Expected weight gain for pregnancy
Weight Gain During Pregnancy: How Much Is Normal?
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD on June 12, 2022
In this Article
- Where Does the Extra Weight Go During Pregnancy?
- Is It Safe to Lose Weight When Pregnant?
- How to Gain the Right Amount of Weight During Pregnancy
- What if You Gain Too Much Weight During Pregnancy?
- When to Call Your Doctor
Eating a healthy, balanced diet will help your baby get the nutrients they need and grow at a healthy rate. But how many extra calories do you really need?
Though you do need some extra calories, it's not necessary to ''eat for two.'' The average pregnant woman needs only about 300 healthycalories more a day than they did before they were pregnant. This will help them gain the right amount of weight during pregnancy.
Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain. A woman who was average weight before getting pregnant should gain 25 to 35 pounds after becoming pregnant. Underweight women should gain 28 to 40 pounds. And overweight women may need to gain only 15 to 25 pounds during pregnancy.
In general, you should gain about 2 to 4 pounds during the first 3 months you're pregnant and 1 pound a week during the rest of your pregnancy. If you are expecting twins you should gain 35 to 45 pounds during your pregnancy. This would be an average of 1 ½ pounds per week after the usual weight gain in the first 3 months.
It's especially important to gain the right amount of weight when you're expecting twins because your weight affects the babies' weight. And because twins are often born before the due date, a higher birth weight is important for their health. When carrying twins, you may need between 3,000 and 3,500 calories a day.
Where Does the Extra Weight Go During Pregnancy?
- Baby: 8 pounds
- Placenta: 2-3 pounds
- Amniotic fluid: 2-3 pounds
- Breast tissue: 2-3 pounds
- Blood supply: 4 pounds
- Stored fat for delivery and breastfeeding: 5-9 pounds
- Larger uterus: 2-5 pounds
- Total: 25-35 pounds
Is It Safe to Lose Weight When Pregnant?
If a woman is very overweight when they get pregnant, their doctor may want them to lose weight.
They should only lose weight under their doctor's care. But in most cases, women should not try to lose weight or diet during pregnancy.
How to Gain the Right Amount of Weight During Pregnancy
If your health care provider wants you to gain weight while you're pregnant, try these tips:
- Eat five to six small meals every day.
- Keep quick, easy snacks on hand, such as nuts, raisins, cheese and crackers, dried fruit, and ice cream or yogurt.
- Spread peanut butter on toast, crackers, apples, bananas, or celery. One tablespoon of creamy peanut butter gives you about 100 calories and 7 grams of protein.
- Add nonfat powdered milk to mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and hot cereal.
- Add extras to your meal, such as butter or margarine, cream cheese, gravy, sour cream, and cheese.
What if You Gain Too Much Weight During Pregnancy?
If you have gained more weight than your doctor recommended, talk to your doctor about it. In most cases, you'll want to wait until after delivery to lose weight.
Here are some tips to slow your weight gain:
- When eating fast food, choose lower-fat items such as broiled chicken breast sandwich with tomato and lettuce (no sauce or mayonnaise), side salad with low-fat dressing, plain bagels, or a plain baked potato. Avoid foods such as French fries, mozzarella sticks, or breaded chicken patties.
- Avoid whole milk products. You need at least four servings of milk products every day. However, using skim, 1%, or 2% milk will greatly reduce the amount of calories and fat you eat. Also, choose low-fat or fat-free cheese or yogurt.
- Limit sweet or sugary drinks. Sweetened drinks such as soft drinks, fruit punch, fruit drinks, iced tea, lemonade, or powdered drink mixes have lots of empty calories. Choose water, club soda, or mineral water to skip extra calories.
- Don't add salt to foods when cooking. Salt causes you to retain water.
- Limit sweets and high-calorie snacks. Cookies, candies, donuts, cakes, syrup, honey, and potato chips have a lot of calories and little nutrition.
