What is a healthy weight gain in pregnancy?
What is a healthy weight gain in pregnancy per trimester? In the first trimester (the first 12 weeks), most women do not gain much weight—usually less than 2 kg.
This can be reassuring for those who experience morning sickness early in pregnancy.
Losing weight in first trimester
Some women even lose a small amount of weight during the first trimester due to nausea and vomiting. If this happens to you, you do not need to be concerned as long as you start to gain weight steadily in the second and third trimesters of your pregnancy.
A healthy weight gain in pregnancy is typically 1–2 kg per month in the second and third trimesters, depending on your pre-pregnancy weight.
Normal weight gain in pregnancy in kg
As your baby grows, it is normal to gain weight during pregnancy. Only a portion of your total weight gain in pregnancy comes from body fat. Here’s a breakdown of normal weight gain in pregnancy in kg and where the extra weight typically comes from.
Breakdown of weight gain during pregnancy
- Your baby: ~3–3.5 kg
- Uterus: ~1 kg
- Amniotic fluid: ~1 kg
- Placenta: ~700 g
- Larger breasts: ~0.5-1.5 kg
- Blood & fluid volume: up to 3 kg
- Additional fat stores: up to 3.5 kg.
Recommended pregnancy weight gain: How much is healthy
How much weight should you gain during pregnancy—and what is considered normal and healthy?
While most women gain between 11 to 16 kg, the recommended pregnancy weight gain depends on your pre-pregnancy weight: If you were underweight before pregnancy, you may need to gain a little more, and if you were overweight, you should gain a little less.
BMI and pregnancy weight gain chart
Healthy pregnancy weight gain depends on your pre-pregnancy BMI. This BMI pregnancy weight gain chart helps you understand how much weight you should gain during pregnancy based on your BMI before pregnancy.
Healthy weight gain in pregnancy by BMI
Pregnancy-weight-gain-chart
Pregnancy weight gain chart: What is a healthy BMI for pregnancy?
Pregnancy weight gain isn’t one-size-fits-all. The recommended weight range a mom-to-be should aim for varies depending on her pre-pregnancy weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and whether she’s expecting multiples.
What is a healthy BMI for pregnancy? A healthy Body Mass Index before pregnancy is 18.5 to 24.9, considered the normal weight range, with recommended weight gain during pregnancy varying from ~11-16kg for this group. As a general rule, women with a lower BMI (underweight) are advised to gain more weight during pregnancy than those with a normal or high BMI (overweight).
First, calculate your pre-pregnancy BMI, then use our pregnancy weight gain chart to determine your recommended weight gain.
And don’t forget to stay active!
