Weight Gain During Pregnancy

By Cherie Brunetti, Contributing Editor 

General Guidelines

It is important to eat a healthy, well balanced diet when you are pregnant.  One sign that you are doing this and that your baby is developing is if you are gaining the proper amount of weight.  Keep in mind that you really don’t have to eat for two when you are pregnant.  You really only need an extra 300 calories per day when you are pregnant. 

Talk with your doctor about what level of weight gain is right for you.  If you were of average weight during pregnancy, you should gain between 25 and 35 pounds.  If you were overweight, you may only need to gain 15 to 25 pounds.  Underweight women should gain slightly more, anywhere from 28 to 40 pounds.

The general rule is that you should gain about 4 pounds during your entire first trimester and then approximately one pound per week thereafter.  If you are having twins, you should expect to gain more weight, about 1 and a half pounds per week or 35 to 45 pounds overall. 

Where Does the Weight Go?

The weight that you gain during pregnancy is dispersed between you and your growing baby.  By the end of your pregnancy, your baby will weigh about 8 pounds.  So what accounts for the rest of the weight gain?  The placenta will weigh about 3 pounds, your uterus will increase by 4 pounds, and the amniotic fluid weighs about 2 pounds.  You will actually gain 2 to 3 pounds in breast tissue.  Pregnancy also increases your volume of blood by about 4 pounds.  Finally, you will gain about 5 pounds in fat stores. 

What to Do if You Are Gaining Too Much Weight

If you do realize that you are gaining too much weight during your pregnancy, do not try to lose weight.  Instead, try to eat in a more healthful manner. 

• Try to avoid whole milk products.  Using low fat milk will significantly reduce your caloric and fat intake.
• Do not add salt to your food.
• Limit your sugar intake.
• Limit high calorie snacks like cookies, donuts, and potato chips.
• Consume fats and use cooking oil in moderation.
• Prepare your meals using low fat methods such as grilling, baking, or broiling.

What to Do if You Are Not Gaining Enough Weight

If you find that you are not gaining enough weight during your pregnancy:

• Eat several small meals per day.
• Eat several healthy snacks per day such as raisins, cheese, nuts, and fruit.
• Add nonfat powdered milk to some of your foods such as scrambled eggs, oatmeal, or mashed potatoes.
• Use butter, cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream a bit more with your meals.