Try not to eat these foods every day. Instead, try fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt, angel food cake with strawberries, or pretzels as lower-calorie snack and dessert choices. - Use fats in moderation. Fats include cooking oils, margarine, butter, gravy, sauces, mayonnaise, regular salad dressings, sauces, lard, sour cream, and cream cheese. Try lower-fat alternatives.
- Cook food the healthy way. Frying foods in oil or butter will add calories and fat. Baking, broiling, grilling, and boiling are healthier preparation methods.
- Exercise. Moderate exercise can help burn excess calories. Walking or swimming is usually safe for pregnant women. Ask your health care provider what exercise would be right for you before getting started.
When to Call Your Doctor
Talk to your doctor if you:
- Want to know a good target weight gain for you
- Think you are gaining too much weight
- Are losing weight during the second or third trimester
- Have an eating disorder that is keeping you from eating a healthy amount of food
- Need help setting a good menu plan to gain a healthy amount of weight
- Gain weight rapidly.
This could be a sign of preeclampsia, pregnancy-related high blood pressure, a serious health issue
Health & Pregnancy Guide
- Getting Pregnant
- First Trimester
- Second Trimester
- Third Trimester
- Labor and Delivery
- Pregnancy Complications
- All Guide Topics
Managing your weight gain during pregnancy: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Most women should gain somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds (11.5 to 16 kilograms) during pregnancy. Most will gain 2 to 4 pounds (1 to 2 kilograms) during the first trimester, and then 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) a week for the rest of the pregnancy. The amount of weight gain depends on your situation.
- Overweight women need to gain less (15 to 25 pounds or 7 to 11 kilograms or less, depending on their pre-pregnancy weight).
- Underweight women will need to gain more (28 to 40 pounds or 13 to 18 kilograms).
- You should gain more weight if you are having more than 1 baby. Women having twins need to gain 37 to 54 pounds (16.5 to 24.5 kilograms).
A balanced, nutrient-rich diet, along with exercise, is the basis for a healthy pregnancy. For most pregnant women, the right amount of calories is:
- 1,800 calories per day in the 1st trimester
- 2,200 calories per day in the 2nd trimester
- 2,400 calories per day in the 3rd trimester
Much of the weight that you gain during pregnancy is not fat, but is related to the baby. Here is a breakdown of how 35 pounds (16 kilograms) adds up:
- Baby: 8 pounds (3.5 kilograms)
- Placenta: 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.5 kilograms)
- Amniotic fluid: 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.5 kilograms)
- Breast tissue: 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.5 kilograms)
- Blood supply: 4 pounds (2 kilograms)
- Fat stores: 5 to 9 pounds (2.5 to 4 kilograms)
- Uterus growth: 2 to 5 pounds (1 to 2.5 kilograms)
Some women are already overweight when they get pregnant.
Other women gain weight too quickly during their pregnancy. Either way, a pregnant woman should not go on a diet or try to lose weight during pregnancy.
It is better to focus on eating the right foods and staying active. If you do not gain enough weight during pregnancy, you and your baby may have problems.
Still, you can make changes in your diet to get the nutrients you need without gaining too much weight. Talk to your health care provider to get help with planning a healthy diet.
Below are some healthy eating tips to help you get started.
Healthy choices:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables make good snacks. They are full of vitamins and low in calories and fat.
- Eat breads, crackers, and cereals made with whole grains.
- Choose reduced-fat dairy products. You need at least 4 servings of milk products every day. However, using skim, 1%, or 2% milk will greatly reduce the amount of calories and fat you eat. Also choose low-fat or fat-free cheese or yogurt.
Foods to avoid:
- Naturally sweetened is better than foods and drinks with added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
- Food and drinks that list sugar or corn syrup as one of the first ingredients are not good choices.
- Many sweetened drinks are high in calories. Read the label and watch out for drinks that are high in sugar. Substitute water for sodas and fruit drinks.
- Avoid junk-food snacks, such as chips, candy, cake, cookies, and ice cream. The best way to keep from eating junk food or other unhealthy snacks is to not have these foods in your house.
