How much weight gain in 2nd trimester

The Second Trimester of Pregnancy: Weight & Other Changes

The Second Trimester of Pregnancy: Weight & Other Changes | Healthline

Health Conditions
- Featured
  - Breast Cancer
  - IBD
  - Migraine
  - Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  - Rheumatoid Arthritis
  - Type 2 Diabetes
- Articles
  - Acid Reflux
  - ADHD
  - Allergies
  - Alzheimer's & Dementia
  - Bipolar Disorder
  - Cancer
  - Crohn's Disease
  - Chronic Pain
  - Cold & Flu
  - COPD
  - Depression
  - Fibromyalgia
  - Heart Disease
  - High Cholesterol
  - HIV
  - Hypertension
  - IPF
  - Osteoarthritis
  - Psoriasis
  - Skin Disorders and Care
  - STDs
Discover
- Wellness Topics
  - Nutrition
  - Fitness
  - Skin Care
  - Sexual Health
  - Women's Health
  - Mental Well-Being
  - Sleep
- Product Reviews
  - Vitamins & Supplements
  - Sleep
  - Mental Health
  - Nutrition
  - At-Home Testing
  - CBD
  - Men’s Health
- Original Series
  - Fresh Food Fast
  - Diagnosis Diaries
  - You’re Not Alone
  - Present Tense
- Video Series
  - Youth in Focus
  - Healthy Harvest
  - No More Silence
  - Future of Health
Plan
- Health Challenges
  - Mindful Eating
  - Sugar Savvy
  - Move Your Body
  - Gut Health
  - Mood Foods
  - Align Your Spine
- Find Care
  - Primary Care
  - Mental Health
  - OB-GYN
  - Dermatologists
  - Neurologists
  - Cardiologists
  - Orthopedists
- Lifestyle Quizzes
  - Weight Management
  - Am I Depressed? A Quiz for Teens
  - Are You a Workaholic?
  - How Well Do You Sleep?
- Tools & Resources
  - Health News
  - Find a Diet
  - Find Healthy Snacks
  - Drugs A-Z
  - Health A-Z
Connect
- - Breast Cancer
  - Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  - Psoriatic Arthritis
  - Migraine
  - Multiple Sclerosis
  - Psoriasis

Medically reviewed by Nicole Galan, RN — By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA on March 29, 2016

The second trimester

The second trimester of pregnancy starts at week 13 and lasts until week 28. The second trimester has its fair share of discomforts, but doctors consider it a time of reduced nausea and greater energy.

What weight gain should I expect in the second trimester?

At the start of the second trimester, your baby weighs nearly 1.5 ounces. When you reach the end of this trimester, they’ll weigh almost 2 pounds. That’s a lot of growth in a few months. The rate of growth will only increase in your next trimester.

The increase in your baby’s weight will cause an increase in your own weight. Your body will continue to increase your blood and fluid volume, which adds weight. Soon, you will start to feel your baby move.

The amount of weight you can expect to gain during the second trimester will vary based on your pre-pregnancy weight. Your doctor should calculate your body mass index (BMI) early in your pregnancy. Based on your BMI, your doctor can estimate how much weight you should gain. According to the Institute of Medicine, women who are:

underweight, or have a BMI under 18. 5, should gain 28-40 pounds
normal weight, or have a BMI between 18.5-24.9, should gain 25-35 pounds
overweight, or have a BMI between 25-29.9 , should gain 15-25 pounds
obese, or have a BMI over 30, should gain 11-20 pounds

If you were very sick in your first trimester of pregnancy, you may have lost weight or your weight may have stayed the same. You may gain weight in the second trimester to compensate for this loss.

Your doctor will weigh you and estimate your baby’s weight with each monthly visit. Ask them if you’re concerned you’re gaining too much or too little weight.

What skin changes should I expect in the second trimester?

The second trimester can bring about several changes in your skin. You may be wondering at this time what’s normal and what isn’t. Here are a few examples of common changes that occur during your second trimester.

