Weight Gain

What is your BMI?

Bodyweight And Bmi Calculator

Maintain A Healthy Weight
Being either overweight or underweight can interfere with fertility. One of the best ways to determine if you are over- or underweight is by evaluating your Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared (kg/m2). If math is not your thing, don`t panic! Check out the BMI tables at www.asrm.org/Patients/FactSheets/ weightfertility.pdf and www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm. They`ve already done the math and metric conversions for you. Another good measure is body fat or skinfold thickness, but it requires the use of a caliper by a health-care provider or in a gym. Body fat is measured in percentages. Normal body fat is between 22 and 25 percent for women, and 15 to 18 percent for men.

If You`re Overweight, Try To Lose Some Weight.
Extra weight in a woman can increase insulin levels, which may cause the ovaries to overproduce male hormones and stop releasing eggs. Being overweight also contributes to the development of diabetes, a risk factor for infertility. Fat can also produce hormone changes, which can affect ovulation in women and sperm production in men. Women with a BMI over 27 kg/m2 or those whose body fat levels are 10 to 15 percent above normal may be at increased risk of anovulatory infertility and miscarriage. Those with a BMI of over 30 may have polycystic ovarian syndrome, a serious risk factor for infertility. Obese women are at high risk for many serious pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, a potentially deadly condition that is one of the leading causes of maternal and infant mortality. Obesity during pregnancy can also increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects in babies. Do not diet during pregnancy. Sudden weight loss can cause hormonal imbalances, which may in turn cause infertility. A recent study found that men who have high BMIs (over 25) are at increased risk of infertility due to DNA fragmentation in their sperm. The higher the weight, the greater the reduction in sperm quality. The study found that the partners of overweight men not only had a decreased chance of conception, those who did become pregnant were at increased risk of miscarriage. The problems were most pronounced in men with a BMI of over 30.

If You`re Underweight, Try To Healthily Gain Some Weight.
Women with BMIs under 17 kg/m2 or whose body fat levels are 10 to 15 percent below normal are at increased risk of anovulatory infertility. Anorectic and bulimic women are at especially high risk of having fertility problems. Make sure that you are consuming enough calories every day and eating a variety of foods. Exercise in moderation is perfectly safe, but extreme exercise can be a cause of infertility.

Check Your Bmi:

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Results: (for single pregnancies)

BMI	Classed as [?]	Total gain	1st trimester	2nd/3rd trimester
Below 18.5	Underweight	gain 35-40 pounds	gain 1 pounds/month	gain 1.3 pounds/wk
18.5 - 24.9	Normal	gain 30-35 pounds	gain 1 pounds/month	gain 1.1 pounds/wk
25.0 - 29.9	Overweight	gain 22-27 pounds	gain 1 pounds/month	gain 0.7 pounds/wk
30.0 and up	Obese	gain 15-20 pounds	gain 1 pounds/month	gain 0.5 pounds/wk
Twins	-	gain 35-45 pounds	-	-

Note 1: Research shows that women who gain more than the recommended amount during pregnancy have a higher chance of being obese 10 years later.

Note 2: Smoking and drinking cause low birth weights too. If you drink/smoke AND don't gain enough weight during pregnancy you should seriously consider changing your lifestyle immediately.

Note 3: We didn't find a weekly reccommendation for weight gain with twins. When you're having twins you should gain more than normal, about 35-45 pounds. If you're overweight you should gain less than when you're underweight. When you have a normal weight you should gain about 1.7 pounds/week in the 2nd & 3rd trimester.

Eating for two and delivery pain
It is quite wrong to assume that the larger the baby at birth, the healthier it will be. The weight of the baby should be about three to three and a half kg. at birth. If the weight is more than that, delivery might be painful for the mother. Such a child will also be covered with unnecessary fat and watery tissue, which is really waste matter and an impediment to health. A proper diet during pregnancy is the most important factor for not only having a painless childbirth but also for giving birth to a healthy baby. The idea of `eating for two`, which is so prevalent today, is absurd and it leads to overeating, resulting in an unusually, heavy baby.

I am NOT overweight!
(1) The skeleton typically accounts for quite a small amount of total body weight. For instance, bone weight in a female of 160 pounds is about 19.2 pounds. If you think you have a heavy bone framework take 10 pounds off your weight and try the BMI calculation again.

(2) -very- muscular people may fall into the “overweight” category when they are actually healthy and fit. You probably know for yourself if you are -very- muscular or not.

(3) In 1998, the U.S. National Institutes of Health brought U.S. definitions into line with WHO guidelines, lowering the normal/overweight cut-off from BMI 27.8 to BMI 25. This had the effect of redefining approximately 30 million Americans, previously `technically healthy` to `technically overweight`

(4) The latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that 30 percent of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older -over 60 million people- are obese. [http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/] In 1998, over 61% of adult Americans were either overweight or obese.