- Go light on fats. Fats include cooking oils, margarine, butter, gravy, sauces, mayonnaise, regular salad dressings, lard, sour cream, and cream cheese. Try the lower-fat versions of these foods.
Eating out:
- Knowing the amount of calories, fat, and salt in your food can help you eat healthier.
- Most restaurants have menus and nutrition facts on their websites. Use these to plan ahead.
- In general, eat at places that offer salads, soups, and vegetables.
- Avoid fast food.
Cooking at home:
- Prepare meals using low-fat cooking methods.
- Avoid fried foods. Frying foods in oil or butter will increase the calories and fat of the meal.
- Baking, broiling, grilling, and boiling are healthier, lower-fat methods of cooking.
Exercise:
- Moderate exercise, as recommended by your provider, can help burn extra calories.
- Walking and swimming are generally safe, effective exercises for pregnant women.
- Be sure to talk to your provider before starting an exercise program.
If you have struggled with your weight in the past, it may be hard to accept that it is OK to gain weight now. It is normal to feel anxious as the numbers on the scale edge up.
Keep in mind that you need to gain weight for a healthy pregnancy. The extra pounds will come off after you have had your baby. However, if you gain a lot more weight than is recommended, your baby will also be bigger.
That can sometimes lead to problems with delivery. A healthy diet and regular exercise are your best ways to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Prenatal care - managing your weight
Berger DS, West EH. Nutrition during pregnancy. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe’s Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 6.
Bodnar LM, Himes KP. Maternal nutrition. In: Resnik R, Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, Copel JA, Silver RM, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 12.
Updated by: John D. Jacobson, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda Center for Fertility, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Browse the Encyclopedia
Weight gain during pregnancy - how not to gain weight?
Contents:
- What are the optimal weight limits?
- Pregnancy Weight Chart
- How to weigh yourself correctly during pregnancy
- Why does weight gain occur?
During pregnancy, it is important for a woman to eat a varied diet so as not to deprive the unborn baby of essential minerals and nutrients.
Both excessive weight gain and weight loss are equally dangerous. But evidence suggests that more than half of European and American women gain more weight during pregnancy than recommended 1 . So now is the time to give up what does not bring any benefit, but only extra pounds: sweet, fatty, fast food. Being overweight can cause problems during pregnancy and childbirth.
What are the optimal weight limits?
The average weight gain during pregnancy is about 10-12.5 kilograms 2 . But a child is born weighing 3-4 kilograms, where does everything else come from and when does the excess go away?
In addition to the fetus itself, the uterus and breasts become larger in preparation for feeding. Muscle and fat increase - the body stores energy.
This is how the weight gained by a woman during pregnancy is distributed on the eve of feeding,
0.9 kg - amniotic fluid,
1.4–1.8 kg - blood and organic fluids, thanks to which the child receives the necessary oxygen,
0.
9 kg - uterus (20 times more than normal weight),
0.7 kg - placenta, the main element through which the fetus receives nutrients.
Add the weight of the unborn baby, and you will get the approximate weight that a woman gains in nine months.
Doctors say that everything is individual and there are no uniform standards for how many kilograms to gain during pregnancy. But let things take their course, there is something horrible and you can’t completely forget about the scales. Watch your weight - you will avoid many problems during pregnancy and childbirth and easily return to your previous weight. You will have "strategic reserves" for feeding the baby. Don't worry, those extra pounds will go away as quickly as they appeared. But only on the condition that you eat right during pregnancy and lactation.
Pregnancy weight chart
The recommended weight gain during pregnancy for women with a normal body mass index is 11.5-16 kilograms. Those who are overweight during pregnancy are advised to gain a little less - from 7 to 11.
5 kilograms. Those who are expecting twins or triplets, on the contrary, should score more. For example, in a multiple pregnancy with twins for a woman of normal weight, the recommended weight gain is from 16.8 to 24.5 kilograms 3 .
Trimester weight gain during pregnancy varies 3 . A woman gains the least during the first trimester - from 1.6 to 2.3 kg. Nausea in the first trimester usually causes loss of appetite and some weight loss may occur.
