancy?
Gaining too little weight during pregnancy, especially if you start out underweight, can mean a higher risk of delivering a low birth weight baby (less than 5.5 pounds). This can cause a variety of problems for your baby, including feeding difficulty and low blood sugar. A low birth weight baby may also need to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time.
It’s normal to not gain weight in the first trimester, or even lose some weight, due to morning sickness and other factors. In most cases, this weight loss isn’t dangerous. But if you’re losing a lot of weight (more than ten pounds, for example), or if you think you may be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness), tell your provider right away.
Average weight gain during pregnancy
There’s no “normal” when it comes to pregnancy weight gain – it’s all over the map. More than half of American women are overweight or obese when they become pregnant. Just about one-third of pregnant women gain the recommended amount of weight, and many gain more.
Studies have found that 32 percent of women gain weight within the recommended range for pregnancy, 21 percent gain too little, and 48 percent gain more than advised.
Increased appetite during pregnancy and pregnancy cravings can make it hard to stick to pregnancy weight gain guidelines. And if you’re working and/or taking care of older children, you may not have much time to exercise and plan healthy meals.
Still, there are ways to avoid gaining too much weight during pregnancy – drinking enough water, eating healthy snacks, sticking to a regular walking routine, and talking to your doctor or midwife about weight gain at every appointment will help you stay on track.
How do I lose weight after pregnancy?
You’ll likely lose a fair amount of pregnancy weight in the first six weeks after delivery. Your baby accounts for about 7.5 pounds, and the amniotic fluid, placenta, and extra body fluids and blood in your body add up to another 8 to 12 pounds.
For the rest, remember that it took nine months to put on the weight, and it can take just as long or longer to lose it. Despite what social media may lead you to believe, it can take a while to return to your pre-pregnancy weight. A healthy diet combined with regular exercise is the best way to lose weight after pregnancy.
Once you’ve recovered from birth, the postpartum period is a great time to find an exercise program that works for you and your new baby, whether that’s stroller walks or trips to a gym with childcare.
Don’t start cutting calories right away, though. Caring for a newborn requires lots of energy – and that means giving your body the postpartum nutrition it needs.
And if you’re breastfeeding, you’ll continue to need extra calories for as long as you nurse your baby.
If you’re concerned about losing weight, talk to your healthcare provider and consider seeing a registered dietitian. Sometimes moms have trouble losing weight and even gain weight after pregnancy due to an underlying medical condition like postpartum thyroiditis, diabetes, or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). If the weight isn’t coming off, talk to your provider, who can help you with a treatment or nutrition plan that will address what’s going on.
Sources
BabyCenter’s editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you’re seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.
ACOG. 2021. Obesity and pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/obesity-and-pregnancy [Accessed April 2022]
ACOG. 2020. Weight gain during pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2013/01/weight-gain-during-pregnancy [Accessed April 2022]
Beyerlein A et al. 2010. Within-population average ranges compared with Institute of Medicine recommendations for gestational weight gain. Obstetrics & Gynecology 116(5):1111-1118. https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2010/11000/Within_Population_Average_Ranges_Compared_With.17.aspx [Accessed April 2022]
Blomberg M. 2011. Maternal and neonatal outcomes among obese women with weight gain below the new Institute of Medicine recommendations. Obstetrics & Gynecology 117(5):1065-1070. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21508744/ [Accessed April 2022]
Bodnar LM et al.
2010. Severe obesity, gestational weight gain, and adverse birth outcomes. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 91(6):1642-1648. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2869513/ [Accessed April 2022]
CDC. 2021. Weight gain during pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pregnancy-weight-gain.htm [Accessed April 2022]
De la Torre L et al. 2011. The effect of new antepartum weight gain guidelines and prepregnancy body mass index on the development of pregnancy-related hypertension. American Journal of Perinatology 28(4):285-292. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21229471/ [Accessed April 2022]
Durie D et al. 2011. Effect of second-trimester and third-trimester rate of gestational weight gain on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Obstetrics & Gynecology 118(3):569-575. https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2011/09000/Effect_of_Second_Trimester_and_Third_Trimester.11.aspx [Accessed April 2022]
Gaillard R et al.
2013. Risk factors and outcomes of maternal obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Obesity 21(5):1046-1055. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23784909/ [Accessed April 2022]
Heymsfield SB and Peterson CM. 2016. Why are there race/ethnic differences in adult body mass index–adiposity relationships? A quantitative critical review. Obesity Review 17(3): 262-275. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4968570/ [Accessed April 2022]
Hilson JA et al. 2004. High prepregnant body mass index is associated with poor lactation outcomes among white, rural women independent of psychosocial and demographic correlates. Journal of Human Lactation 20(1):18-29. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14974697/ [Accessed April 2022]
Hilson JA et al. 2006. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with earlier termination of breast-feeding among white women. The Journal of Nutrition 136(1):140-146. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16365073/ [Accessed April 2022]
Johnson J et al.
