PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH

Weight Gain During Pregnancy

June 21, 2018

Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Weight gain during pregnancy varies from woman to woman. it also depends on body type. Talk with your healthcare provider about the amount of weight gain that's best for you. Also talk with your provider about diet and exercise during pregnancy.

Recommendations for pregnancy weight gain by BMI

The information in the chart below comes from the Institute of Medicine. 

 

Prepregnancy

BMI

 BMI  

Total gain   

range

Rate of gain in 2nd and 3rd      

trimester

Underweight

 less than 18.5

 28-40 lbs

 1 (1-1.3) lbs/week

Normal Weight

 18.5-24.9 

 25-35 lbs

 1 (0.8-1) lbs/week

Overweight

 25.0-29.9

 15-25 lbs

 0.6 (0.5-0.7) lbs/week

Obese

 greater than 30.0 

 11-20 lbs

 0.5 (0.4-0.6) lbs/week

 

In most cases, total weight gain at the end of pregnancy is estimate below. The information comes from the March of Dimes.

Baby

7.5 pounds

Maternal energy stores
(fat, protein, and other nutrients)

7 pounds

Fluid volume

4 pounds

Breast enlargement

2 pounds

Uterus

2 pounds

Amniotic fluid

2 pounds

Placenta

1.5 pounds

Blood

4 pounds

Updated:  

June 21, 2018

Reviewed By:  

Freeborn, Donna, PhD, CNM, FNP,Sacks, Daniel, MD, FACOG