In the second and third trimesters, a woman gains an average of 200 to 500 g per week.
Pregnancy weight gain: weekly chart, weight in kilograms
| Week | Minimum | Average weight | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| 15 | 1.6 | 2 | 2. 4 |
| 16 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.8 |
| 17 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 3.4 |
| 18 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.4 |
| 19 | 3 | 3.7 | 4.5 |
| 20 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 5 |
| 21 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 5.6 |
| 22 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 6.2 |
| 23 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 6.9 |
| 24 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 7.4 |
| 25 | 5.3 | 6.6 | 8 |
| 26 | 5.6 | 7 | 8.5 |
| 27 | 6 | 7.5 | 9 |
| 28 | 6.3 | 7.9 | 9.5 |
| 29 | 6.7 | 8.3 | 9.9 |
| 30 | 7 | 8. 7 | 10.4 |
| 31 | 7.3 | 9 | 10.8 |
| 32 | 7.5 | 9.4 | 11.3 |
| 33 | 7.8 | 9.7 | 11.7 |
| 34 | 8.1 | 10.1 | 12.1 |
| 35 | 8.4 | 10.5 | 12.6 |
| 36 | 8.6 | 10.8 | 13 |
| 37 | 9 | 11.2 | 13.5 |
| 38 | 9.3 | 11.6 | 14 |
| 39 | 9.4 | 11.7 | 14.1 |
| 40 | 9.5 | 11.8 | 14.2 |
How to weigh yourself correctly during pregnancy
Doctors do not recommend weighing yourself daily, it is not always informative, fluctuations are not always noticeable, the error is large, and in general this can lead to unnecessary worries.
The correct option: control the weight once a week, in the morning, on an empty stomach. It is important to use the same scales, now the priority is “dynamics”. Weigh yourself only at home or in the office of your gynecologist.
Why does weight gain occur?
Excess weight is caused by hormonal changes in the body, which makes the expectant mother constantly feel hungry. Many pregnant women decide that now they need to eat for two. No need. Just eat twice as good - more varied, more correct, but not more.
Sources:
* Not a drug. dietary supplement. There are contraindications. ** Estimated period of use within the Elevit line of vitamin and mineral complexes. According to the instructions, Elevit Pronatal can be used at the stage of pregnancy planning, during pregnancy, after childbirth and during breastfeeding.
- Healthy maternal nutrition: a better start to life report WHO, Regional Office for Europe 2016.
- https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/how-much-weight-will-i-put-on-during-my-pregnancy/
- Poston L.
Gestational weight gain // https://www.uptodate.com/contents/gestational-weight-gain, accessed 07.10.2018.
CH-20220504-32
Pregnancy weight gain rate: weight gain chart
09/23/2019 7988
Article content
- What determines weight gain during pregnancy
- Pregnancy weight gain rates
- Insufficient weight gain during pregnancy
- Excess weight gain during pregnancy
Pregnancy is a special period in every way. An expectant mother sometimes has to adjust her lifestyle, daily routine, nutrition and carefully follow all the recommendations of her doctor. But special attention for all pregnant women requires control over body weight.
Both the development of the baby and the health of the woman depend on this.
What determines weight gain during pregnancy
Long-term observations and studies have led to the conclusion that both excessive weight gain and underweight in a pregnant woman can increase the risk of complications for both the mother and the fetus. Based on this information, an acceptable range of weight gain was determined, in which the likelihood of the risk of complications will be lower than with significant weight gain.
Nevertheless, we must not forget about the individual characteristics of each specific situation.
Age
Women over 35 and very young expectant mothers under 19 tend to gain more body weight during pregnancy. In the first case, the excess of the norms may be due to a natural slowdown in metabolic processes. And in the second - during early pregnancy, the woman herself continues to grow and develop, which also affects her weight.
Features of pregnancy
A multiple pregnancy is accompanied by a faster and more significant weight gain than with a single child. In women who immediately expect a significant replenishment in the family, an increased increase in body weight occurs not only due to the weight of the second (or even third, fourth) fetus, but also due to a greater increase in the volume of circulating blood, the mass of the uterus, the second placenta (when bearing twins) .
