What you eat and how much of it is more important than ever while you are pregnant. The amount of weight you gain during your pregnancy is as essential to your health as it is to the health of your baby. While you’re pregnant, you should work closely with your doctor to make sure you keep your pregnancy weight on target.
Not gaining enough weight can jeopardize your baby’s growth and development. Gaining too much weight can cause complications during your pregnancy and make it difficult for you to lose the extra pounds after your delivery.
“Eating for two” doesn’t mean you should double-up on the food you consume. If you are a healthy weight before your pregnancy, you only need to eat an average of an extra 300 calories a day during your pregnancy — that’s a glass of skim milk and half a sandwich.
Eat a nutritious, well-rounded diet. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women should have three cups of dairy, 5-6.5 ounces of protein, 1 ½-2 cups of fruits, 2 ½-3 cups of vegetables, and 6-8 ounces of whole grains every day.
How Much You Should Gain
The amount of weight you need to gain during your pregnancy depends on a number of different factors, including if you are having twins or multiples, your pre-pregnancy weight, your body mass index (BMI), and your and your baby’s overall health.
Pregnancy Weight Guidelines
| Height | Underweight (BMI <18.5) | Healthy Weight (BMI 18.5-24.9) | Overweight (BMI 25-29.9) | Obese (BMI >30) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended Goal for Weight Gain | 28-40 lbs. | 25-35 lbs | 15-25 lbs | 11-20 lbs. |
| 4’7” | <80 | 80-107 | 108-128 | >128 |
| 4’8” | <83 | 83-111 | 112-133 | >133 |
| 4’9” | <86 | 86-115 | 116-138 | >138 |
| 4’10” | <89 | 89-110 | 120-143 | >143 |
| 4’11” | <92 | 92-123 | 124-148 | >148 |
| 5’0” | <95 | 95-127 | 128-153 | >153 |
| 5’1” | <98 | 98-132 | 133=158 | >158 |
| 5’2” | <101 | 101-136 | 137-163 | >163 |
| 5’3” | <105 | 105-140 | 141-169 | >169 |
| 5’4” | <108 | 108-145 | 146-174 | >174 |
| 5’5” | <111 | 111-149 | 150-179 | >179 |
| 5’6” | <115 | 115-154 | 155-185 | >185 |
| 5’7” | <118 | 118-159 | 160-191 | >191 |
| 5’8” | <122 | 122-164 | 165-196 | >196 |
| 5’9” | <125 | 125-168 | 169-202 | >202 |
| 5’10” | <129 | 129-173 | 174-208 | >208 |
| 5’11” | <133 | 133-178 | 179-214 | >214 |
| 6’0” | <137 | 137-183 | 184-220 | >220 |
| 6’1” | <140 | 140-189 | 190-227 | >227 |
| 6’2” | <143 | 143-194 | 195-233 | >233 |
| 6’3” | <148 | 149-199 | 200-239 | >239 |