It seems that during pregnancy some women obsess about their weight gain. While it is more important to focus on what you are eating, rather than how much you gain, it is still helpful to know where the weight gain comes from.
How Much Weight Will I Gain During My Pregnancy?
The average pregnant woman gains between 25 and 35 pounds. This can widely vary, however, and still be well within "normal". If a woman is underweight at the beginning of her pregnancy she will likely gain a bit more. If a woman is overweight at the beginning of her pregnancy she may put on less weight through the course of her pregnancy.
Where Does the Pregnancy Weight Go?
It isn't just the growing baby that adds weight to your body during pregnancy - there are many changes that take place. Here's the breakdown of what the average weight gain looks like for most pregnant women.
- Baby - 7 1/2 pounds
- Uterine Growth - 2 pounds
- Placenta - 1 1/2 pounds
- Amniotic Fluid - 2 pounds
- Breast Growth - 2 pounds
- Extra Blood and Fluid Volume - 8 pounds
- Extra Fat Stores - 7 pounds
Remember that these averages vary. Some of these items might surprise you - seven pounds of fat added during pregnancy? Really? Yes, really (for most of us anyway). Fat storage is normal and necessary as it helps to keep the baby well supplied with nourishment throughout the pregnancy. These fat stores will also supply energy for breastfeeding after the birth of your baby. These fat stores are most obvious around hips, buttocks, thighs and breasts.
Your blood and fluid volumes also add a significant portion of weight to the body during pregnancy. These normal increases serve to protect both the growing baby and the mother. The maternal blood volume doubles during pregnancy and allows for the fetus to be fed and supplied with plenty of oxygen during pregnancy and during childbirth as well. An increase in fluids in the body's soft tissues is also very normal and can result in the swollen ankles that are cliche for many pregnant women. This fluid retention is a normal defense mechanism for the body. It allows for a rapid replacement of any blood los during childbirth and also helps breastfeeding become quickly established.
When Will I Gain This Pregnancy Weight?
These numbers are rough averages for when weight gain takes place during your pregnancy and will help you have an idea what your health care provider is looking at when you stand on that scale during prenatal check-ups.
First Trimester - 4 pounds total
Second Trimester - 1 pound per week
Third Trimester - 1 pound per week
Again, there are wide differences in what is "normal" and you can gain weight totally different than your best friend and both of you be perfectly healthy and normal. It is common for some women to not gain anything during the first trimester because of morning sickness. Some women also loose weight, or stop gaining weight, the very last month.
Remember - more important that how many pounds you do, or don't gain during pregnancy, you want to make sure you are following some healthy pregnancy diet tips.
Resources for Healthy Pregnancy Information:
Fit and Healthy Pregnancy Guide
