Should weight increase during pregnancy? Most women should gain somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds (11.5 to 16 kilograms) during pregnancy. Most will gain 2 to 4 pounds (1 to 2 kilograms) during the first trimester, and then 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) a week for the rest of the pregnancy. The amount of weight gain depends on your situation.

Whether you’re just trying to maintain your current weight or hoping to gain enough weight during pregnancy, you’ll want to gain the right amount of weight. Most women should gain somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds (11.5 to 16 kilograms) during pregnancy. Most will gain 2 to 4 pounds (1 to 2 kilograms) during the first trimester, and then 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) a week for the rest of the pregnancy.

Weight gain during pregnancy is different for every woman, but most gain between 25 and 35 pounds. Most women will gain 2 to 4 pounds (1 to 2 kilograms) in the first trimester, then 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) a week after that. It all depends on your situation and how much you have to gain.

Healthy weight gain is essential for a healthy pregnancy. Most women should gain somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds (11.5 to 16 kilograms) during their pregnancy, but the amount of weight gain depends on your situation.

What Should I Eat To Increase My Baby Weight During Pregnancy

Most women gain between 25 and 35 pounds (11.5 to 16 kilograms) during pregnancy. For example, a woman who is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds before she gets pregnant should gain approximately 28 pounds by the end of her pregnancy. This includes an average of 4 pounds (2 kilograms) during the first trimester and 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) per week for the rest of her pregnancy. The amount depends on your situation — factors such as your weight and how much you exercise before you become pregnant also affect how much you gain.

Once you’ve conceived, your body needs extra nutrition to support the growing fetus. You should gain a total of about 25 to 35 pounds (11.5 to 16 kilograms) by the end of your pregnancy.

Weight Gain During Pregnancy in Kg

Healthy Weight Gain During Pregnancy from the Institute of Medicine. If you’re pregnant with triplets or more, talk to your health care provider about your weight gain goals.^*All recommendations are from the Institute of Medicine, with the exception of underweight women with twins. Source: Luke B, Hediger ML, Nugent C, Newman RB, Mauldin JG, Witter FR, et al. Body mass index-specific weight gains associated with optimal birth weights in twin pregnancies. J Reprod Med. 2003; 48:217–24.

Top of Page

What Percentage of Women Had Pregnancy Weight Gain Within Recommendations?

A previous study found that only about one-third (32%) of women gained the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy and most women gained weight outside the recommendations (21% too little, 48% too much).

Percentage of Women with Pregnancy Weight Gain Below, Within, and Above Recommendations

For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6540a10.htm 

Why Is It Important to Gain the Recommended Amount of Weight During Pregnancy?

Gaining less than the recommended amount of weight in pregnancy is associated with delivering a baby who is too small. Some babies born too small may have difficulty starting breastfeeding, may be at increased risk for illness, and may experience developmental delays (not meeting the milestones for his or her age).

Gaining more than the recommended amount of weight in pregnancy is associated with having a baby who is born too large, which can lead to delivery complications, cesarean delivery, and obesity during childhood. Gaining more than the recommended amount of weight can also increase the amount of weight you hold on to after pregnancy, which can lead to obesity.

For more information, healthcare providers can visit Healthy Weight and Weight Gain In Pregnancy: Behavioral Counseling Interventions

Top of Page

What Steps Can You Take to Meet Pregnancy Weight Gain Recommendations?

• Know your caloric needs. In general, the first trimester (or first three months) does not require any extra calories. Typically, women need about 340 additional calories per day during the second trimester (second three months) and about 450 additional calories per day during the third  trimester (last three months).
• Work with your health care provider on your weight gain goals at the beginning of and regularly throughout your pregnancy.
• Track your pregnancy weight gain at the beginning and regularly throughout pregnancy and compare your progress to recommended ranges of healthy weight gain.
• Eat a balanced diet high in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, low fat dairy, and lean protein. Use the MyPlate plan to see the daily food group targets that are right for you at your stage of pregnancy. Most foods are safe to eat during pregnancy, but you will need to use caution with or avoid certain foods. Talk with your health care provider or visit Checklist of Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy for more information about food safety in pregnancy.
• Limit added sugars and solid fats found in foods like soft drinks, desserts, fried foods, whole milk, and fatty meats.
• Work up to or maintain at least 150 minutes (2 ⅟₂ hours) of moderate intensity aerobic activity (such as brisk walking) per week. 150 minutes may sound overwhelming, but you can achieve your goal by breaking up your physical activity into 10 minutes at a time. Physical activity is healthy and safe for most pregnant women. Talk to your health care provider to determine if you have any physical activity restrictions. Visit Physical Activity for Healthy Pregnant or Postpartum Women for more information, or the Move Your Way® campaign for materials for during and after pregnancy.

Baby Weight Gain During Pregnancy Chart

Is weight gain important during pregnancy?

Yes. Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy can help protect your health and the health of your baby. 

If you gain too little weight during pregnancy, you’re more likely than other women to: 

• Have a premature baby.  A premature baby is born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.  
• Have a baby with low birthweight. Low birthweight means your baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

If you gain too much weight during pregnancy, you’re more likely than other women to:

• Have a premature baby. Premature babies may have health problems at birth and later in life, including being overweight or obese. Being obese means you have an excess amount of body fat.
• Have a baby with fetal macrosomia. This is when your baby is born weighing more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces. Having a baby this large can cause complications, like problems during labor and heavy bleeding after birth. 
• Need a cesarean birth (also called c-section). Your baby is born through a cut that your health care provider makes in your belly and your uterus in this surgery.
• Have trouble losing weight after your baby’s birth. This can increase your risk for health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. 

How much weight should you gain during pregnancy?

Your health care provider uses your body mass index (also called BMI) before pregnancy to figure out how much weight you should gain during pregnancy. BMI is a measure of body fat based on your height and weight. To find out your BMI, go to www.cdc.gov/bmi.

If you’re pregnant with one baby or twins, use the following chart to find your recommended weight gain based on your BMI before pregnancy. If you’re pregnant with triplets or more, talk to your provider about the amount of weight you should gain during pregnancy.

If you’re overweight or obese and are gaining less than the recommended amounts, talk to your provider. If your baby is still growing well, your weight gain may be fine.  

Gaining weight slowly and steadily is best. Don’t worry too much if you don’t gain any weight in the first trimester, or if you gain a little more or a little less than you think you should in any week. You may have some growth spurts—this is when you gain several pounds in a short time and then level off. Don’t ever try to lose weight during pregnancy.  

If you’re worried about your weight gain, talk to your health care provider.

How can you track your weight gain during pregnancy?

Your provider checks your weight at each prenatal care visit. Use our weight-gain tracking chart to track your weight yourself.

Where do you gain the weight during pregnancy?

You know that your growing baby makes up part of the weight you’re gaining. But what about the rest? Here’s a general idea:

• Baby = 7.5 pounds
• Amniotic fluid = 2 pounds. Amniotic fluid surrounds the baby in the womb.
• Blood = 4 pounds
• Body fluids = 3 pounds
• Breasts = 2 pounds
• Fat, protein and other nutrients = 6 to 8 pounds
• Placenta = 1.5 pounds. The placenta grows in your uterus and supplies the baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord.
• Uterus = 2 pounds. The uterus is the place inside you where your baby grows.