How Much Weight Do You Gain During Pregnancy?

It can be hard to keep track of how much weight you're gaining when you're pregnant since your body type will change, and the number on the scale might fluctuate.

But what does the average weight gain during pregnancy look like?

And how much weight should you be aiming to gain?

Check out this infographic to find out!

Pregnancy weight gain may not be as cut-and-dry as you think, but tracking your progress will become more accessible with this handy visual guide at your fingertips!

Women Always Think it's a Lot.

For many women, pregnancy is a time of significant physical change—and as such, it's one of those rare life events where gaining weight doesn't carry with it a stigma.

Although medical professionals recommend expecting mothers gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy (with an ideal weight gain of 12 to 20 pounds), many new moms-to-be think they're expected to gain anywhere from 50 to 75 pounds!

Women Often Forget About the Water Weight

When most women think about gaining weight during pregnancy, they usually think of fat.

But not so fast—those other early pounds you pack on may be mostly water. Although you don't want to gain too much excess fat during pregnancy, about one-third of what you gain is accurate weight, and two-thirds is water weight—just in your first trimester.

About 25 percent of what you put on by week 12 is fat.

If you weigh yourself regularly during your second and third trimesters, you might notice a trend: As time goes on, there's less fluctuation in your weight each day.

That means that even though it feels like it's growing every day (because it is), there are fewer actual pounds packed onto your frame each week than there were earlier in pregnancy.

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Did You Know...

The average pregnant woman gains 25 to 35 pounds, but an extra 15 pounds is considered a healthy amount of weight gain.

Any more than that, and you may put yourself at risk for gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia—two serious pregnancy complications.

Be sure to contact your doctor throughout your pregnancy to help monitor how much weight you're gaining—and when it's safe to stop counting those calories!

Understanding The Amount of Weight Gained is Important

Though many pregnancy weight-gain guidelines are similar, there is some variation depending on your health and how active you are.

Aim to gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy—though don't stress too much about hitting that perfect number!

While it's good to have a target in mind, remember that you can expect a healthy baby with few complications as long as you're eating healthy and maintaining an exercise routine throughout your pregnancy.

The amount of weight gained depends on two things...

The amount of weight you gain during pregnancy depends on two main factors: your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and your weight gain pattern.

If you were underweight before getting pregnant, you'd likely put on more pounds than if you were overweight before getting pregnant.

And if your body has a healthy metabolism, you may put on a pound or two each week instead of every day.

How much weight should I be gaining during my first trimester?

The answer to how much weight you should gain during pregnancy is a little complex.

Because many factors determine how much weight you'll gain, including your health, and if it's your first or second pregnancy, it may be best to talk with your doctor about how much weight you should gain during pregnancy.

What If I am Not Gaining Enough Weight During My Second Trimester?

Usually, most women gain 25 to 35 pounds throughout their entire pregnancy.

The second trimester is when your baby grows quickly, and it is essential to make sure you are consuming enough calories to provide proper nutrition for your growing fetus.

The standard weight gain during pregnancy for underweight, average weight, or overweight women should be somewhere between 12 and 16 pounds and gaining about 4-6 pounds of fat mass.

What if I am not gaining enough weight in my third trimester?

Early in pregnancy, all women are worried about gaining too much weight.

Many doctors recommend a low-calorie diet to overweight or obese patients trying to conceive.

But what if you're not gaining enough weight during your third trimester and can't seem to eat enough?

All pregnant women need an additional 300 calories a day when they're in their second trimester, which usually adds up to 500 extra calories per day by their third trimester.

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