Your diet, lifestyle, and pregnancy weight gain can all play a role in your baby’s future health.
What counts as normal weight gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy BMI.
How much weight gain is normal during pregnancy?
For someone carrying one baby with a healthy pre-pregnancy BMI, an ideal, normal weight gain is 25 to 35 pounds (11.3–16 kg).
Most gain 2 to 4 pounds (1-2 kg) in the first trimester, followed by about 1 pound (0.5 kg) per week during the second and third trimesters.
If you were overweight or obese before pregnancy, guidelines recommend less weight gain during pregnancy.
If you were underweight before pregnancy, gaining enough weight is important. Too little may increase the risk of a premature or smaller baby.
Weight gain during pregnancy is an important part of a healthy pregnancy. Your body needs extra energy and nutrients to support your growing baby.
Weight gain also comes from the placenta, amniotic fluid, increased blood volume, breasts, and uterus.
Pre pregnancy BMI: What is a healthy BMI for pregnancy?
Your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared, measured before pregnancy. It helps doctors guide healthy pregnancy weight gain.
Understanding the importance of a healthy BMI for pregnancy can help you determine what healthy weight gain looks like for you and your baby.
There is no separate BMI range specifically for pregnancy. Instead, healthcare professionals generally use your pre pregnancy BMI to determine the recommended weight gain during pregnancy.
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is generally considered the normal range for adults. If your pre-pregnancy BMI was below or above this range, your recommended pregnancy weight gain will be different.
An active lifestyle and the right pregnancy diet will help keep your personal weight gain on track.
