Q&A
Ideal Pregnancy Weight Gain
Question:
How much weight gain is considered healthy for a woman during pregnancy?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends an ideal weight gain of 25 to 37 pounds for women who start pregnancy at a healthy weight. Only 3 to 5 pounds of that goes on during the first trimester, and the rest is added at about 1 to 2 pounds per week throughout the rest of the pregnancy.
Underweight moms will need to put on 28 to 40 pounds, while women who are overweight should aim to gain between 15 to 25 pounds.
It's especially important to eat a well-balanced diet during pregnancy. Aim to have 3 servings of milk, yogurt, and cheese, 3 servings of protein, 3 servings of fruits, 4 servings of vegetables, and 9 servings of whole grain products daily. Eating healthy and avoiding junk foods and high-fat foods will help prevent excessive weight gain.
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