Weight Gain During Pregnancy

How much weight should I gain?

Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy by eating a healthy, balanced diet is a good sign that your baby is getting all the nutrients he or she needs and is growing at a healthy rate.

It is not necessary to "eat for two" during pregnancy. It's true that you need extra calories from nutrient-rich foods to help your baby grow, but you generally need to consume only 200 to 300 more calories than you did before you became pregnant to meet the needs of your growing baby.

Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain during pregnancy. A woman of average weight before pregnancy can expect to gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. You may need to gain more or less weight, depending on what your health care provider recommends.

In general, you should gain about 2 to 4 pounds during your first three months of pregnancy and 1 pound a week for the remainder of your pregnancy. Follow the guidelines on the following page if you have trouble gaining weight during pregnancy.

Is it safe to lose weight during pregnancy?

No. It is never safe to lose weight during pregnancy -- both you and your baby need the proper nutrients in order to be healthy. Keep in mind that you will lose some weight during the first week your baby is born. You'll be surprised at how quickly you lose the remaining weight by following a balanced diet and exercising.

How to Gain Weight During Pregnancy

• Eat 5 to 6 small, frequent meals every day.
• Keep the following quick, easy snacks on hand:
  -- Nuts
  -- Cheese and crackers
  -- Raisins
  -- Dried fruits
  -- Ice cream/yogurt
  -- Peanut butter crackers
• One tablespoon of peanut butter will provide 100 calories and 7 grams of protein. Spread peanut butter on toast, crackers, apples, bananas, or celery.
• One tablespoon of nonfat powdered milk contains 25 calories. Add two tablespoons or more of nonfat powdered milk to each serving of the following foods:
  Before Cooking
  Instant mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, pudding or custard, hot cereal
  After Cooking
  -- Creamed soup
  -- Casseroles
  -- Mashed potatoes
  -- Sauces and gravies
• One tablespoon of the following condiments will add the number of calories below:
  Butter or margarine - 100 calories
  Cream cheese - 50 calories
  Gravy - 40 calories
  Sour cream - 25 calories
  Grated cheese - 24 calories
  Add grated cheese, sour cream, butter, margarine, gravy and/or cream cheese to:
  -- Bread, muffins, rolls, buns
  -- Vegetables
  -- Noodles
  -- Eggs
  -- Cream soups
  -- Hot cereal
  -- Casseroles
  -- Potatoes
  -- Crackers
  -- Rice
• One tablespoon of the following condiments will add about 50 calories.
  Add: Sugar To Hot cereal
  Add Honey To Fruit
  Add Corn syrup To Sweet potatoes
  Add Brown sugar To Coffee
  Add Maple syrup To Winter squash, cold cereal, tea, fruit salad

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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. For additional written health information, please contact the Health Information Center at the Cleveland Clinic (216) 444-3771 or toll-free (800) 223-2273 extension 43771 or visit www.clevelandclinic.org/health This document was last reviewed on: 9/9/2002