Stretch marks

As your belly continues to expand during the second trimester, you may start to notice some stretch marks. These are areas where your belly is growing faster than your skin can keep up with. As a result, the skin tears slightly and stretch marks are created. You will most likely see them on your stomach and your breasts. These areas enlarge the most during pregnancy.

Not every mom-to-be will get stretch marks, but many do. A variety of creams claim to reduce stretch marks, but they haven’t been proven to do so. They can, however, make your skin less itchy. Avoiding excessive weight gain during your second trimester also can help reduce the incidence of stretch marks. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned you have gained too much weight.

After you give birth, your stretch marks will most likely begin to fade. However, it can be difficult to completely eliminate them.

Linea nigra

Linea nigra, or dark line, often appears in your second trimester of pregnancy, usually around five months. This is a dark, usually brown line that runs from your belly button to your pelvis. Some women also have the line above the belly button. The dark line is caused by the placenta creating more hormones. These are the same hormones that can also cause melasma and make your nipples appear darker.

Melasma

Melasma is also known as the “mask of pregnancy.” It’s another symptom associated with increased amounts of estrogen and progesterone. This causes the body to make more melanin, a brown pigment. In addition to linea nigra, you may also notice patches of brown or darkened skin on your face.

Pregnancy makes you especially sun-sensitive. You should wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater on your face before going outdoors. This can prevent melasma from getting worse while you’re pregnant. Doctors don’t usually recommend treating melasma. For most women, it goes away after childbirth.

Your doctor can prescribe topical medications to lighten the pigmented areas if your melasma doesn’t go away after you give birth. Always talk to your doctor about the safety of using these topical items and breast-feeding.

What discomforts should I expect in the second trimester?

Adding 15 pounds of weight in three months can lead to increased discomfort, particularly in your lower back. Your growing belly can also place extra stress on your back.

Ways to reduce second trimester-related lower back pain include:

sleeping on your left side with a pillow between your legs
avoiding lifting heavy items
avoiding high-heeled shoes
sitting in supportive and straight-backed chairs
maintaining good posture whenever possible
getting pregnancy massages
applying heat or cold in 10-minute increments to your back

Round ligament pain

The round ligament supports the uterus, and stretches as the uterus grows. Ligaments contract in a similar way to muscles. When these ligaments are stretched from pregnancy, anything that makes them contract quickly can cause pain. Actions that make these ligaments contract quickly include:

standing up quickly
coughing
laughing
sneezing

Changing positions slowly or flexing you’re your hips before coughing or sneezing can help this pain. You should only feel this pain for a few seconds. Call your doctor if this pain is severe or if it lasts for several minutes.

Varicose veins

Added weight can also lead to sore legs and varicose veins. Your growing uterus places extra pressure on a large vein that travels to the legs, called the vena cava. When the uterus pushes excessively on the vena cava, varicose veins can form. These are noticeable veins in the legs that can sometimes make standing uncomfortable.

Ways you can relieve painful varicose veins include:

propping your legs up whenever possible
avoiding sleeping on your back, which puts extra pressure on your vena cava
wearing support hose, which promote blood flow back from your feet
avoiding sitting with your legs crossed
stretching your legs frequently

Always check with your doctor to make sure there aren’t any reasons you shouldn’t wear support hose. Also, let your doctor know if varicose veins cause you so much pain that you have trouble walking.

Leg cramps

Leg cramps are common in pregnancy and often happen at night. If you develop a leg cramp, stretch the muscle. You can prevent future cramps by:

staying active
drinking plenty of fluids
stretching your calf muscles before bed

Dizziness

During pregnancy, your blood vessels dilate. This causes your blood pressure to drop. Sometimes your blood pressure might drop too much and you may begin to feel dizzy. Staying hydrated and lying on your left side can help you manage dizziness.

Bleeding gums or nose

Increased hormones can heighten your risk of bleeding during the second trimester. You also have a lot more blood flowing through your body. As a result, you can experience increased bleeding. This bleeding can occur in your nose due to airway swelling. You may also notice snoring and increased congestion.

