Pregnancy Weight Gain Facts

Weight Gain Timeline

Wondering how the timeline should work for adding on those pregnancy pounds? The American Pregnancy Association (APA) suggests the following parameters for pregnancy weight gain.

If you're a healthy weight before pregnancy:

• Three to five pounds during the first trimester
• Approximately one to two pounds per week in the second trimester
• Approximately one to two pounds per week in the third trimester

If you were underweight before pregnancy:

• Five to six pounds, or more, in your first trimester (this will depend on what your healthcare provider suggests)
• One to two pounds per week in the second and third trimesters

If you were overweight before pregnancy:

• Approximately one to two pounds in the first trimester
• Approximately one pound per week during the last six months

What to Do When Problems Arise

Are you having troubles gaining weight? Your doctor can help you establish the eating habits you need to put on pounds, if gaining weight is a challenge for you.

A good place to start is to shoot for an extra 300 calories each day. Here are some suggested snacks to help you do just that:

• Three tablespoons of olive oil added to breads or vegetables
• One scoop of ice cream
• A peanut butter sandwich
• A large bowl of cereal with low-fat milk
• Three handfuls of nuts
• One bar of dark chocolate
• A serving of fruit cobbler
• Substitute three cups of juice for three cups of water
• Three slices of cheese
• One slice of quiche
• A cup of chili and beans
• Eight ounces of chocolate milk
• One avocado