Weight gain during pregnancy. What should be the normal weight during pregnancy?

Pregnancy weight gain calculator

Your weight before pregnancy in kg:

A small miracle already lives in your tummy - the future baby. And I really want to go through 9 months quickly, study the pregnancy calendar in order to get to know my little babies! And you, like every expectant mother, imagine him: what he looks like, what eye color he will have, and in general is he a boy or a girl? It is important to monitor your health and body weight, because underweight and overweight can harm both mother and baby. The pregnancy weight gain chart will be a good help for self-control!

Weight gain calculator and table

Weight Gain Calculator

Weight growth chart Calculation for weight: 55kg, height: 165cm.

Optimal weight for this period:

Increase for this period:

Why are increase rates so important?

Why is weight gain during pregnancy so important? A pregnant woman is like a small child: she becomes emotionally sensitive, unprotected and trusting. Everyone around insists that nutritious nutrition and increased portions are needed not by the expectant mother, but by the child growing inside her. Relatives and friends vying with each other to offer tasty treats, and as a result - going beyond the norms and being forced to eat a safe diet.

The addition of extra pounds is not always caused by appetite. There can be many reasons: stagnation of excess water in the body (edema), a sedentary lifestyle at the beginning of pregnancy, a pathological tendency to be overweight, a difficult transition period. In any case, a woman should worry about the health of the child and herself!

The norm for weight gain during pregnancy was not developed in vain, because excess weight is a sign of pathology, it does not benefit a pregnant woman for the following reasons:

1. Diabetes in pregnant women, late toxicosis.
2. As the period increases and, accordingly, the tummy increases, it will be difficult for mommy to walk, and shortness of breath is possible.
3. Varicose veins, spider veins on the face.
4. Dysfunction of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems.
5. Heavy load on the spine and internal organs.
6. Increased cholesterol.
7. Failure to comply with the norm for weight gain during pregnancy in the 1st trimester is a threat of miscarriage, and in the later trimester - a threat of premature birth.
8. The birth of a large baby (more than 4–4.5 kg), which is especially dangerous for women in labor with a narrow pelvis.

But excess kilograms are a potential danger for the baby:

1. Oxygen starvation.
2. Nutrient deficiency.
3. Difficulties in determining the condition of the baby and its gender on ultrasound due to the layer of subcutaneous fat.

Don’t worry, weight gain is not uncommon in pregnant women; it’s unpleasant, but not too scary. To avoid these troubles, you can stick to the basics of a healthy diet, move more and breathe fresh air. And once a week, use the pregnancy weight gain calculator.

How to control kilograms during pregnancy by month: the myth of increased portions

“Calculate your weight during pregnancy” - it just sounds scary, in fact it’s a normal healthy diet with a complete set of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. There is an opinion that a pregnant woman needs a large amount of high-calorie and often unhealthy food, because the second one is for the baby. This is a myth, and the baby living in your tummy needs nutrients and some calories.

Until the end of the first trimester, the expectant mother adds 200 kcal to her menu every month, during the 2nd trimester - 300, weight gain in the third trimester we add 340-360 kcal. For example, weight gain during pregnancy is not difficult to calculate: in the second trimester, to provide for the baby, you need to add a glass of juice and a few apples to the diet. Of course, without giving up your menu.

Why does weight gain occur every week, and how to calculate a pregnant woman’s weight?

From the first days of pregnancy, your body weight begins to slowly increase. In the first trimester, the increase is insignificant; in the second and third, the number of kilograms gained increases. The set of kilograms depends on the following factors:

1. Mommy's height and weight before pregnancy.
2. Term.
3. The age of a woman, the older she is, the greater the likelihood of unplanned weight gain.
4. The problem of toxicosis is that a woman does not gain weight, but, on the contrary, loses it. But don’t rejoice, in the next two trimesters the body will try to compensate for the losses.
5. During multiple pregnancies, weight gain occurs more intensely, but in this case you should also adhere to the norms. After all, the danger of premature birth increases!

Despite all this, the rate of weight gain during pregnancy is a relative thing. A thin girl who has never suffered from extra pounds can gain 20 kg during pregnancy, while a plump girl, on the contrary, will leave the maternity hospital like a reed.

Note that the normal average weight gain during pregnancy is an acceptable figure of 9–12 kg. And the lower the BMI, the greater the increase will be while waiting for the baby. A woman’s body is a smart mechanism; once pregnancy occurs, it knows what to do.

How does an online calculator calculate the normal weight of a pregnant woman?

