Weight Gain During Pregnancy

The right weight gain for you 

Pregnancy is a time to eat right and gain the right amount of weight. The amount of wight you should gain depends on how much you weighed when you become pregnant. You need to gain more weight if you were underweight and less if you were overweight.

WEIGHT GAIN GOAL

ONE BABY	Your weight before:	You should gain:		TWINS	Your weight before:	You should gain:
	Underweight		28-40 pounds		Underweight	1.5 pounds per week during 2nd & 3rd trimester
	Normal		23-35 pounds		Normal	37-54 pounds
	Overweight		15-25 pounds		Overweight	31-50 pounds
	Obese		15 pounds or less		Obese	25-42 pounds

 How fast should you gain weight?

In early pregnancy, you will gain weight to provide food for your growing baby. In later pregnancy, most weight gain will be from your baby's growth.

Steady weight gain during pregnancy is best. Keep track of your weight to make sure you are gaining the right amount of weight each week.

Rate of Weight Gain

Pre-pregnancy Weight	First to Third Month	Fourth to Ninth Month
Underweight	2.2 to 6.6  pounds	1 pound per week
Normal	2.2 to 6.6  pounds	1 pound per week
Overweight	2.2 to 6.6  pounds	2/3 (0.6) pounds per week
Obese	1.1 to 4.4 pounds	½ (0.5) pounds per week

If your weight goes up or down suddenly, be sure to check with your health care provider.

If you gain too little, your baby may be born small. If you gain too much, it may be hard for you to get back to a healthy weight and stay there after your baby is born.