Pregnancy Weight Gain

Obviously, you'll need to gain more weight if you're carrying twins or
triplets - often 35 to 45 pounds. Although excess weight carries risks - such as
gestational diabetes and hypertension - pregnancy is not the time to lose
weight. Even women who are overweight should gain some weight during pregnancy.

Of course, it's important to keep an eye on the scale. If you gain more than
the recommended amount during pregnancy and fail to lose the weight within six
months after giving birth, you may have a higher risk of being obese later.

If You're Underweight

If you're underweight, it's essential to gain a reasonable amount of weight
while you're pregnant - especially during the second and third trimesters.
Without the extra weight, your baby may be born earlier or smaller than
expected.

Where does it go?

Let's say your baby weighs in at 6 or 7 pounds. That accounts for some of
your pregnancy weight gain. But what about the rest? Here's a sample breakdown:

• Baby: 7 to 8 pounds


• Larger breasts: 1 to 3 pounds


• Larger uterus: 2 pounds


• Placenta: 1 1/2 pounds


• Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds


• Increased blood volume: 3 to 4 pounds


• Increased fluid volume: 2 to 3 pounds


• Fat stores: 6 to 8 pounds

Conclusion

In the first three months, most women don't need to gain much weight. If you
start out at a normal weight, you should gain only a few pounds in the first few
months of pregnancy. You can do this with an extra 150 to 200 calories a day.
Low-fat yogurt or a glass of calcium-fortified orange juice will suffice.

Steady weight gain is more important in the second and third trimesters This
usually means 3 to 4 pounds a month until delivery. If you started your
pregnancy underweight, your doctor suggest boosting your caloric intake more.