Obstetrical Care
Weight Gain in Pregnancy
Most women need approximately 300 additional calories a day in pregnancy (500 calories if you are still nursing or are pregnant with twins). A general guide is that most women should gain approximately 10 pounds by week 20 and about ½ to 1 pound on average per week thereafter, depending on your BMI (Body Mass Index) at the start of your pregnancy. You can use a BMI calculator to calculate your pre-pregnancy BMI.
There are risks of being overweight or obese in pregnancy, or of gaining too much weight:
Northwestern Medicine Osher Center for Integrative Health has nutritionists for women who are very over or under weight and are having a hard time trying to figure out a healthy intake for pregnancy. Call 312.926.3627 or visit ocim.nm.org/nutrition.html.
- BMI <18.5: Underweight. Recommended weight gain in pregnancy is 28 to 40 lbs.
- BMI 18.5-24.9: Normal weight. Recommended weight gain in pregnancy is 25 to 35 lbs.
- BMI 25-29.9: Overweight. Recommended weight gain in pregnancy is 15 to 25 lbs.
- BMI >30: Obese. Recommended weight gain in pregnancy is 11 to 20 lbs.
There are risks of being overweight or obese in pregnancy, or of gaining too much weight:
- Gestational diabetes
- Gestational hypertension or preeclampsia
- Preterm birth
- Cesarean section
- Shoulder dystocia
- Childhood obesity
Northwestern Medicine Osher Center for Integrative Health has nutritionists for women who are very over or under weight and are having a hard time trying to figure out a healthy intake for pregnancy. Call 312.926.3627 or visit ocim.nm.org/nutrition.html.