The calculator calculates the rate of weight gain during pregnancy according to the table. This is a table that allows you to compare parameters and determine the norm. After all, weight gain during pregnancy proceeds smoothly week by week due to the following changes:

1. The uterus is growing, by the end of pregnancy it will increase by 600 g.
2. Chest 500 g.
3. Blood volume +1.2 l.
4. Tissue fluids, amniotic fluid and placenta are about another 4.5 kg.
5. The average weight of an unborn child is 3.3 kg.

Calculating weight during any pregnancy is very simple: we already gain 10 kg, here we should add the natural weight gain of pregnant women due to the protective fat layer of 1.5–2 kg. 12 kg is the correct rate of weight gain during pregnancy. We can say that weight gain during pregnancy in the third trimester is the most significant, and it is 60% of the norm.

Table of weight gain during pregnancy by week for those expecting twins

Weight gain during pregnancy with twins is +4 kg to normal. That is, weight gain during a long-awaited pregnancy with twins is 16–17 kg according to schedule. When expecting twins, women gain 17 kg, and this is justified, because two babies weigh more than one.

Weighing and weight gain: identifying excess weight

Weighing is a way to monitor pregnancy's excess weight gain week by week. It is weighing that becomes a daily ritual, allowing you to keep the situation under control over the weeks. How much have you gained, how much is left to gain by week, how many kilograms do you need to add or lose?

Is it possible to lose weight during pregnancy?

Multiple or singleton pregnancies are in themselves a contraindication for the diet. It is easier to replace unhealthy sweets with fruits than to level out the normal level later - this is the best diet option for excessive weight gain in pregnant women.

Tips from the site Childhood Companion: healthy and low-calorie foods

Focus on the vitamin and nutritional component of your diet; it should be dominated by:

1. The expectant mother's diet must contain protein - milk and fermented milk products, meat, eggs.
2. Phosphorus, which is obtained from fish and seafood.
3. Hemoglobin, fish roe and pomegranates are especially valuable for this substance.
4. Fiber from porridge and fresh fruit.

What proportion of a particular product should be included in the daily menu? The calculation is simple: 100 g protein, 60 g fat and 15 g carbohydrates. This menu will allow you to maintain your figure even while carrying a baby! Combine the minimum set of nutrients from food with taking vitamins prescribed by your doctor.

What if pregnancy weight gain is now my permanent weight?

Many expectant mothers worry that after giving birth, their body weight will remain the same and the woman will have to exercise or go on a diet. Don't worry - this is temporary, and each week after giving birth will bring a pleasant plumbing in kilograms for your soul. Taking care of a newborn will definitely help you lose weight!

Moreover, when breastfeeding, you will temporarily have to forget about all sorts of excesses like marmalade, chocolate, coffee.

As we already said, don’t worry, because weight gain happens quite often during pregnancy. When using the pregnancy weight gain calculator, remember that all calculations are based on average data! If you have any doubts, concerns or unsatisfactory results, we recommend that you contact your doctor.

Use our weight calculator for pregnant women and enjoy every minute of expecting your baby. Take care of your health, look forward to the last months of pregnancy, and enjoy the first meeting with your baby. After all, having received it in your hands, there will no longer be time for calculating your pregnancy weight or taking care of yourself - your whole life will focus on a small, hungry and dear person whom you have yet to get to know!

During the period of bearing a child, changes occur in the female body that are visible to the eye: a rounded belly and increasing body weight. Weight during pregnancy should be carefully monitored not only by the pregnant woman herself, but also by the leading gynecologist.

Sharp changes up or down indicate a possible pathological process.

For some pregnant women, their figure remains virtually unchanged (except for the growing belly). And for others, the fullness of the hips, buttocks, and arms is added. This depends on the speed of metabolic processes in the female body, and not on a large amount of food.

Of course, uncontrolled food intake is one of the reasons for weight gain. But if the metabolic processes in the body are normal, this cannot contribute to the rapid gain of excess weight.

Pregnancy weight

Normally, during the gestation period, a pregnant woman should gain weight from 10 to 15 kg.

If more is an indicator of excess kilograms, less is a lack of nutrients. In both cases, adjustments are necessary.

The causes of excess body weight during pregnancy are conventionally divided into hereditary - this is a genetic predisposition to obesity, and acquired:

• body type: asthenics and hypersthenics;
• age of the pregnant woman;
• : its presence or absence;
• pregnant woman's appetite;
• multiple pregnancy;
• pregnancy.

The number of kilograms also depends on the trimester of pregnancy. So at the beginning of pregnancy (in the first trimester), weight loss may be observed, and closer to 12 weeks - recovery.

In the second trimester, intense weight gain occurs, so it is necessary to control your appetite.

In the third trimester, the mass continues to grow, but not so quickly.

At 37-39 weeks the weight stops.

