It may feel like there are endless moving parts during pregnancy, especially if this is your first time. Your body changes like never before, your muscles ache, and nutrients become of the utmost importance. Not to mention you have to plan out the perfect nursery. 

You may have heard all the fuss about weight gain in pregnancy. While gaining weight during pregnancy is completely healthy, it is still very important to keep an eye on the scale for your and your baby’s well-being. 

It can be tough to remember all the points from the weight gain charts your doctor showed you. It can also be challenging to manage weight as an expectant mother. Not to worry, though, because there are many ways you can control weight gain in pregnancy. The main goal is to have even and steady weight gain progression. 

In this blog, the healthcare professionals at Women’s Care of Bradenton are here to teach you about gaining weight during pregnancy each week and trimester. We will cover everything you can do at home to make it a more straightforward process. As always, receiving a professional assessment and care is our recommended solution to guide you on your journey. But, in the meantime, here is how you can manage weight gain in pregnancy at home. 

Weight Gain Charts 

Pregnant Woman Standing on Scales to Control Weight Gain

The mainstream says that you should gain about 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. However, did you know that the range is for people with a “normal weight” body mass index (BMI)? That is, the weight they had before pregnancy fell under the normal category in terms of BMI. You can calculate your BMI with your height and weight. There are also many online calculators, or you can ask your doctor.

Consider figuring out your BMI before pregnancy as your first step in determining how much weight you should gain while expecting. If your BMI is considered underweight, you can expect to gain 28 to 40 points, a little more than one pound a week.

 If you have an overweight BMI of 25 to 30, you should gain 15-25 pounds throughout pregnancy, a little more than a half-pound per week. Finally, if your BMI is greater than 30, you should only gain 11-20 pounds in pregnancy, less than a half-pound each week. 

How to Spread Weight Gain Over Each Trimester 

While you’re expecting, the cycle of adding on pounds will not be completely exact to any weight gain charts or science. Steady weight gain is what you want to aim for, and gaining gradually is just as important as not gaining too much or too little. Your growing child needs a constant and equal nutrient intake. 

It’s tricky to pin pregnancy weight gain to a tee because every mother’s timeline depends on genetics, metabolism, and activity levels. Your doctor will likely monitor you to make sure you achieve a stable weight gain. That is one of the many reasons it is so important to attend your prenatal appointments. 

Are you still curious what the general timeline looks like? We’ll break it down into trimesters and what you can likely expect. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) made the following overview for mothers with a normal BMI. Let’s take a look.

  • First Trimester: During this period, your baby is very small. You only need to gain up to four pounds, with the range starting at two. During this time, you don’t need to change your calorie intake. 
    • One of the challenges many expectant mothers face here is morning sickness. It can be difficult to put on weight when you’re getting sick all of the time. Some women will not even gain more than an ounce, and many who suffer from morning sickness also lose weight. This is actually ok and perfectly safe. Your doctor will likely monitor you and your body will make up for these pounds later.
    • On the other hand, some mothers experience intense cravings and will gain a bit more weight than usual during this period.  You can keep your weight gain on track by keeping a  closer eye on the scale for the upcoming trimesters.
  • Second Trimester: Your baby is now starting to develop even more. During this time, mothers will gain 12 to 14 pounds. The weight you need to catch up on or monitor from the first trimester can be addressed now. You gain more weight because the baby is bigger and requires a larger calorie and nutrient intake. You’ll want to eat about 350 more calories than usual. 
  • Third trimester: Now the baby is almost to term. Its weight will pick up pretty rapidly. Women can experience different gains during this trimester, depending on their timeline. You will want to be eating about 500 more calories than you did before conception. 
    • Some mothers can gain 8 to ten pounds, while others may find their weight remains steady. It is even normal for mothers to lose some weight at the end of this trimester, only a few pounds though. 

You must consider that these typical scenarios may not be yours. If you are pregnant with multiples, your numbers will look different. These averages also do not apply if you were under or overweight prior to conception. For example, underweight mothers will need to gain more weight to sustain the pregnancy.

There is no absolute tried and true formula for gaining weight during pregnancy. Some weeks you may feel sick to your stomach by the thought of food, causing a dip in gains. Other weeks you may experience cravings and feel hungry 24/7. 

The most important thing you can do is eat nutrient-dense foods, the proper supplements, and attend your prenatal care visits. Gaining at one certain point is not nearly as crucial as the overall weight target. At Women’s Care of Bradenton, we will ensure you’re on the right, healthy track. 

Where Do the Pounds Go?

Happy Pregnant Woman With a Healthy Lifestyle Eating a Green Salad With Vegetables While Sitting on the Living Room Sofa.

Some mothers think that all the pounds go to the belly, and while this is partially true, it is not exactly the case. It can be pretty interesting to break down where the extra weight during pregnancy distributes.

 Let’s take a look at an average 30-pound pregnancy.

  • The baby will cause you about seven to eight pounds.
  • Your placenta will be about one and a half pounds.
  • The amniotic fluid is at two pounds.
  • Your uterine will enlarge and account for about two pounds.
  • Your breast tissue will grow about two pounds.
  • Your blood volume will increase by about four pounds.
  • The various maternal tissue fluids are around four pounds.
  • Your body will store about seven pounds of fat. 

For a healthy child, mothers will gain pounds in all these body areas. The weight gain nourishes and protects your baby. It also prepares mothers for childbirth and nursing. If you have more questions about pregnancy weight gain, schedule an appointment for us. Our compassionate healthcare workers at Women’s Care of Bradenton will be with you every step of pregnancy.