2013. Pregnancy outcomes with weight gain above or below the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines. Obstetrics & Gynecology 121(5):969-975. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3971915/ [Accessed April 2022]
Kaar J et al. 2014. Maternal obesity, gestational weight gain and offspring adiposity: The EPOCH Study. The Journal of Pediatrics 165(3):509-515. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145019/ [Accessed April 2022]
Leddy MA et al. 2008. The impact of maternal obesity on maternal and fetal health. Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology 1(4):170-178. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2621047/ [Accessed April 2022]
Ludwig D and Currie J. 2010. The association between pregnancy weight gain and birthweight: A within-family comparison. The Lancet 376(9745):984-990. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20691469/ [Accessed April 2022]
Macdonald-Wallis C et al. 2013. Gestational weight gain as a risk factor for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 209(4):327.e1-327.e17. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937813005310 [Accessed April 2022]
March of Dimes. 2020. Weight gain during pregnancy. https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/weight-gain-during-pregnancy.aspx [Accessed April 2022]
Potti S et al. 2010. Obstetric outcomes in normal weight and obese women in relation to gestational weight gain: Comparison between Institute of Medicine guidelines and Cedergren criteria. American Journal of Perinatology 27(5):415-420. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20013574/ [Accessed April 2022]
Truong YN et al. 2015. Weight gain in pregnancy: Does the Institute of Medicine have it right? American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 212(3):362.e1-362.e8. https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378%2815%2900040-X/fulltext [Accessed April 2022]
Wojcicki JM. 2011. Maternal prepregnancy body mass index and initiation and duration of breastfeeding: A review of the literature.
Journal of Women’s Health 20(3):341-347. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3058894/ [Accessed April 2022]
Show more
advertisement | page continues below
advertisement
Featured video
All pregnancy, parenting, and birth videos >
Weight gain in pregnancy – NHS
Weight gain in pregnancy varies greatly. Most pregnant women gain between 10kg and 12.5kg (22lb to 28lb), putting on most of the weight after week 20.
Much of the extra weight is due to your baby growing, but your body will also be storing fat, ready to make breast milk after your baby is born.
Putting on too much or too little weight can lead to health problems for you or your unborn baby.
Gaining too much weight
Putting on too much weight can affect your health and increase your blood pressure.
But pregnancy isn’t the time to go on a diet, as it may harm the health of the unborn child.
It’s important that you eat healthily.
Gaining too much weight can increase your risk of complications.
These include:
- gestational diabetes: too much glucose (sugar) in your blood during pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes, which increases your risk of having a large baby
- pre-eclampsia: a rise in blood pressure can be the first sign of pre-eclampsia; although most cases are mild and cause no trouble, it can be serious
Gaining too little weight
Gaining too little weight can cause problems such as premature birth and a baby with a low birth weight (less than 2.5kg or 5.5lb at birth).
It can also mean your body isn’t storing enough fat.
Lack of weight gain can be related to your diet and weight before you become pregnant.
But some naturally slim women stay slim while they’re pregnant and have healthy babies.
Staying active
Staying active is important while you’re pregnant, as it’ll prepare your body for labour and birth.
Keep up your normal daily activity or exercise, unless you have been advised by your midwife or GP not to exercise.
Advice about your weight
Your midwife or GP may have special advice for you if you have a body mass index (BMI) of over 30 or below 18.5
If you’re concerned about your weight or any other aspect of your health while pregnant, ask your midwife or GP for advice.
Video: Where does my pregnancy weight come from?
In this video, a midwife discusses where the extra weight in pregnancy comes from.
Media last reviewed: 27 March 2020
Media review due: 27 March 2023
Further information
Read the answers to more questions about pregnancy.
- Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- Your antenatal care
- High blood pressure (hypertension) and pregnancy
Page last reviewed: 6 July 2022
Next review due: 6 July 2025
Overweight during pregnancy | Mamovediya
Overweight during pregnancy | Mamovediya – about the health and development of the child
As soon as a woman finds out that she is pregnant, fears begin to grow and accumulate in her. There are many fears and phobias, but the most common is the fear of losing your figure, gaining excess weight and never getting back in shape again in your life. Everyone solves this problem in different ways: someone starts keeping a food diary, counting calories and limiting himself in everything, and someone from nerves eats more and more, eating his excitement with sweets, and of course, gaining weight uncontrollably.
How to keep a normal shape during pregnancy? How not to gain too much and what is the danger of being overweight?
Stress and anxiety are more harmful to a pregnant woman than a little extra food . Having learned about pregnancy, you don’t need to come up with some kind of diet for yourself and sit on it, especially if you have never followed a diet. Pregnancy is not a disease, but a normal physiological state and there is no reason to change your lifestyle.
There is also the eternal question: how many kilograms is it permissible to gain during pregnancy?
