Pregnancy Weight Gain & Calculator

Pregnancy weight gain calculator is an online tool that helps women monitor their weight gain during pregnancy and compare it to the official recommendations to ensure they are putting on pounds in a safe and healthy manner.

These pregnancy weight gain recommendations are not universal for all pregnant women. Instead, they are adjusted according to a woman's pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI).

Pin

Pregnancy weight gain is not only inevitable, but also necessary for the baby to grow and properly develop. However, how much weight a woman gains can drastically influence her pregnancy outcome.

Specific weight gain guidelines will vary for women carrying multiple twins or triplets as their prenatal needs are different from those carrying one baby.

Nevertheless, guidelines for a normal weight gain in pregnancy per BMI for a singleton pregnancy (one baby) are as follows:¹

Pin

It is important to remember that the rate of weight gain during pregnancy is not the same across all trimesters.

Weight Gain during First Trimester

In the first three months, women should gain no more than 1-4.5 pounds in total (0.5-2 kg).² Those plagued with early pregnancy symptoms, like morning sickness and food aversions, might actually lose some weight during the first trimester.

Weight Gain during Second and Third Trimester

In the next two trimesters, the baby starts growing more quickly, and a woman's body changes rapidly to sustain pregnancy. As such, she is expected to put on 1-2 pounds per week (0.5-1 kg) in the second and third trimester.² Sudden and rapid weight gain might be a sign of complications.

Pin

Despite what many pregnant women might think, fat does not constitute all of the weight gain during pregnancy.

The majority of it is the baby's weight and structures within a woman's body that support his or her growth, including the following:³ 

• Baby: 7-8 lb. (3-3.5 kg)
• Blood volume: 3-4 lb. (1.5-2 kg)
• Uterus: 2-5 lb. (1-2.5 kg)
• Placenta: 2-3 lb. (1-1.5 kg)
• Amniotic fluid: 2-3 lb. (1-1.5 kg)
• Breasts: 2-3 lb. (1-1.5 kg)
• Fat stores: 7-9 lb. (9-4 kg)

Improper weight gain during pregnancy increases the risk of a number of pregnancy complications and future health problems for the baby, including, but not limited to, the following:

Gaining weight inadequately can also affect another essential prenatal measurement called fundal height. It is assesses the size of the uterus measured from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus as a reflection of the baby's growth. Poor pregnancy diet or obesity are key factors that may alter the fundal height measurement, calling for further evaluations.

Weight gain during pregnancy is not only an inevitable nuisance of being pregnant. It is a physical manifestation of pregnancy development, which can be measured and monitored to prevent complications and ensure baby's well-being. A woman with a normal BMI before conceiving is recommended to gain no more than 25-35 pounds during all three trimesters. However, no matter a woman's weight prior to conceiving, ensuring a steady and healthy pregnancy weight gain is possible by implementing a well-balanced, nutritious pregnancy diet with an additional 300 calories per day in the second and third trimester as well as maintaining a regular routine of 150 minutes per week of moderate-level exercise during pregnancy.