Weight gain in pregnancy

Although you might think you’re eating for 2, that’s not really the case. You really only need about 300 additional calories a day when you’re pregnant. That’s what you’ll get in 1 banana and a 16-ounce glass of nonfat milk.

So here’s the challenge during pregnancy — while you’re not really eating for 2, you do want to gain some weight. The right amount of weight gain is key to your baby’s normal growth and development.

Knowing your body mass index (BMI) before you became pregnant will help you determine a healthy weight gain during your pregnancy. Find out what your BMI is by using our interactive tool.

Are you gaining the right amount of weight? Here’s your guide:

Pre-pregnancy BMI	Healthy weight gain per week in 2^nd and 3^rd trimesters	Total weight gain in your pregnancy
Less than 18.5	About 1 pound	28 to 40 pounds
18.5 to 24.9	About 1 pound	25 to 35 pounds
25.0 to 29.9	About ½ pound	15 to 25 pounds
30.0 or more	About ½ pound	11 to 20 pounds

By Betty Shen, MD - Published November 3, 2015