No more than 2 kg per month is considered normal , i.e. approximately 400 g per week . But all women are different and the complexion too, someone loses in the first trimester during toxicosis, and then gains a lot, and someone gradually gains, but on average it is considered normal to gain 10-15 kg. Of course, if you have gained less, then this is even better, you will return to normal faster after childbirth.
Many are interested in the question, why do we gain weight so easily during pregnancy?
First of all, it depends on the woman’s lifestyle, after learning about pregnancy, symptoms such as weakness, drowsiness, impossibility of physical activity appear. Plus, if there are also some health problems, then most of the time is spent on the couch at home with the absorption of products that bring pleasure – buns, sweets, cakes, chocolate. The result, as you understand, after that, will not be long in coming.
But despite the fact that during pregnancy there are no prohibitions and you can eat just a little bit, it does not mean at all that there should be disordered eating behavior. All the same, the basis of the diet should be proteins and vegetables . Proteins, as you know, are the material for the construction of new cells; when eating, it is advisable to eat 120-140 grams of protein (meat, eggs) per meal. Thus, you will not feel hungry and desire something else to eat or snack.
If after eating you are drawn to sleep, then the food was oversaturated with simple sugars and carbohydrates.
Excess weight during pregnancy has a number of negative consequences for both mother and baby, namely: in women, especially if there is a predisposition
It is this state of stress that leads to worse consequences than a piece of sweet, selenium or fast food.
If your diet is the same as before pregnancy, you do not use the rule: “You need to eat for two”, then you will not be able to gain more than the norm. The gained weight will go away easily, quickly and you will return to your previous forms.
Articles on the topic “All about pregnancy”
All about pregnancy Child safety
Pregnancy and childbirth in a bomb shelter during the war
All about pregnancy Childbirth
What week of pregnancy should the baby turn head down
Pregnancy planning All about pregnancy
Pleasant moments in preparing for parenthood
All about pregnancy Tests
Acetone in pregnant women: causes and consequences
All about pregnancy Postpartum recovery Feeding Feeding a nursing mother Body care
Personal hygiene for pregnant and lactating
All about pregnancy
Do’s and don’ts for pregnant women
Pregnancy planning All about pregnancy
Physical and mental preparation for pregnancy
Pregnancy planning All about pregnancy Nutrition for pregnant women
900 its importance for the human body
All about pregnancy Postpartum recovery Feeding
The effect of breastfeeding on the mother’s body
Pregnancy planning Ovulation calendar All about pregnancy
Late ovulation and pregnancy: its causes and features
Popular
Body care
Calluses on the legs.
Water calluses Needle sticking and treatment
Parenting
Rules for raising children from 1 to 3 years
Acetonemia
The smell of acetone from the mouth of a child – what does it mean?
Feeding
Antibiotics and breastfeeding
Childbirth
Green water during childbirth – how dangerous is it?
Nutrition and daily routine
Nutrition of children in the second year
Problems of the first year of life Actual questions
Why does the child’s hair grow badly?
Physical and mental development
Newborn stool
Puberty
Puberty of boys – what should be said?
Nutrition for pregnant women
Nutrition for pregnant women by week
Weight category – articles from the specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”
— What norms of weight gain during pregnancy are doctors guided by today?
– The average increase for all nine months is from 9 to 14 kg.
The exact figure depends on many factors, but a sharp deviation in one direction or the other from the norm should be alarming. To calculate the allowable increase, the initial weight of the expectant mother should be taken into account: for example, women of a fragile physique (asthenic type) must gain more than initially obese women. In addition, it is important to consider the trimester of pregnancy.
— How does weight change in different trimesters?
– Weight gain throughout pregnancy is uneven: at the very beginning it is almost imperceptible, increases significantly towards the middle and may begin to decrease two weeks before delivery. In the first trimester, both weight gain and weight loss are considered normal. On average, during this period, the expectant mother is gaining from 1.5 to 2.5 kg. In the second trimester, the baby begins to grow actively and the numbers will be different: about 500 g per week for thin women, no more than 450 g for pregnant women with normal weight and no more than 300 g for full ones.
In the third trimester, the weight of the expectant mother should not increase by more than 300 g per week.
— Why do pregnant women gain weight?
– Contrary to popular belief, weight gain is not only due to the mass of a growing baby and body fat – they make up about half of the total figure. For nine months, a woman’s uterus increases, the volume of circulating blood and intercellular fluid increases, amniotic fluid and the placenta form.
— Why is excess weight dangerous?
– Rapid weight gain is common in multiple pregnancies, women who are underweight and too young mothers whose bodies are still developing. Often it is the result of normal overeating and requires adjustment of the diet. Diets and fasting days (especially the so-called “hungry”) during the period of bearing a child are strictly prohibited even if the pregnant woman is overweight. It is very important to ensure that the baby receives all the nutrients, vitamins and trace elements, so you just need to balance your diet accordingly.