Constitution
If the physique of a woman is of the hypersthenic type and / or she was overweight before pregnancy, then her body weight during pregnancy can increase faster and more than in women of the asthenic type.
Together, all of these factors can affect pregnancy weight and the rate of weight gain and should be taken into account when assessing how a woman's body weight meets individual standards.
This is important!
Do not forget that a woman's nutrition plays a big role.
Healthy food with a varied diet is what you need during pregnancy. Additional nutrition for pregnant women Nutrima Femilak will also help to fill the deficiency of vitamins.
Pregnancy weight gain rates
Today, the most correct range of expected weight gain is recognized, which is calculated according to the body mass index (BMI) of a woman. It is calculated as follows. Weight in kilograms must be divided by height in meters, which is squared. For example, if the weight of 65.3 kg is divided by the square of the height of 1.72 m (1.72 x 1.72), it turns out 22.07. This number will mean BMI. After obtaining the body mass index, you can be guided by a table that shows the normal weight gain during pregnancy.
Recommended weight gain
| Category | BMI | for the entire pregnancy (kg) | weekly (kg/week) (2nd and 3rd trimester) |
|---|---|---|---|
| underweight | < 18. 5 | 12.5-18.0 | 0.44-0.58 |
| normal body weight | 18.5-24.9 | 11.5-16.0 | 0.35-0.50 |
| Excess body weight | 25.0-29.0 | 7.0-11.0 | 0.23-0.33 |
| Obesity | ≥30.0 | 5.0-9.0 | 0.17-0.27 |
The weight gain shown in the table is the recommended range for singleton pregnancies.
The rate of weight gain during pregnancy by weeks also helps to navigate the need to adjust the diet, drinking regimen or physical activity, but it should be understood that these indicators are less accurate. This is due to the fact that for many women throughout pregnancy, appetite, gastronomic preferences change greatly, and the peculiarities of pregnancy in one period or another may lead to the need to limit physical activity, which also leads to more pronounced weight gain during "sedentary" periods. weeks.
An important factor is the time of year. In the summer months, there may be a stronger fluid retention in the body, as a result of which body weight increases faster than in the autumn-winter period. Therefore, the calculation of weight gain by weeks should be entrusted to your doctor, who will take into account all the features and circumstances.
During pregnancy, you want to look attractive no less, if not more, than usual.
But during this period, you should forget about diets and restrictions. With too slow or insufficient increase in body weight, this is not a figure, but a nutritional deficiency in the fetus. Women with poor weight gain are more likely to have weak and low birth weight babies.
Among the reasons why the weight of a pregnant woman does not increase well, the most common is early toxicosis, accompanied by nausea, malaise, and vomiting. In this case, even a decrease in body weight can be observed, since the woman simultaneously develops nutritional deficiencies and dehydration. Also, insufficient weight gain may be associated with any chronic diseases of the digestive system. Against the background of a body weight deficit, a future mother is recommended to have a balanced diet, a mandatory correction of the work and rest regimen. According to the indications, therapy is carried out aimed at the cause of insufficient weight gain.
Excess weight gain during pregnancy
There can be many reasons for excess weight gain during pregnancy.
Among them are misconceptions about nutrition and an inappropriate increase in the calorie content of the diet (the expectant mother should eat for two), as well as limiting physical activity for fear of harming the fetus and yourself. But if the state of health of a woman does not cause concern, then such precautions are excessive and, instead of the expected benefits, bring only excessive weight gain.
Pathological weight gain poses a great threat to both the mother and the fetus, increasing the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Women with rapid weight gain during pregnancy are recommended to limit quickly digestible carbohydrates (sweet, fast food), high-calorie foods, and salt. Particular attention should be given to the water load.
Depending on the general health of the woman, she may also be prescribed exercise therapy or other forms of physical activity.
This is important!
Pathological weight gain during pregnancy is not always associated with significant nutritional errors.
