Babies Put on How Many Pounds at End of 3rd Trimester

With everything else you have to do now that you're pregnant, it can be tough to remember how much weight you should be gaining and when. But it's actually more important than ever to keep an eye on the scale (within reason!) for your health and your baby's.

Gaining too much or too little weight can lead to various issues during pregnancy and after you give birth, which is why going at a steady pace is best. And in most cases, there's a lot you can do to keep your pregnancy weight gain under control — plus, of course, your doctor or midwife will be there to guide you.

Read on for more about how much weight to gain during each week and trimester of pregnancy.

Pregnancy weight gain chart and guidelines

You may have heard that you should gain 25 to 35 pounds while you're pregnant. But that range is for people whose body mass index (BMI) falls into the "normal weight" category before pregnancy. Your BMI is calculated using your height and weight. The first step in figuring out your personal weight gain goal is to determine your BMI before pregnancy, which affects how many pounds you should be putting on while you're expecting.

See the breakdown in this helpful pregnancy weight gain chart:

If you're carrying twins, the recommended weight gain is as follows:

• Underweight: 50 to 62 pounds
• Normal weight: 37 to 54 pounds
• Overweight: 31 to 50 pounds
• Obese: 25 to 42 pounds

How much weight you should gain each trimester

The process of putting on pounds throughout your pregnancy is not an exact science. But gradual weight gain is as important as the number of pounds you gain, since your baby needs a steady supply of nutrients and calories to grow during his stay in the womb.

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Your pregnancy weight gain timeline will depend on a variety of factors, such as your metabolism, your activity level and your genetics. It's just one more reason why it's important to keep up your doctor appointments throughout your pregnancy.

Wondering when you'll gain the most weight? The following recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) are for those with a normal BMI before conception:

• First trimester: Your baby is still tiny, which means you don't need to gain more than a total of 2 to 4 pounds. If you're suffering from morning sickness, you might not gain an ounce or even lose a little. That's okay, as long as you make up for those pounds over the following six months. Or if you have constant pregnancy cravings, you may have more weight gain in the first trimester — in which case keeping a closer eye on the scale during the following two trimesters will help keep your overall pregnancy weight gain on track.
• Second trimester: Your baby starts to grow in earnest, meaning your pregnancy weight gain should ideally increase so that you add a total of about 12 to 14 pounds.
• Third trimester: Baby's weight will pick up steam, but yours may start to taper off for a net gain of about 8 to 10 pounds. Some women find their weight holds steady or even goes down during the ninth month, when ever-tighter abdominal quarters can make finding room for food a struggle. It's perfectly normal if you lose a few pounds at the end of your third trimester.

Keep in mind that these are averages, not a hard-and-fast formula. There will be some weeks when you feel hungry all the time and others when eating much of anything will make your stomach turn.

Try not to worry too much. As long as your overall pregnancy weight gain is on target and you're gaining at roughly the rate you should be, you're right on track.

Where extra weight goes during pregnancy

Ever wonder where the pregnancy weight goes? It may feel like it's all in your belly, but that's not actually the case. For a 30-pound pregnancy weight gain, here's the approximate breakdown:

• Baby: 7.5 pounds
• Placenta: 1.5 pounds
• Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds
• Uterine enlargement: 2 pounds
• Maternal breast tissue: 2 pounds
• Maternal blood volume: 4 pounds
• Fluids in maternal tissue: 4 pounds
• Maternal fat stores: 7 pounds

You need to gain weight in all these areas to have a healthy baby and pregnancy, and to prepare your body for nursing.

How to maintain pregnancy weight gain

For the best pregnancy weight gain results, keep an eye on the scale. What you don't know can throw your weight off-target. Try to weigh yourself:

• At the same time of day
• Wearing the same amount of clothes (or none at all)
• On the same scale
• Once a week or every other week (step on more often, and the day-to-day fluid fluctuations may drive you nuts)

If weighing yourself at home is too stressful, it's okay to wait until your regular prenatal checkup. Just keep in mind that a lot can happen in a month — and getting significantly off-track can make it harder to hit your overall goals.

Another key to healthy pregnancy weight gain is eating a well-balanced diet, which includes keeping a rough daily estimate of your calories during pregnancy.