Ways to relieve or reduce nosebleeds include:

avoiding secondhand smoke
breathing in steam from a vaporizer or hot shower
placing warm, moist towels over your face

You may also notice some blood on your toothbrush when you brush your teeth. The increased blood volume can cause your gums to become softer and more vulnerable to bleeding. You may wish to use a softer-bristled toothbrush during pregnancy. Don’t give up on your dental routine, however. Brushing and flossing are still vital. You can talk to your dentist if you’re concerned your gums are bleeding too much.

What is the outlook?

The second trimester is a time when your pregnancy feels even more real. You will start to sense your baby moving. You’ll also start to appear pregnant to the outside world. While the second trimester has its share of discomforts, there are many ways to reduce the pain.

Last medically reviewed on March 29, 2016

Parenthood
Pregnancy
2nd Trimester

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

2nd trimester: What to expect. (2015)
summahealth.org/medicalservices/womens/aboutourservices/maternity-services/pregnancy-overview/second-trimester
Changes in your body during pregnancy: Second trimester. (2015, October)
familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/pregnancy-newborns/your-body/changes-in-your-body-during-pregnancy-second-trimester.html
Fetal development: Second trimester. (2015, August)
americanpregnancy.org/while-pregnant/second-trimester/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2015, January 15). Fetal development: The 2nd trimester
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/fetal-development/art-20046151
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, May 5). Second trimester pregnancy: What to expect
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047732
Mothers’ physical changes during the second trimester. (2013, August 11)
healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/articles/mothers-physical-changes-during-second-trimester
Round ligament pain. (2015, July)
americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/round-ligament-pain-during-pregnancy/
Stages of pregnancy. (2010, September 27)
womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/stages-of-pregnancy.html#b
Weight gain during pregnancy: Reexamining the guidelines. (2009, May)
nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2009/Weight-Gain-During-Pregnancy-Reexamining-the-Guidelines/Report%20Brief%20-%20Weight%20Gain%20During%20Pregnancy.pdf
Your baby’s development: The second trimester. (2011, February)
familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/pregnancy-newborns/fetal-health/your-babys-development-the-second-trimester.html

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Mar 29, 2016

Written By

Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA

Edited By

Nizam Khan (TechSpace)

Medically Reviewed By

Nicole Galan, RN

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Nicole Galan, RN — By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA on March 29, 2016

Second trimester may be key for regulating weight gain during pregnancy

Health news

May 4, 2012, 10:42 PM UTC

By Trevor Stokes

By Rachael Rettner

MyHealthNewsDaily

The second trimester of pregnancy may be a crucial period of time for women to stick to weight-gain recommendations, a new study says.

Overweight or obese women who gained an excessive amount of weight during the second trimester had a greater than 90 percent chance of gaining too much weight by the end of pregnancy, the study found.

On the other hand, normal-weight women who stayed within the recommend guidelines for weight gain during the second trimester had a 77 percent chance of staying on track to gain the appropriate amount of weight at the end of pregnancy.

The findings suggest that interventions to keep pregnant women on track to meet the recommended weight-gain guidelines could be started as early as the second trimester.

"If you tell somebody, 'you should have put on less weight [in pregnancy],' it doesn’t help the person very much," said study researcher Rüdiger von Kries, of the Institute of Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich in Germany. The new finding identifies the problem (too little or too much weight gain) at a time when a woman can still do something about it, von Kries said.

The amount of weight a woman should gain in pregnancy depends on her starting weight. The Institute of Medicine recommends normal-weight women gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, underweight women gain 28 to 40 pounds, overweight woman gain 15 to 25 pounds, and obese woman gain 11 to 20 pounds.

By the end of the second trimester, the IOM recommends normal weight women gain no more than 20 pounds, and obese women gain no more than 10 pounds.

Dietary advice given in mid-pregnancy could increase weight in women with inadequate pregnancy weight gain, and physical activity and weight monitoring could reduce weight in women with excessive pregnancy weight gain, the researchers said.

