Weight Gain during Pregnancy

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"Where does all the weight I gain go during pregnancy?"

Baby: 7 to 8 pounds

Fat: 6 to 8 pounds

Increase in blood: 3 to 4 pounds

Water retention in your tissue: 2 to 3 pounds

Bag of water (amniotic fluid): 2 pounds

Breast enlargement: 1 to 3 pounds

Uterus: 2 pounds

Afterbirth: 1.5 pounds

"So how much weight should I gain?"
Determining what is a normal amount of weight to gain during pregnancy is individual to each mother. The recommended weight gain depends on if you start your pregnancy underweight, overweight or at a normal weight. You can use any BMI table (Body Mass Index) to calculate your beginning weight classification. You just need to know your weight and height to calculate your current weight classification.

Based on your BMI weight classification you will want to try to achieve the following recommended weight gain goals:

Underweight - weight gain of 28-40 pounds

Normal Weight - weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds

Overweight - weight gain of 11 to 20 pounds

Obese - weight gain of 11 to 20 pounds

Facts about your weight gain

• Your risk of having a cesarean delivery increases when you gain more weight than recommended.
  
  
• Your chances of delivering early are higher if you gain less weight than recommended.
  
  
• If you do not gain the recommended amount of weight, you may deliver a smaller baby.
  
  
• If you gain over the recommended amount of weight, chances are you will deliver a larger infant (greater than 8lbs 10oz).
  
  
• If you gain over the recommended amount of weight, you will have water retention longer after delivery.

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