A: It’s important to aim for a healthy weight gain during pregnancy. Gaining too little increases your likelihood of having a low-weight baby and may increase your risk of preterm delivery. Gaining too much can increase your chance of delivering an overweight baby, having a Caesarean section and retaining excessive pounds after delivery.

The recommendations for weight gain in pregnancy are based on your prepregnancy “body mass index,” or “BMI.” BMI is a measure of body fat based on your own height and weight. The National Institutes of Health has a website that will calculate your BMI for you: http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm If your general health is good, use the following table as a guide for your recommended total weight gain during pregnancy.





Your weight gain in pregnancy should be gradual. During the first three months of pregnancy you should only expect to gain around three or four pounds. During the remainder of your pregnancy, you should gain three or four pounds a month.