How to measure weight correctly

In order to know the exact weight, you need to:

1. Use the same scales. If you change scales frequently, the weight will vary in one direction or another.
2. Measure your body weight no more than once a week. Preferably on the same day of the week.
3. Weigh yourself in the morning on an empty stomach, after visiting the toilet (with an empty bladder and intestines).
4. Weigh yourself in light clothing or just underwear. If the measurement of body weight is carried out at an appointment in the office of an obstetrician-gynecologist - in underwear and without shoes (socks or light slippers are possible).
5. To control your weight, record the result.

Rate of weight gain by the expectant mother

Weight gain during normal pregnancy does not occur spontaneously.

Due to the individuality of the body, weight gain will vary. For some, from the first day of delay, their appetite increases and accelerated weight gain occurs. For others, a noticeable increase appears only from the 20th week.

There are limit values ​​for body weight in the gestational period depending on the period. Scheme of weight gain during pregnancy by weeks and months (table):

• For the period from the moment of conception and 4 weeks of pregnancy, no change in body weight is observed.
• From 5 to 8 weeks there may be weight loss - this is a normal physiological course, for example due to toxicosis. Normally, the loss is no more than 2 kg, and the gain is no more than 1 kg.
• In the 3rd month (from 9 to 12 weeks) an average of 200 g should be added per week, the total increase is no more than 2 kg.
• From 4 months, noticeable weight gain begins - on average, weight gain ranges from 1 to 4 kg.
• At the 5th month – up to 5 kg, minimum increase – 3 kg.
• With the beginning of the 6th month, the 2nd trimester of pregnancy ends - there is an intensity in the increase in the weight of the pregnant woman, but not only due to fat deposits, but due to the growth of the fetus. Fluctuations range from 6 to 9 kg.
• At 7 months – no more than 12 kg.
• From 8 to 9 months, weight gain activity decreases.

Body weight gain stops at 9 months of pregnancy for 2 reasons:

1. The fruit has reached its size.
2. A pregnant woman moves and performs less.

During this period, it is important to monitor the amount, because a sharp jump in kilograms is an alarming signal of the baby’s condition.

Normal values: from 9 to 15 kg.

Features of weight distribution during pregnancy

While carrying a child, there is a uniform increase in weight, each lobe has its own weight. The increase in mass occurs not only due to the gestation of the fetus, but also due to some other organ changes.

Table 1 (at the time of birth during the normal course of the gestational period)

Baby's weight by week:

The table presents average values.

Formula for weight gain during pregnancy

Initial body weight is the weight before pregnancy. This indicator is necessary for further calculations.

Example, weight 60 kg / height 1.8 (180 cm) squared (that is, multiplied by 1.8) = BMI.

Compare the obtained result with the limit standards:

• BMI below 18.5 = underweight;
• BMI from 18.5 to 25 = acceptable weight;
• A BMI from 25 to 30 is overweight, and over 30 is obese.

Pregnant women underweight

Underweight during pregnancy is less common and is usually caused by the woman’s poor nutrition.

During pregnancy, the baby and his mother require a minimum content of preservatives and dyes.

Women who have been underweight for a long time should undergo further examination, in particular.

It is possible to correct weight if you are undernourished by eating healthy protein foods.

Lack of weight may be an indicator of low fetal body weight, which is fraught with serious consequences - and insufficient.

Rapid weight gain during pregnancy

Excess body weight is more common. Mainly a consequence of diseases that develop during pregnancy:

Measures to gain weight if there is insufficient weight should be carried out after 18 weeks (provided that everything is fine with the baby on ultrasound).

• Eat frequently up to 8 times a day;
• Have frequent snacks (just have yogurt, cookies, crackers with you);
• “enrich” food with fats by adding butter or rich sour cream;
• Get into the habit of eating peanut butter for breakfast;
• Observe .

If a pregnant woman is overweight, she must:

• Maintain a balanced diet to reduce body weight;
• Do not consume fast foods and carbonated drinks;
• Get tested to determine the cause of sudden weight changes;
• Control the number of meals and;
• Lead an active lifestyle, observing acceptable physical activity;
• Introduce the habit of “fasting days.” For example, follow an apple or vegetable diet - one day a week.

Video: normal weight during pregnancy

Most pregnant women look forward to the moment when they have. But along with this, expectant mothers are somewhat alarmed by the change in their own dimensions, because along with the belly, other parts of the body are rounded. And this does not please every woman.

Weight gain during pregnancy is inevitable. Any normal pregnancy should be accompanied by an increase. But she “has no right” to go beyond the established limits, which may be different in each individual case.

What does weight gain depend on?

So, if the pregnancy proceeds well, then as it develops, the woman’s weight will inevitably increase. The amount of fluid in the body increases, the uterus, fetus and placenta grow, the breast prepares for feeding, and small fat reserves are deposited to provide the baby with everything necessary. Naturally, all these gains become noticeable even without weights. However, not all expectant mothers recover in the same way.

