Healthy Weight Gain During Pregnancy by Trimester

Most women who start pregnancy at a healthy weight gain about 25 to 35 pounds. Hardly any of it comes in the first trimester, and after that it’s roughly a pound a week.

When I think about pregnancy weight, I picture a mom standing on the scale, holding her breath. Please don’t do that to yourself. The number matters far less than you think, and it makes a lot more sense once you see how the months play out.

The first trimester: you might gain nothing

Your baby is tiny right now, so your body doesn’t need extra food yet. Most women gain just 1 to 5 pounds, and plenty gain none. If nausea has you living on crackers and ginger tea, you’re not doing it wrong. Just take your prenatal vitamin with folic acid, eat what you can, and call it a win.

The second trimester: hello, hunger

Somewhere around week 14, you’ll probably wake up starving, and that’s your body telling you it’s time. The scale starts to move, usually about a pound a week. ACOG says you only need around 340 extra calories a day, which is about a yogurt with some fruit. Think of it as a snack, not a second dinner. Eggs, beans, leafy greens, and dairy help your baby build strong bones and organs.

The third trimester: slow and steady

Now it’s about 450 extra calories a day, but your stomach is squished, so little meals feel better than big ones. This is a good time to ask your doctor about DHA for your baby’s brain. And if the scale slows near the end, don’t worry, because that happens to a lot of moms.

Your number isn’t anyone else’s

Your ideal gain depends on where you started. The CDC and Institute of Medicine suggest 28 to 40 pounds if you began underweight and 11 to 20 pounds if you began with obesity. Your doctor or midwife can tell you your own range, and that’s the one that counts. So try not to compare yourself to the mom next to you, okay?

Questions moms often ask