Base your pregnancy calorie goals on how many calories you were eating before you got pregnant, with your daily amount increasing each trimester:

• First trimester: You likely won't need any extra calories at all, unless you started your pregnancy underweight.
• Second trimester: Add about an additional 300 to 350 calories per day to your pre-pregnancy diet.
• Third trimester: You'll need about 500 calories more per day than you were eating before you conceived.

If you were underweight before you got pregnant, you may need to consume more calories. If you're carrying multiples, you can add about 300 calories per baby to these counts.

Wondering how many calories you should eat while pregnant and overweight or obese before you conceived? Talk to your doctor. You may not need as many calories. Your practitioner may actually want you to cut back on calories, especially if you have diabetes.

That said, you don't need to maintain a detailed log of all of your food intake and calorie estimates. Keeping track of the number on the scale is a better way to know you're eating enough but not too much.

As always, it's important to check with your practitioner to get personalized recommendations for your weight gain and daily caloric intake.

How to avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy

While you are technically "eating for two," it unfortunately doesn't mean you need close to twice the calories just because you're expecting. The key to not gaining too much weight during pregnancy is to keep an eye on both the scale and your diet.

As a rule, instead of just eating more, focus on eating nutritious, satisfying foods that are rich in healthy fats like nuts, legumes, fatty fish and lean meat, along with poultry and dairy. Also choose plenty of filling sources of fiber, like fresh veggies, fruits and whole grains. And try to limit your intake of empty calories found in fried and sugary foods.

Eating the right foods will give you energy and help keep morning sickness at bay. Plus a nutrient-rich diet also fuels the incredible growth your baby is doing, including the development of those tiny bones, brain, skin, eyes and digestive system.

One frequent pregnancy pitfall: juices. They may seem "healthier" than other sweet drinks like soda, but it's easy to lose track of how much you're sipping. A few glasses can add as much as 600 calories a day of mainly sugar.

It's also quite common to crave salt and carbohydrates during the first trimester. It's fine to eat bagels and saltines in moderation if you're feeling nauseated, but regularly giving in can lead to too much weight gain. Try to get back on track with your pregnancy diet when you're feeling better in the second trimester.

Has your weight does crept up faster than expected? Skip the diets, which deprive your baby of essential nutrients he needs to grow, as well as appetite-suppressing pills, which can be dangerous. Instead, check in with your doctor. Together you'll be able to readjust your plan to slow down your pregnancy weight gain without completely stopping it until you're back on track.

When to call the doctor

It's always a good idea to check with your doctor if you're concerned that you're overstepping or not gaining enough. This really is a conversation OB/GYNs and midwives are used to having, and they can help you find ways to hit your goals — or refer you to someone else (like a registered dietitian) who can.

Also check with your practitioner if you gain more than three pounds in any one week in the second trimester, or if you gain more than two pounds in any week in the third trimester. It's especially important if the gain doesn't seem to be related to overeating or excessive intake of sodium, since sudden pregnancy weight gain can be a sign of preeclampsia. Finally, be sure to give your doctor a call if you gain no weight for more than two weeks in a row during the fourth to eighth months.

Losing pregnancy weight

It's common to worry about losing weight after pregnancy. Try not to stress about it — you'll lose a lot of the baby weight naturally early on and there are plenty of healthy ways to drop the rest of the extra pounds gradually, including:

• Eating a nutrient-dense post-pregnancy or breastfeeding diet
• Taking baby out for regular stroller walks
• Joining an online baby-and-me yoga class to meet other new moms.
• Joining a gym. Many gyms offer child care for babies as young as 3 months old. They can be a great way for you to boost endorphins and get a break from your little one, both of which may help lift your mood.
• Breastfeeding your baby (or pumping your milk) burns through around 500 calories a day — so if you are able and choose to nurse, you may be pleasantly surprised at how it helps weight loss after pregnancy even without working up a sweat.

Sticking to your pregnancy weight gain goal is healthy for your baby and your body — and it simplifies losing weight after pregnancy. Try not to focus too much on the ups and downs on the scale along the way, as long as you're generally on track. And if pounds suddenly appear out of nowhere (or don't appear at all), reach out to your doctor for help.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

Babies Put on How Many Pounds at End of 3rd Trimester

Source: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/weight-gain/

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