The number of kilograms gained during pregnancy depends on many factors. First of all, from the initial weight. The further he falls short of the norm, the faster he will rise upward. The process will go faster if you tend to be overweight, but previously kept your weight down with moderate nutrition and physical activity. Tall women will also score more than short women.

If it is expected, then it is obvious that the placenta will be larger and heavier, and with it the overall weight. The tendency to swelling also affects this indicator: the more fluid is retained in the body, the further the scale needle deviates.

It is noteworthy that weight loss in the early stages due to strong weight loss can later cause its rapid increase: the body seems to be catching up, trying to recover.

In addition, almost all expectant mothers experience an increase in appetite at certain periods, which is associated with an increase in estrogen levels. And if a woman is unable to control it, then overeating also leads to a set of extra, and in this case, unwanted kilograms.

Fluid retention in tissues (which causes swelling) is also reflected by extra numbers on the scales. More prohibited kilograms are formed when. Naturally, the expectant mother will weigh more than if she were pregnant with one child.

We should not forget about age: over the years, the tendency to become overweight and gain extra pounds increases.

Increase rates

Being underweight or overweight during pregnancy can lead to various complications. Thus, too large increases may be accompanied by, which is considered a violation. Excess weight becomes an obstacle during childbirth, complicating the birth of the baby. This is also a large load on the heart and musculoskeletal system of a woman, the risk of developing thrombophlebitis and the occurrence of various pains. And too small increases may be a sign of impaired fetal development.

It is not without reason that doctors monitor a pregnant woman’s weight throughout the entire period and especially in the second half of pregnancy. To assess this indicator, conditional “corridors” have been created into which the expectant mother should normally fit. Of course, these standards are averages and can be adjusted depending on individual characteristics. But in general they can be expressed in the following table:

Norms of weight gain during pregnancy

BMI in the table is the body mass index, which is calculated as follows:

BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)2.

For example, with a weight of 60 kg and a height of 160 cm, BMI = 60 / 1.62² = 23.44.

Different BMI indicators in the first, second and third columns are characteristic of women of thin, medium and large build, respectively.

As you can see, you should hardly gain weight: the increase is on average 1-2 kg. In the second trimester, weight can increase by 250-300 g every week. Starting from week 30 - 300-400 g per week or 50 g per day. There is also the following formula for calculating the allowed increase in the 3rd trimester: for every 10 cm of height, you can add a maximum of 22 g per week.

However, the rate of weight gain is as individual as the gain itself. Some women begin to plump up already in the first weeks, while others sharply increase in volume in the last months.

Most obstetricians agree that on average you can gain 12-13 kg during pregnancy. If twins are expected, the increase will be 16-21 kg.

Undoubtedly, you should be wary if a woman has not gained a single gram in two weeks or the increase in a week is more than 500 g. You should also consult a doctor if your weight is growing unevenly.

Where do kilograms come from?

We found that “legal” weight gain during the entire pregnancy can average 13 kg. What do these “pregnant” kilograms consist of:

• child - 3000-3500g;
• uterus - 900-1000 g;
• afterbirth - 400-500 g;
• amniotic fluid - 900-1000 g;
• increase in blood volume - 1200-1500 g;
• additional liquid - 1500-2700;
• breast enlargement - 500 g;
• fat deposits - 3000-4000 g.

Total - 11400-14700 g.

As you can see, food for two is not provided here. So this idea can be discarded right away. However, for the development and bearing of a healthy child, reserves are needed, which the mother’s body draws from nutrition. The diet of pregnant women should indeed be a little higher in calories than others, but not by much - only plus 200 calories per day in the first half and plus 300 calories per day in the second half of pregnancy.

If the doctor has come to the conclusion that the pregnant woman’s weight exceeds the permissible norm, you should first try to give up flour, sweets and animal fats. You should not sharply limit your diet, because changes in weight provoke changes. Portions should be reduced gradually, but you should not give up cereals and plant foods. You need to eat often, but little by little. And monitor your fluid intake: 6-8 glasses a day without fail.

It is advisable to weigh yourself every day for control; it is best to do it in the morning on an empty stomach and always in the same clothes to obtain the most reliable data.

Do not rush to be upset if your indicators do not coincide with the above standards, because everything is individual. Focus on how you feel and your doctor’s advice. Remember that after giving birth you will gradually return to your previous shape if you put in a little effort. This process will go faster if you breastfeed your baby. But if you gain excess weight during pregnancy, it will be more difficult to lose those extra pounds.

Please note that malnutrition during pregnancy is much more dangerous than overeating. However, try to keep yourself within limits.

Especially for- Elena Kichak