In the new study, researchers gathered information from 7,962 pregnant women living in Germany. The researchers used medical records to obtain the women's pre-pregnancy weight, as well as the course of their weight gain during pregnancy. They used the Institute of Medicine guidelines to calculate the amount of weight each woman should have gained in each week of pregnancy, depending on her starting weight (the rate of weight gain is slower in the first trimester, compared with the second and third. )

Normal-weight women who gained too much weight in the second trimester had a 74 percent chance of gaining too much weight by the end of their pregnancy, the results showed.

Underweight women who gained too little weight during the second trimester had a 72 percent chance of gaining too little weight by the end of their pregnancy.

Overweight women who gained too much weigh in the second trimester had a 94 percent chance, and obese women a 93 percent chance, of gaining too much weight by the end of pregnancy.

Too little weight gain in pregnancy can lead to complications such as preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age infants, while too much weight gain in pregnancy can lead to gestational diabetes as well as an increased risk of health problems for the child, such as childhood obesity, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The study was published online May 2 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Related:

11 Big Fat Pregnancy Myths
Lose Weight Smartly: 7 Little-Known Tricks that Shave Pounds
Top 10 Baby Stores

Trevor Stokes

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 typical for multiple pregnancies, underweight women 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.

Excess weight may occur due to fluid retention, which manifests itself in the form of edema. By the way, this is especially true for working pregnant women: sedentary work provokes stagnation of fluid in the lower extremities and pathological weight gain. In this case, wearing compression stockings, leg exercises and regular walking is recommended.

— Is slow weight gain dangerous, on the contrary?

- Some expectant mothers gain the first kilograms only after the 14th week - usually for petite women who do not have a genetic predisposition to be overweight or women suffering from toxicosis. In the first case, weight gains slowly throughout all nine months, which, if the pregnant woman feels normal, should not cause concern. If we talk about early toxicosis, then by the second trimester the malaise usually disappears, body weight returns to normal and weight gain goes on as usual.

Weight during pregnancy. What increase is considered optimal?

Why is excessive weight gain during pregnancy particularly harmful? What should be the calorie content of the diet? How to build your diet so that you can eat varied (and tasty), but at the same time not gain too much? Let's figure it out.

What makes up weight gain during pregnancy?

An increase in the subcutaneous fat layer during pregnancy is a normal and natural process.

While the baby is growing inside you, he needs energy and external protection. But during pregnancy, weight increases not only and not so much due to the adipose tissue of the mother: there is more fluid in the body, the uterus grows, the fetus and placenta develop, and the breasts increase in preparation for the feeding process.

Interestingly, weight loss during the period of toxicosis can later provoke its increase: the body will try to regain what was lost.

Expectant mothers especially actively gain weight in the second trimester and the beginning of the third, but closer to childbirth, a pregnant woman can even lose 1-2 kilograms.

As long as the weight increases more or less evenly and does not go beyond the upper limit of the norm, there is nothing to worry about. But if your weight is rapidly going up, you should be wary.

How to correctly calculate the weight, and what increase is considered optimal?

In Russian obstetric practice, it is generally accepted that the total gain should not exceed 12 kg. for the entire pregnancy. Of these 12 kg. 5-6 accounts for the fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid, another 1.5-2 - for an increase in the uterus and mammary glands, and only 3-3.5 - for the fat mass of a woman.

But this is a general indicator, a kind of "average temperature in the hospital." The optimal increase is calculated individually and depends on the initial weight of the pregnant woman, her age, the number of fetuses and the size of the child (children), physical activity.

WHO recommends that optimal weight gain be calculated based on Body Mass Index (BMI).

It is determined by the formula: body weight (kg) / height squared (m).

BMI	Recommended weight gain
19. 8-26 (normal body weight)	12.5-15 kg
26.1-29 (overweight)	11.5 - 14 kg
over 29 (obese)	7-9 kg

How to calculate the optimal weight gain?

To do this, use the following chart:

Calculate your BMI: divide your initial weight in kg. for height in meters squared.

