Pregnancy: Weight gain

From promoting your baby’s development to paving the way for weight loss after pregnancy, this is why weight gain during pregnancy is important.

With all you have to do now that you are pregnant, it can be difficult to remember how much weight to gain and when. But it’s actually more important than ever to keep an eye on the scale (within reason!) For your health and that of your baby.

Where Does the Extra Weight Go During Pregnancy?

•  Baby: 8 pounds
•  Placenta: 2-3 pounds
•  Amniotic fluid: 2-3 pounds
•  Breast tissue: 2-3 pounds
•  Blood supply: 4 pounds
• Stored fat for delivery and breastfeeding: 5-9 pounds
• Larger uterus: 2-5 pounds
• Total: 25-35 pounds

Pregnancy weight-gain guidelines

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight gain during pregnancy. The appropriate weight gain for you depends on several factors, including your pre-pregnancy weight and your body mass index (BMI). Your health and the health of your baby play a role too. Work with your healthcare provider to determine what is right for you.

Consider these general guidelines for pregnancy weight gain:

Pre-pregnancy weight	Recommended weight gain
Underweight (BMI under 18.5)	28 to 40 lbs. (about 13 to 18 kg)
Normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9)	25 to 35 lbs. (about 11 to 16 kg)
Overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9)	15 to 25 lbs. (about 7 to 11 kg)
Obesity (BMI 30 or more)	11 to 20 lbs. (about 5 to 9 kg)

When you’re carrying twins or other multiples

If you are pregnant with twins or other multiples, you may need to gain weight. Again, work with your healthcare provider to determine what is right for you.

Consider these general guidelines for pregnancy weight gain if you’re carrying twins:

Pre-pregnancy weight	Recommended weight gain
Normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9)	37 to 54 lbs. (about 17 to 25 kg)
Overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9)	31 to 50 lbs. (about 14 to 23 kg)
Obesity (BMI 30 or more)	25 to 42 lbs. (about 11 to 19 kg)

How to maintain pregnancy weight gain

For the best pregnancy weight gain results, keep an eye on the scale. What you don’t know can throw your weight off-target. Try to weigh yourself:

• At the same time of day
• Wearing the same amount of clothes (or none at all)
• On the same scale
• Once a week or every other week (step on more often, and the day-to-day fluid fluctuations may drive you nuts)

Related Content :

• Pregnancy and vaginal discharge.
• Pregnancy and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• Pregnancy prevention.
• Pregnancy diet.
• Pregnancy and exercise.
• Pregnancy massage.
• When to seek medical care.
• Pregnancy and labor.
• Prognosis.
• The takeaway.

Tests Associated with Pregnancy

PURPOSE	TEST NAME	WHY PERFORMED	WHEN PERFORMED	WHO PERFORMED ON/SAMPLE
Genetic tests for inherited diseases	Genetic testing for inherited diseases	Check carrier status for certain genetic diseases to determine risk of having a baby with such a disease	Preconception or first trimester	Mother and father (blood sample)
	Genetic testing for hemoglobin disorders	Check carrier status for certain abnormal hemoglobin disorders to determine risk of having a baby with such a disease	Preconception or during pregnancy	Mother and father (blood sample)
	Cystic fibrosis carrier testing	Check carrier status for CF	Preconception or first trimester	Mother and father (blood sample)
Testing to detect health conditions in the mother	Blood glucose or hemoglobin A1c	To screen women at risk of type 2 diabetes (which is different than gestational diabetes)	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	Pap test and HPV testing	Screen for cervical cancer and some STDs	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (cells from her cervix)
	Immunity to rubella (German measles)	Check for immunity to the virus, which can cause birth defects	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	HIV screening test	Check for HIV infection so steps can be taken to reduce likelihood of transmission to the baby	Preconception or first trimester; may be repeated in third trimester if at high risk	Mother (blood sample)
	Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis tests	Check for STD infections, which can cause miscarriage or infect the baby during delivery	Preconception or first trimester; may be repeated in third trimester if at high risk	Mother (cervical cells, urine or blood sample, depending on test)
	Hepatitis B and hepatitis C screening	Detect hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection	Pre-conception or first trimester; may be repeated in the third trimester if at high risk	Mother (blood sample)
	Varicella zoster virus testing	Check for immunity to chickenpox, which can cause birth defects	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	TORCH panel	Check for infection with toxoplasmosis and other infections that can cause birth defects	Preconception or first trimester, if infections suspected	Mother (blood sample)
	Bacterial vaginosis	Detect infection, which can cause pre-term labor	Preconception or whenever symptoms experienced	Mother (vaginal secretions)
	Urine culture for bacteriuria	Detect bacterial infection in the urinary tract, which can lead to kidney infection or increased risk of pre-term delivery and low birth weight	First prenatal visit or between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy; may be repeated in third trimester	Mother (urine sample)
	Group B streptococcus	Detect infection, which can harm the baby during birth and infect the mother’s uterus, urinary tract, and any incision made during a cesarean section	Between weeks 35 and 37 of pregnancy	Mother (specimen from vaginal and rectal areas)
Confirmation and monitoring of pregnancy and health of mother	Pregnancy test (hCG)	Confirm pregnancy	First trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	Urine screen for glucose and/or protein	Check for signs of kidney or bladder infection, undiagnosed diabetes or gestational diabetes, or pre-eclampsia	Each prenatal visit	Mother (urine sample)
	Complete blood count (CBC)	Check for anemia and/or detect low platelet count	Preconception and/or early in the first trimester; repeated in third trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	Blood typing and antibody screen	Check for potential incompatibility in blood type between mother and fetus (such as Rh factor antibodies)	First trimester; antibody screen repeated between weeks 28 and 29 of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Glucose challenge test/oral glucose tolerance test	Check for gestational diabetes	Between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)	In women with known thyroid conditions, to adjust medication if necessary	Throughout pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
Detection of fetal abnormalities or assessment of risk	First trimester Down syndrome screen	Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome	Usually between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample plus ultrasound)
	Second trimester maternal serum screen	Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities or open neural tube defects	Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Cell-free fetal DNA	Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities; currently recommended for women at high risk of having babies with these disorders	During or after the 10thweek of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Chorionic villus sampling	Detect chromosomal disorders in the fetus	Between weeks 10 and 12 of pregnancy, if recommended	Mother (cells from the placenta)
	Amniocentesis	Detect certain birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities	Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, if recommended	Mother (amniotic fluid)
	Cordocentesis	Detect chromosomal abnormalities, blood disorders, and certain infections	Between weeks 18 and 22 of pregnancy, if recommended	Mother/fetus (fetal blood sample obtained from vein in the umbilical cord)
Fetal maturity/readiness for birth	Amniocentesis	Check fetal lung development	After week 32 of pregnancy if risk of pre-term delivery	Mother (amniotic fluid)
	Fetal fibronectin (fFN)	Detect fFN; negative result is highly predictive that pre-term delivery will NOT occur in the next 7-14 days	Between week 22 and 35 of pregnancy, if having symptoms of pre-term labor	Mother (cervical or vaginal fluid sample)

Related Articles: