The amount of weight a woman will gain during pregnancy depends on a number of
factors, including their height and pre-pregnancy weight. Women who are carrying
twins, triplets or more will be encouraged to gain more weight than women who
are carrying a single baby. In general, most women will gain between 15-35
pounds during their pregnancy. The amount you gain will depend on whether you
are under, over or normal weight prior to conception.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists provides the following
guidelines during pregnancy:
Approximately 34 pound gain for underweight women
25 to 35 pounds for normal weight women
15-20 pounds for overweight women
How much weight you gain will depend on a number of factors including your
health, the number of babies you are carrying and your pre-pregnancy weight.
Women who are carrying twins will gain more weight than women who are carrying a
singleton, as much as 45-50 pounds depending on their pre-pregnancy weight.
Pregnancy Weight Distribution
Where does all this weight go?
Baby - At birth your baby may weigh between 6-7.5 pounds.
Uterus - The uterus expands during pregnancy and may weigh 2 pounds.
Placenta - The placenta, vital for nourishing your baby, generally
weighs 1.5 pounds.
Breasts - Breast tissue often grows during pregnancy, and may weigh up
to 1.5 to 2 pounds.
Blood Volume - Your blood volume will increase during pregnancy up to 4
pounds.
Fluid - Your body will retain some fluid during pregnancy, as much as 4
pounds!
Amniotic Fluid - The fluid surrounding your baby will weigh
approximately 2 pounds.
Maternal Fat Stores and Nutrients - You will also gain about 7 pounds of
weight that can be attributed to maternal fat and nutrient stores as well as
muscle development.
Most women will add on some fat to store for the baby, which is vital to
support energy and breastfeeding. These pounds generally come off relatively
easily after birth, so don't waste time stressing out about them during your
pregnancy! Pregnancy is not the time to diet!
Weight Gain during Pregnancy: A Synopsis Each time you visit your doctor for a prenatal visit, your doctor will probably
assess your weight gain. Excessive weight gain between any two visits might be
an early warning sign for serious conditions, including pre-eclampsia, which can
cause unusually high levels of edema in the body.
While it is important that you gain weight during your pregnancy, you want to
avoid gaining too much weight by eating an unhealthy diet. Too much weight gain
during pregnancy may contribute to a condition called gestational diabetes,
which can be harmful for both mom and her unborn fetus.
Other considerations with regard to weight gain may also be your height and
health prior to pregnancy. Women carrying twins will generally be encouraged to
gain even more weight than their singleton counterparts.
Most women will generally gain 1 pound per month during the first trimester,
half a
pound per week during the second and 1 pound per week during the third, though
this too varies from woman to woman.
Some women gain more during their second trimester for example, than all other
trimesters combined. The important thing to remember is that it is vital to eat
a well balanced diet with foods from each of the four food groups.
To help monitor your weight during pregnancy, keep in mind that most women will
be consuming between 2,100 to 2,700 calories per day.
A well balanced diet that includes an adequate amount of protein, fat and
carbohydrates will ensure that you are feeding your baby the best nutrients
available during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is definitely not a time to diet. If you are overly concerned about
gaining weight, talk with your practitioner and seek out some support.
Remember that it is important for you and your baby to remain healthy during
pregnancy, and that means that you will have to gain some weight during the
course of your pregnancy!
The best thing you can do for yourself is remember that every woman is unique
and different. Most women find that they start losing weight very swiftly after
pregnancy.
Try not to compare yourself with others and remember that every pound you add is
a pound that will help your baby grow and develop safely in your womb!
