Watch the video and review the “Key Items to Remember” below.
| Pre-pregnancy BMI | Weight Gain | Weight Gain (carrying twins) |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight (<18.5) | 28-40 lbs (12.7-18.2 kg) | 50-62 lbs |
| Normal weight (18.5-24.9) | 25-35 lbs (11.4-15.9 kg) | 37-54 lbs |
| Overweight (25-29.9) | 15-25 lbs (6.8-11.4 kg) | 31-50 lbs |
| Obese (≥30) | 11-20 lbs (5.0-9.1 kg) | 25-42 lbs |
- Pregnancy as an adolescent increases the risk of a preterm delivery, low-birth weight newborn, infant mortality, and maternal complications during pregnancy and delivery.
- Gaining too much weight can lead to gestational diabetes, hypertension, delivery by c-section, and a higher risk of delivering a stillbirth or a large for gestational age newborn.
- Not gaining enough weight increases the risk of the infant being small for gestational age, preterm, or having low APGAR scores.
Please review the following chart for recommendations for weight gain and additional energy needs by trimester.
| Trimester | Weight Gain | Additional Energy Needs |
|---|---|---|
| First (Week 0 -13) | No additional needs | No additional needs |
| Second (Week 14-26) | +1 lb per week | + 350kcal/day + 25g protein |
| Third (Week 27-40) | + 1 lb per week | + 450 kcal/day + 25g protein |
Please review the following chart explaining where the weight gain goes during pregnancy.
| Part | Average Pounds |
|---|---|
| Fetus | 6-8 |
| Breasts | 1-2 |
| Blood volume/supply | 3-4 |
| Additional fluids | 3-4 |
| Placenta | 1-2 |
| Amniotic fluid | 2-3 |
| Uterus | 1-2 |
| Fat stores (maternal) | 8-10 |
| Total | 25-35 |