Weight Gain During Pregnancy
“How much weight will I gain now that I’m pregnant?”
This might be one of the most frequently asked questions: “How much weight will I gain now that I’m pregnant?”. Of course, we all consider the baby’s health the most important thing. But there are few pregnant women who don’t occasionally look in the mirror or at the scales and wonder, a little bewildered, whether that weight gain is really normal. So here’s a clear blog about weight gain during your pregnancy.
A few extra kilos? Perfectly healthy!
How much weight you gain and how big your bump is says nothing about the size of your baby or its health. It is healthy and normal, though, to gain a few kilos during your pregnancy. How much is ‘normal’ really can’t be said. Everyone is different and has their own eating pattern. But there are a few guidelines that we’d like to share with you here.
BMI as a guideline
First of all, your BMI is an indicator of how much weight you’ll gain during pregnancy. The lower your BMI was before you became pregnant, the more weight you’re expected to gain. This is because during pregnancy you also start building up reserves for the breastfeeding period. If you’re overweight, the weight gain from your pregnancy is usually fairly modest. To illustrate:
| Women with: | Weight gain (indicative): |
| Underweight (BMI under 18.5) | 12 – 18 kilo |
| Normal weight (BMI 18.5 – 25) | 11.5 – 16 kilo |
| Overweight (BMI 25 – 30) | 7 – 12 kilo |
| Obesity (BMI 30+) | 5 – 8 kilo |
Weight gain differs per trimester
Weight gain usually isn’t spread evenly across your pregnancy. You gain the most during the second trimester, often around 6 kilos (at an average BMI).
In the first trimester, weight gain is often fairly modest, around 1 to 2 kilos. Some women actually lose weight during this period because they suffer
a lot from morning sickness. In the third trimester, weight gain is usually around 3 to 4 kilos.
How the kilos are distributed
So the extra weight you’re carrying around by the end of your pregnancy says nothing about your baby’s weight. But rest assured, it’s not all fat either. With an average gain of around 10 kilos over your entire pregnancy, those kilos are roughly distributed as follows:
- Baby 3 – 3.5 kg
- Uterus 1 kg
- Placenta 0.5 kg
- Amniotic fluid 1.5 kg
- Extra blood 1.5 kg
- Breasts 0.5 kg
- Fat 2 kg
Dieting during pregnancy? Don’t!
Are you shocked by the extra kilos despite everything, and thinking about going on a diet? Don’t! Dieting during pregnancy is very unwise. Your baby and your body need nutrients, so make sure you eat enough, well and healthily. Eating for two, by the way, is a myth, so that’s not necessary either. You may find that you’re hungrier though. Just listen to that, but make healthy choices. Still worried about your weight? Then try to exercise a bit more, if your body allows it. Working on your fitness is always good for you, and can even help you lose the extra weight more quickly after giving birth.
There are also risks if you gain too much weight
So can you eat and snack freely for these nine months? That’s definitely not advisable either. In fact, gaining too much weight during pregnancy can even carry risks. You could develop high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes. On top of that, it’s obviously nice to be fit before giving birth and not feel hindered by the extra kilos if you want to try different positions during labour. What’s more, a very substantial weight gain on your part during pregnancy also affects your baby’s weight; this can increase significantly too, with the possible risk that your child may be overweight later on. None of this needs to happen, of course, but the best approach is to keep eating healthily, with variety and in a responsible way throughout your pregnancy, adding a few extra vitamins and supplements.
Frequently asked questions about weight gain during pregnancy
How much weight do you gain during pregnancy?
How much weight you gain differs from woman to woman. Your BMI before pregnancy serves as a guideline: the lower your BMI was, the more weight you’re expected to gain.
How many kilos do you gain at an average weight?
At an average weight, with a BMI between 18.5 and 25, weight gain during pregnancy is (indicatively) around 11.5 to 16 kilos.
In which trimester do you gain the most weight?
You usually gain the most weight in the second trimester, often around 6 kilos at an average BMI. In the first trimester that’s around 1 to 2 kilos, and in the third trimester around 3 to 4 kilos.
What does the extra weight during pregnancy consist of?
The extra weight doesn’t consist of your baby alone. Your uterus, placenta, amniotic fluid, extra blood, breasts and some extra fat also contribute to the weight gain.
Is dieting during pregnancy advisable?
No, dieting during pregnancy is unwise. Your baby and your body need nutrients. Eating for two isn’t necessary, but eating enough, well and healthily is.
Discuss your concerns or questions with us, or join the workshop!
During your pregnancy your body changes, and you’re also dealing with a whirlwind of emotions. Do you feel uncertain about that? Feel free to discuss your concerns or questions with us. We can give you plenty of answers and, if needed, refer you to a nutritionist. Or join the workshop we offer free of charge at our practice: ‘Nutrition during your pregnancy’.
