Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Weight gain during pregnancy varies from woman to woman and depends on body type. Each woman should talk with her care provider about the appropriate amount of weight gain, as well as diet and exercise.

2009 Recommendations for Pregnancy Weight Gain by BMI (Body Mass Index) 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

Total weight gain at the end of pregnancy is, in most instances, approximated as follows, according to 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

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