Pregnancy Weight Gain Facts

How do all those pounds add up?

by BabyZone Editors
Pregnant Woman on Scale see larger photo

Your body undergoes dramatic changes during pregnancy. Organs shift, the baby grows, and weight is gained. Today, most doctors suggest that healthy weight gain should amount to between 25 and 35 pounds, depending on your body size and pre-pregnancy weight.

Recommendations for Pregnancy Weight Gain

How much weight you should gain during pregnancy depends on how the scale read before you were expecting. Here's a breakdown of what doctors suggest:

  • Underweight pre-pregnancy weight: 28-40 pounds
  • Normal pre-pregnancy weight: 25-35 pounds
  • Overweight pre-pregnancy weight: 15-25 pounds

How It All Adds Up

How do all those pounds add up, anyway?

Here's how those pregnancy pounds are used:


Fetus 7.5 lbs
Fat, protein and other nutrients 7 lbs
Increased blood 4 lbs
Increased fluid 4 lbs
Uterus 2 lbs
Amniotic fluid 2 lbs
Breast growth 2 lbs
Placenta 1.5 lbs
Total 30 lbs
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