Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator- Estimate Your Weekly Weight

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How much weight should I gain or lose during pregnancy? This might be on your mind when your OB/GYN tells you to put on or lose some weight. You need to maintain the ideal recommended weight gain during pregnancy to avoid any pregnancy weight related complications.

MomJunction’s pregnancy weight gain calculator helps you in tracking your weight gain for each week of your pregnancy.


Result

Points To Be Noted

Check whether if you have a healthy weight gain using this graph-

The red dot represents your weight gain and the green area represents the ideal range of weight at your pregnancy week . You are :

  • Overweight - If your red dot is above the green area.
  • Underweight - If your red dot is below the green area.
  • Normal Weight - If your red dot is within the green area.
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If you are underweight or unable to gain the desired weight, it could affect the baby’s health and result in preterm labor. And, if you are overweight or obese, or gain weight excessively, it will affect both you and the baby causing complications in labor, C-section or a miscarriage.

You need to track your pregnancy weight and check the progress using pregnancy weight gain tracker based on height and weight before pregnancy to find out if you are under safe ranges of weight gain or not.

How Much Weight You Can Gain During Pregnancy ?

Appropriate weight gain during the weeks or trimesters of pregnancy depends on certain factors such as pre-pregnancy weight and BMI, whether you are carrying twins or multiples and more. Here is the general weight gain chart during pregnancy for recommended weight gain.

BMI Chart For Singleton Pregnancy Weight Gain

Pre-pregnancy BMICategoryRecommended Weight Gain
< 18.5Underweight28-40lb (13-18kg)
18.5 – 24.9Normal24-35lb (11-16kg)
25-29.9Overweight15-25lb (7-11kg)
> 30Obese11-20lb (5-9kg)

BMI Chart For Twin Pregnancy Weight Gain

If you are carrying twins, you need to gain weight accordingly. Here is the general pregnancy weight gain chart for twins.

Pre-pregnancy BMICategoryRecommended Weight Gain
18.5-24.9Normal28-40lb (13-18kg)
18.5 – 24.9Normal37-54lb (17-25kg)
25-29.9Overweight31-50lb (14-23kg)
> 30Obese25-42lb (11-19kg)

If you are carrying multiples or more, there are no set guidelines for pregnancy weight gain due to insufficient data. You should talk to your OB/GYN on how to gain the right weight.

When Do You Start Gaining Weight During Pregnancy ?

You will start to gain weight during the first trimester (due to retained water), but that is minimal. In the first month of pregnancy, there is little or no weight gain as the baby is just a tiny ball of cells. In fact, you might lose weight due to morning sickness in the initial months. Most women put on about 1.6kg in the first trimester.

During the second trimester, you will have the highest weight gain since your eating habits influence the baby’s weight. You will put around 0.5kg every week, totaling 5.5 to 6.4kg in that trimester. There will again be a considerable increase in weight during the third trimester, and it may slow down in the last month (due to food aversions or having an active baby). You will be gaining around 5kg in the last trimester. That is, normal weight gain during pregnancy should varies from 10 kg to 15 kg but again it depends on BMI ranges.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why Is It Important To Gain The Recommended Amount Of Weight During Pregnancy?

The right weight gain will help you stay away from several pregnancy complications.

If you gain less than the recommended weight range, you may deliver an extremely small baby because of insufficient nourishment. Babies born too small will have difficulty with breastfeeding, high risk of illnesses and will experience a delay in development (they cannot reach the milestones of their age).

If you gain more than the recommended weight range, you will deliver a big baby, and it again leads to complications like caesarean section and obesity. Also, you will remain obese even after pregnancy.

BMI of less than 18.5 is normally considered underweight, and more than 25 is overweight. More than 30 is obese.

Q. What Is BMI Chart And Why It Is Important During Pregnancy?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat calculated from your weight and height. The pregnancy weight you should maintain depends on your BMI before pregnancy. It helps you determine the ideal weight you should gain during pregnancy. Overall, it screens for weight categories that can lead to health issues. Tracking weight may help in the early diagnosis of certain conditions, such as preeclampsia, characterized by rapid weight gain.

Q. Should I Lose Weight Before Getting Pregnant Again?

You should get down to the healthiest weight possible before you plan your next pregnancy. The only best way to lose weight is through diet and exercise. You should check with your OB/GYN for tips on safe weight loss.

Q. Is A Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator Accurate In Predicting How Much Weight I Will Gain During Pregnancy?

A pregnancy weight gain calculator does not calculate how much weight you will gain over your pregnancy, which primarily depends on your diet and level of physical activity. Instead, it estimates your ideal weight gain depending on your pre-pregnancy weight, current weight, and height.

Q. Can A Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator Help Me Track My Baby's Growth?

A pregnancy weight gain calculator does not track fetal growth directly. However, studies show that pregnancy weight gain can significantly affect babies' birth weight, and thus it may help track maternal weight gain to prevent sub-optimal birth weight (1).

Q. How Frequently Should I Use A Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator To Track My Progress?

You may use a pregnancy weight gain calculator every month, usually during your second and third trimesters. However, you need not use it frequently as prenatal appointments include tracking weight and adequate feedback on your progress by your healthcare provider.

References:

  1. Freweini Gebrearegay Tela et al.; (2019); Effect of pregnancy weight gain on infant birth weight among mothers attending antenatal care from private clinics in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia: A facility based follow-up study. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0212424#

Disclaimer:

Our pregnancy weight calculator provides just an estimation. You need to discuss your weight issues with a medical practitioner before taking any measures. MomJunction is not liable for any related issues, consequences or damages.

Did you try our calculator yet? If yes, how did it help you in managing your weight during pregnancy. Let us know by commenting below.

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