For example, your “pre-pregnancy” weight was 60 kg with a height of 170 cm.

BMI = 60: (170 x 170) = 20.76.

A BMI less than 18.5 indicates underweight. Indicators from 18.5 to 25 are within the norm, from 25 to 30 are above the norm, and a figure greater than 30 indicates obesity.
Now that you know your BMI, find the optimal weekly increase in the table and compare it with yours.

Week of pregnancy	Underweight before pregnancy (BMI less than 18. 5)	Normal pre-pregnancy weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9)	Overweight before pregnancy (BMI over 30)
4	0-0.9 kg	0-0.7 kg	0-0.5 kg
6	0-1.4 kg	0-1 kg	0-0.6 kg
8	0-1.6 kg	0-1.2 kg	0-0.7 kg
10	0-1.8 kg	0-1.3 kg	0-0.8 kg
12	0-2 kg	0-1.5 kg	0-1 kg
14	0.5-2.7 kg	0.5-2 kg	0.5-1.2 kg
16	up to 3.6 kg	up to 3 kg	up to 1.4 kg
18	up to 4.6 kg	up to 4 kg	up to 2.3 kg
20	up to 6 kg	up to 5.9 kg	up to 2.9 kg
22	up to 7.2 kg	up to 7 kg	up to 3. 4 kg
24	up to 8.6 kg	up to 8.5 kg	up to 3.9 kg
26	up to 10 kg	up to 10 kg	up to 5 kg
28	up to 13 kg	up to 11 kg	up to 5.4 kg
30	up to 14 kg	up to 12 kg	up to 5.9 kg
32	up to 15 kg	up to 13 kg	up to 6.4 kg
34	up to 16 kg	up to 14 kg	up to 7.3 kg
36	up to 17 kg	up to 15 kg	up to 7.9 kg
38	up to 18 kg	up to 16 kg	up to 8.6 kg
40	up to 18 kg	up to 16 kg	up to 9.1 kg

Recently, doctors are increasingly talking about an individual approach and urge not to panic if the increase is slightly beyond the normal range. When assessing the state of health of a pregnant woman, the doctor focuses not only on weight, but also takes into account the results of tests and examinations and other important indicators.

Why is excessive weight gain dangerous?

Gaining extra pounds can lead to gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, or cause a caesarean section.

In addition, excessive weight gain during pregnancy may increase the risk of obesity and associated cardiovascular disease.

What can I do to keep my weight within normal limits during pregnancy?

First of all, consult a nutritionist. If there is no such doctor in the antenatal clinic, it makes sense to contact a specialist on a commercial basis. He will develop an individual diet, which will contain all the useful elements, and will offer to keep a food diary. It will also tell you how to eat right and weigh yourself.
To prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy, it is enough to follow simple rules of a healthy diet:

Eat often and in small portions;
Always keep a “healthy snack” on hand: fresh apple wedges, unsweetened crackers, dried fruit, or sugar-free yogurt;
Refuse soda, chips, sausages and sausages;
Minimize sweets;
Avoid fast food;
Limit the use of condiments, especially salt, which retains water in the body;
Choose steamed dishes;
Eat more fiber-rich foods such as whole grain bread, bran, vegetables;

The diet of a pregnant woman should be varied. Include grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat and fish, legumes, or nuts.

It must be remembered that expectant mothers should never starve and adhere to extreme diets.

How many calories per day do you need during pregnancy?

It is difficult to calculate the energy value per day on your own, and then strictly adhere to a certain number of calories, and it is not necessary, unless it is recommended by a nutritionist or endocrinologist. On average, you can aim for 2000-2500 calories per day, but it is important to understand that the need for calories depends on many factors: age, initial weight, health status and level of physical activity.

When should I be on the alert?

Strictly speaking, it is better for a pregnant woman not to worry and entrust her condition to a doctor who will monitor the development of pregnancy, analyzes and monitor weight. It is important to take tests to determine the level of fasting blood glucose once a trimester.