Weight gain during pregnancy is a normal yet a complex phenomenon that ensures the healthy growth and delivery of the baby.¹ So, how much weight gain is considered normal and why is it important?

How Much Weight Gain Is Recommended?

The Institute of Medicine recommends different ranges of weight gain during pregnancy depending on whether you were underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese prior to pregnancy.² For instance, if you are normal weight, a weight gain of 25-35 lb is recommended during pregnancy. This number is higher for those who are underweight and lower for those who are overweight or obese. The recommendations are summarized in the chart below.

Where Does Pregnancy Weight Gain Go?

A full-term baby born in the US typically weighs around 7 lbs.¹ However, the suggested weight gain during pregnancy easily exceeds the baby’s weight. For instance, a normal weight woman is recommended to gain 25-35 lbs – that’s an extra 18-28 lbs! So where does the pregnancy weight gain go? 

The extra weight gain goes to various parts of the women’s body to support the healthy development of the baby, prepare for labor and delivery, and to prepare breastmilk production.² Weight gain during pregnancy is distributed across protein gains, maternal fat, placenta, amniotic fluid, and water gains. Protein is gained predominantly in the fetus, but more than half of this gain is in the uterus, blood, placenta, and breasts and occurs later in pregnancy. The women’s body also retains a lot of fluid, distributed to the fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid, uterus, blood, breasts, and other extracellular fluid, which can result in swelling in some women. Pregnant women also gain fat preferentially over the hips, back, and upper thighs, a pattern unique to pregnancy.

Why Is It Important to Keep Your Weight In Check? 

Keeping your weight in check during pregnancy is important for the health of both the mother and the baby.² Women who gain weight beyond the recommended ranges are at an increased risk for experiencing pregnancy-related complications. For instance, studies find that the risk for gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, labor- and delivery-related complications, as well as postpartum weight retention and obesity are greater when weight gain exceeds recommendations. In addition, excessive weight gain during pregnancy can also affect the baby’s health. The risk of macrosomia (baby weighing >4,000 g or 8 lb 13 oz) increases with greater gestational weight gain and can result in complications during delivery such as shoulder dystocia, other birth injuries, and cesarean delivery. On the other hand, inadequate weight gain during pregnancy can increase risk of a baby small for gestational age, which is associated with increased risk of infant mortality, hypoglycemia, and persistent deficits in size and in neurocognitive development.

(Disclaimer)

The content of this article is intended to provide a general information and knowledge on the subject matter. The views expressed in newsletters, articles, and blogs in the i-SENS USA website are not necessarily those of i-SENS Incorporated, i-SENS USA Incorporated or our publishers. Medical or nutritional information on i-SENS USA website is not intended to replace professional medical advice – you should always consult a specialist with any questions about your specific circumstances.