Pregnancy Weight Gain

All expectant women experience a weight gain with pregnancy -- but how much is normal? Your weight gain should be gradual and, on average, should be about 25 to 30 pounds. This amount will vary, depending on how much you weighed before becoming pregnant. By taking steps to ensure a healthy weight gain, it will be easier for you to resume your normal weight later.

 

An Introduction to Weight Gain and Pregnancy

Gaining a healthy amount of weight may help you have a more comfortable pregnancy and delivery. It also may help you have fewer pregnancy complications, such as:
 

Specific Guidelines

You should gain weight gradually during your pregnancy, with most of the weight gained in the
 third trimester. Good rates of weight gain are about two to four pounds during the first three months of pregnancy and three to four pounds per month for the rest of the pregnancy. The average total weight gain should be about 25 to 30 pounds. However, the amount you gain might be slightly less or more, depending on your weight before you became pregnant and your height.
 
General pregnancy weight-gain recommendations listed in the following table refer to pre-pregnancy weight and are for women expecting only one baby.
 
If you are: underweight
You should gain: about 27 to 40 pounds
If you are: normal weight
You should gain: about 25 to 35 pounds
If you are: overweight
You should gain: about 15 to 25 pounds
If you are: obese
You should gain: about 15 pounds or less
 
Check with your doctor to find out how much pregnancy weight gain is healthy for you.
 
Recent research shows that women whose weight gain is more than the recommended amount during pregnancy and who fail to lose this weight within six months after giving birth are at a higher risk of being obese nearly 10 years later.
 
(Pregnancy Weight Gain Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD