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Pregnancy weight gain: What's healthy?
From promoting your baby's development to paving the way for post-pregnancy weight loss, here's why pregnancy weight gain matters.
By Mayo Clinic staffLike it or not, pregnancy weight gain is inevitable. Your baby's growth and development depend on it. But eating for two isn't a license to eat double your normal amount of food. Use healthy lifestyle habits to control your pregnancy weight gain, support your baby's health and make it easier to shed the extra pounds after delivery.
Pregnancy weight gain guidelines
There's no one-size-fits-all approach to pregnancy weight gain. How much weight you need to gain depends on various factors, including your pre-pregnancy weight and body mass index (BMI). Your health and your baby's health also play a role.
Work with your health care provider to determine what's right for you. Consider these general guidelines for pregnancy weight gain:
| Pre-pregnancy weight | Recommended weight gain |
|---|---|
| Underweight (BMI less than 18.5) | 28 to 40 pounds (about 13 to 18 kilograms) |
| Normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) | 25 to 35 pounds (about 11 to 16 kilograms) |
| Overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9) | 15 to 25 pounds (about 7 to 11 kilograms) |
| Obese (BMI 30 or greater) | 11 to 20 pounds (about 5 to 9 kilograms) |
If you're carrying twins or multiples, you'll likely need to gain more weight. Again, work with your health care provider to determine what's right for you.
When you're overweight
Although excess weight carries risks — such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure — pregnancy isn't the time to lose weight. Even if you're overweight before pregnancy, it's important to gain a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy.
Of course, it's important to keep an eye on the scale. If you gain more than the recommended amount during pregnancy and you don't lose the weight after the baby is born, the excess pounds increase your life-long health risks.
When you're underweight
If you're underweight, it's essential to gain a reasonable amount of weight while you're pregnant — especially during the second and third trimesters. Without the extra weight, your baby may be born earlier or smaller than expected.
Next page(1 of 2)
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- What to eat while pregnant. The National Women's Health Information Center. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/pregnancy/pregnancy/eat.cfm. Accessed March 6, 2009.
- Nutrition during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp001.cfm. Accessed March 6, 2009.
- Cox JT, et al. Nutrition during pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2008;35:369.
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- Weight gain during pregnancy. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramidmoms/pregnancy_weight_gain.aspx. Accessed March 9, 2009.
- What foods are in the grain group? U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains.html. Accessed March 12, 2009.
- Foods to choose often. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramidmoms/foods_to_choose.html. Accessed March 12, 2009.
- USDA national nutrient database for standard reference, release 20. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/. Accessed April 8, 2009.
- Murry MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 1, 2009.
- Committee to Reexamine IOM Pregnancy Weight Guidelines, Food and Nutrition Board, and Board on Children, Youth and Families. Weight gain during pregnancy: Reexamining the guidelines. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. http://www.nap.edu. Accessed May 28, 2009.
