What should be considered as the normal weight gain during pregnancy? Charts in this article will explain the concept clearly. Depending upon various factors, weight gain during pregnancy may vary from woman to woman. Scroll down and take a look at the weight gain during pregnancy week by week chart...
Weight gain during pregnancy depends upon various factors like whether you are carrying a single baby or twins. Weight gain will also depend upon whether you were underweight, at a normal weight, overweight, or obese before you got pregnant. According to the 'average weight gain during pregnancy chart', a healthy woman usually gains between 25 to 35 pounds during her pregnancy. A healthy woman who is expecting twins would gain 35 to 45 pounds during pregnancy. As you are worried about the weight gain during pregnancy, charts are provided in this article to help you understand what is the normal weight gain week by week. Let us first take a look at where does this extra weight go during pregnancy.
Extra Weight during Pregnancy
Generally, most women gain about 2 to 4 pounds during the first trimester of pregnancy and 1 Ѕ pounds per week for the remaining two trimesters. The following table shows the approximate distribution of extra weight.
Weight Gained Due To
Increase in Weight
Growing Fetus
8 Pounds
Growth of Placenta
2 - 3 Pounds
Presence of Amniotic Fluid
2 - 3 Pounds
Growth of Breast Tissue
2 - 3 Pounds
Increased Blood Supply
4 Pounds
Fat Stores for Delivery and Breastfeeding
5 - 9 Pounds
Growth of Uterus
2 - 5 Pounds
Total Weight Gain
25 - 35 Pounds
Healthy Weight Gain during Pregnancy Chart
Calculating your body mass index (BMI) by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters square will help you know what can be considered as 'normal weight gain during pregnancy' for you. The following figures were published by the The Institute of Medicine (IOM) in its May 2009 report.
Pre-pregnancy Weight
BMI
Weight Gain
Normal
18.5 to 24.9
25 to 35 pounds
Underweight
Below 18.5
28 to 40 pounds
Overweight
25 to 29.9
15 to 25 pounds
Obese
More than 30
11 to 20 pounds
Normal Weight Gain during Pregnancy: Week by Week Chart
Weeks
Minimum Weight Gain
Maximum Weight Gain
Normal Weight Gain
0
0
0
0
2
0.13
0.18
0.15
4
0.13
0.18
0.15
6
0.13
0.18
0.15
8
0.13
0.18
0.15
10
0.13
0.18
0.15
12
0.64
0.90
0.77
14
0.64
0.90
0.77
16
0.64
0.90
0.77
18
0.64
0.90
0.77
20
0.85
1.20
1.03
22
0.85
1.20
1.03
24
0.85
1.20
1.03
26
0.85
1.20
1.03
28
0.85
1.20
1.03
30
0.64
0.90
0.77
32
0.64
0.90
0.77
34
0.64
0.90
0.77
36
0.64
0.90
0.77
38
0.64
0.90
0.77
40
0.64
0.90
0.77
(all figures are in kilograms)
I hope the above charts must have cleared all your doubts regarding pregnancy weight gain by week. If you are carrying twins, then it is natural that you would gain more than what the chart suggests. In that case, you should consult your pregnancy care giver for pregnancy weight gain figures. Similarly, underweight, overweight or obese women also need to consult their physicians. If you are overweight, try to shed those extra pounds before planning pregnancy. It will help avoid health complications like preeclampsia (high blood pressure), gestational diabetes, etc. Make sure that you eat recommended amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet for pregnant women and pregnancy exercises play an important role in normal delivery and production of breast milk.
These days, pregnancy weight gain calculators are provided by various sites on the Internet where you are supposed to enter your weight before pregnancy and week of pregnancy. Immediately you get the answer which informs you about the healthy weight range for you at the given week of pregnancy and also by the end of your pregnancy at 40 weeks. Normal weight gain during pregnancy conveys a good message that your baby is growing at a healthy rate. Remember, during pregnancy, you need not necessarily "eat for two". You generally require only 100 to 300 extra calories from healthy foods to help your baby grow. I hope you find the above 'weight gain during pregnancy chart' helpful. You should also consult your health care provider to know how much weight you should gain during pregnancy as he will consider your overall health and then tell you the exact figure.
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