What is the Right Amount of Weight Gain?

What is the Right Amount of Weight Gain?

How much to gain?

Gaining weight is a natural part of pregnancy. It’s a part of the game, it’s natural, and it’s also a huge source of worry for pregnant women. You have to make sure that you gain enough weight, so that your baby grows as much as it should, and that everything develops healthily. However, gaining too much weight can be a problem as well, since it can lead to problems for both mom and baby as well. So, how do you know how much weight to aim for? Read on for the inside scoop. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here

What to remember

Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all guideline for weight gain during pregnancy. How much weight you should (or should not) gain depends on your pre-pregnancy weight, among other things. For example, if you were underweight before getting pregnant, (a BMI under 18.5), you can gain anywhere between 28-40 pounds and still be considered healthy. If you were overweight before pregnancy (a BMI of 25 to 29.9) you should only gain between 15 and 25 pounds. However, if you were considered obese before getting pregnant ( a BMI of more than 30), you should only gain between 11 and 20 pounds.

What about normal weight?

So, what is the deal if you were already at a normal and healthy weight before getting pregnant? The most common guidelines that doctors use suggest that women who are at a healthy weight (that is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9), you should gain anywhere between 25 and 35 pounds. Most doctors suggest that you should only gain 1-5 pounds in the first trimester, and one pound per week for the remainder of your pregnancy.

How can you make sure you gain the right amount?

It can be difficult to make sure that you gain the right amount of weight during your pregnancy. Eating a healthy, well balanced diet, and staying active will help you to stay on track with your weight gain. Also keep in mind that you don’t need to take in ANY extra calories in your first trimester. In your second trimester you should only be getting 340 extra calories per day, and in your third trimester, you can plan on eating 450 extra calories each day to keep both you and your baby healthy.

What if you go off track?

Going off track during your pregnancy is easy to do. It’s easy for women to gain too much weight during pregnancy, if you are not paying attention to your intake. You can eat too much, or be too passive and not get enough exercise. However, it’s important to really try to stay within the bounds with your weight gain. Gaining too much weight can lead to having a baby with a higher birth weight, and an increased risk of having a c-section. Gaining too little weight can mean preterm labor, or having a baby that is too small. Make sure to do your best to stay within the recommended weight gain for your weight and height during your pregnancy.

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Dr. Christine Lee, MD
Dr. Christine Lee, MD | ConceiveEasy