Pregnancy Weight Gain
How Much Weight Should I Gain During My Pregnancy?
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Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator
How much weight you should gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and how many babies you are carrying. Use this calculator to find out which BMI category you are in and calculate your target weight range for your pregnancy. Calculate Your Pregnancy Weight Gain Range »
How much weight you should gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and how many babies you are carrying. Use this calculator to find out which BMI category you are in and calculate your target weight range for your pregnancy. Calculate Your Pregnancy Weight Gain Range »
You should gain approximately 1 to 5 pounds in the first trimester and about 1 pound per week for the rest of your pregnancy. The majority of your weight gain will be evenly spread over the last two trimesters, about a pound a week. Again, if you are underweight this should be increased by about 25% and if you are overweight it should be decreased by the same amount.
Remember, no matter what you weigh prior to pregnancy you must gain weight!
Are there risks to gaining too much or too little weight during pregnancy?
There is a strong association between excess maternal weight gain and increased fetal growth and infant birth weight, which can contribute to complications during labour, and can lead to long term health effects for the child. Excess weight gain during pregnancy increases the chance of Caesarean sections and retaining extra weight after delivery. In turn, postpartum weight retention can lead to obesity.
Gaining too little weight during pregnancy can lead to poor fetal growth, lower birth weight and increase the risk of pre-term delivery.
If you lose or gain a significant amount of weight in the first trimester (i.e. more than 5 to 10% of your pre-pregnancy weight), talk with your health care provider for support.
Weight loss and dieting is not recommended in pregnancy. Focus on eating healthy foods, not your weight. For more information about healthy weight gain during pregnancy, talk with your doctor, mid-wife or a registered dietitian.
Where does the weight go?
- Baby: 7 to 9 pounds
- Placenta: 2 to 3 pounds
- Amniotic fluid: 2 to 3 pounds
- Uterine enlargement: 2 to 5 pounds
- Increased blood volume: 4 to 5 pounds
- Breast enlargement: 1 pound
- Fluid in maternal tissue: 3 to 4 pounds
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