How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?

Weight gain depends in part on your body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy. During your first 12 weeks—the first trimester—you may gain only 1 to 5 pounds or no weight at all. In your second and third trimesters, if you were a healthy weight before pregnancy, you should gain between half a pound and 1 pound per week.

For women who were a healthy weight when they got pregnant, the key to healthy weight gain is to slowly increase your calories. In the first trimester, when weight gain is minimal, usually no extra calories are needed. In the second trimester, you need an extra 340 calories a day, and in the third trimester, about 450 extra calories a day.

Read Nutrition During Pregnancy to learn more.

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This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women's health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Read ACOG’s complete disclaimer.