Weight Gain During Pregnancy

How much should one gain and how much is the calorie intake if one is pregnant?

The amount of weight gained depends on what category the pre-pregnancy BMI lands in:

• Underweight: BMI below 18.5
• Normal weight: 18.5 to 24.9
• Overweight: 25.0 to 29.9
• Obese: 30.0 and above

The weight ranges below are for a full-term pregnancy: 

• Underweight: 28 to 40 pounds (12.7kg - 18.1kg)
• Normal: 25 to 35 pounds (11.3kg - 15.8kg)
• Overweight: 15 to 25 pounds (6.8kg - 11.3kg)
• Obese: 11 to 20 pounds (5kg - 9kg)

For twins, the recommendations naturally go up: 

• Normal: 37 to 54 pounds (16.8kg - 24.5kg)
• Overweight: 31 to 50 pounds (14kg - 22.7kg)
• Obese: 25 to 42 pounds (11.3kg - 19kg)

Calorie Intake

In general, pregnant women need between 2,200 calories and 2,900 calories a day (My view: I think a safer range for asian would be between 1400 - 2000 calories). A gradual increase of calories as the baby grows is the best bet. Here is an overview of how calorie needs change during each trimester:

• First trimester does not require any extra calories.
• Second trimester an additional 340 calories a day are recommended.
• Third trimester, the recommendation is 450 calories more a day than when not pregnant.

Physical Activity

Physical activity can help manage weight gain. The activity guidelines for pregnant women are 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most, if not all, days of the week. Make sure to talk with a doctor before starting or continuing any exercise routine.

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