Weight gain targets during pregnancy: eating for two
Proper weight gain throughout pregnancy is one of the best ways possible to ensure that Baby grows big and strong and happy and healthy. Because you are her sole lifeline for nine whole months, it’s your responsibility to make sure that you are gaining enough weight that she develops properly, but not so much that she gets too big to be safe.
How much weight?
The amount of weight that a woman is supposed to gain throughout the course of pregnancy depends on her weight before conception, and is determined by her Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated with the equation (kg/m2). Women entering pregnancy with a BMI below the normal range of 18.5-24.9 need to gain more weight than those within the range, and women with a BMI higher than 26 need to gain less. There's also the question of how many babies she's carrying - with one baby, you'll need to gain less weight than does a woman who is carrying multiples.
The distribution of weight gain is also very much not an even split between trimesters, rather, the suggested weight gain increases with each. You should always talk to your healthcare provider about the right amount of weight gain for you, but below is a general chart of suggested weight gain throughout pregnancy, dependent upon pre-conception BMI:
| BMI class | BMI | Healthy weight gain range (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | Under 18.5 | 28-40 (12.7-18 kg) |
| Normal | 18.5-24.9 | 25-35 (11-16 kg) |
| Overweight | 25-29.9 | 15-25 (7-11 kg) |
| Obese | 30+ | 11-20 (5-9 kg) |
How Ovia tracks your weight gain
Ovia will determine your weight gain goals based on your pre-conception BMI, and allow you to track this data throughout your pregnancy with interactive charts and analyses. You’ll be asked to submit your weight daily, and Ovia is able to analyze and provide feedback on your gains, identifying when you might be gaining too much or too little, and whether any other factor might be preventing you from maintaining a healthy weight gain. Working diligently to meet your weight gain goals while staying within the healthy range is probably the best way to ensure that Baby grows and develops at the proper pace.
Reviewed by Dr. Jamie Lo
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Sources
- "Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Number 548." ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 1/13/2015. Web.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. "Pregnancy weight gain: What's healthy?" Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 3/4/2014. Web.