HELPFUL HINTS

Eat meals at regular times. You may want to eat smaller, more frequent meals.
Eat slowly and chew your food well.
Drink your fluids between meals rather than at meal time. This may keep you from feeling `stuffed` and prevent nausea.
If you are gaining weight too quickly, snack on nutritious foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables instead of high calorie potato chips, candy and pop.
If you are not gaining enough weight, eat more foods containing milk and milk products such as ice cream, pudding, milkshakes, cheese & crackers.

weight gain per part of the body

Comments: Weight Gain

Comments 1 to 24 of about 142.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Next

lyssie - 17 days ago.
My mother who had 6 babies told me that when she lost all of her weight in 6 weeks she could wear her pre preggo clothes...but your body does take time to 'reshape'. So you may fit into some of them. Your body will distribute your weight differently though for a little while. I myself can fit into some of my clothes...and it's been 7 months! hahah I have lost 40 of the 50 I gained :) Just 10 more to go!

bunches - 20 days ago.
Hi Ladies.. I'd like some advice from you ladies that are on more than your first pregnancy. I gained nearly 3 stone with my first and when I got pregnant with my second I was still carrying a stone of extra weight. I'm now 15 weeks and have only gained 1lb. I'm not dieting, just being busy with a toddler and not overeating. If I only gain 15llbs this time as advised for women that are overweight. Does this mean I should get back to my pre pregnancy weight pretty much after birth? any similar stories of much lower weight gain and how you fared would bemuch appreciated Thank you

balsamfir - 27 days ago.
I just discovered these little topic forums! I started overweight around 163, but Im about 5'10, so I distribute weight well, but still feel the difference in my clothes. Now that Im 31wks I'm at 206. At 30w my doctor said I had gained too much and I could do without gaining anymore. Is that possible? I admit, being pregnant in the winter, and over Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years (and Valentines) makes this seaon more of a challenge. Plus I had my appendix out at 23w so I was in hospital for 2wks and not really mobile for 1month..... Anyway, now Im going to the gym 4 nights a week using the eliptical (lightly) and waching the BIGGEST LOOSER....I've been able to maintain my weight for 1 week at 206 (and still have some cookies on the side). BUT I joined a cooking class last night that is all about natural healthy cooking - we made fuji apple and kale smoothies - very tasty!

lyssie - 38 days ago.
I didn't gain much the first trimester for either pregnancy and ended up gaining 40 with my first and 50 with my second. I was pretty thin each time I conceived too. It takes me about 6-10 months to lose it all.

BabySaunders - 41 days ago.
JND-I didn't gain any weight until about 16 weeks and then it came on REALLY fast. I'm now 34 weeks pregnant and up 32lbs. Your body will gain what it needs to.

JND627 - 44 days ago.
This is my 1st pregnancy. I started off weighing 128lbs and I'm 17w5d and have only gained 1lb. I'm always eating when I'm hungry, but my family and my boyfriend's family think I'm not gaining enough. They are starting to make me worried. My Dr always jokes that I'm 4 months and only gained a lb. But I guess if it was really a problem he'd be more concerned. Any thoughts?

momaha33 - 69 days ago.
I only gained 15 lbs. with my first two pregnancies and both my babies were 8lbs. As long as you are eating healthy and your doctor tells you that your baby is gaining enough weight, don't worry. I have always been a small person and have had to listen to people yelling at me because of it. It's just genetics.

lyssie - 78 days ago.
It's been 1.5-2 months since my last comment...Just wanted to say I lost another 6.5 pounds! It's coming off, but SLOWLY it seems!!

lyssie - 78 days ago.
It is NOT recommended to try to lose weight during pregnancy :( I learned this in two of my nutrition classes while getting my BS in Exercise Science...BUT if you do lose a little and are not trying too in the beginning don't worry unless doc is concerned. It happens to a lot of women. What you can do is try to limit how much you gain. If obese you may be perfectly health gaining only 15 pounds! And that comes off pretty quickly after the baby arrives! If overweight then you may only need to gain 20-30 total. (easier said than done!!! I gained 50 with my last baby!!)

ms.kelly - 95 days ago.
I did IVF and I am 9 weeks 1 day pregnant and I am up 30 lbs. and I didnt need to gain in the first place? is it okay to lose if you are over wieght?

yolie1220 - 96 days ago.
Okay, I've got my whole weight gain timeline figured out so I stay on track. I am 5'6' and 127 but my doc says I should only gain 20-25 pounds? I thought that was kind of odd since with my last two pregnancies they said 30-35. But that was nine years ago so I guess things have changed!

lyssie - 133 days ago.
I also did not gain much weight the first 3-4 months...unfortuately i pigged out during the second trimester...and i gained 50pounds total! I lost 25 quickly. I still have 21 to lose and my son is 3.5 months old. I have only lost 4 pounds in the past 8 weeks! It has been frustrating! My breasts are enormous now and hurt SO much b/c of weight gain. My son was also pretty big b/c perhaps b/c of the weight gain.

sokistar - 151 days ago.
I am 32 weeks and have gained 11 lbs. I weighed the same 4 weeks ago too. Is something wrong with me?

Baby Miqueas - 154 days ago.
I am on week 28. I am 5'3 and before getting pregnant I was 138. With morning sickness in the beggining I went down to 131. I am now weighing 145.2 so I have technically only gained 7 lbs. I didn't start gaining weight back until week 20 and it started coming on quickly.. If I would give advice it would be to try not to over eat. ladies you are only suppose to eat 200-300 calories more a day. some women go way over board and this leads to weight gain that is not healthy for you or the baby.. Try to eat normally and drink lots of water.. I HOPE to get back to my old self as quickly as possible after my son is born.. Wish me luck@!!!!

newmomeve - 169 days ago.
Hi Julie84, Thanks for the invite from week 16! I am definitely interested in commiserating more about the weight gain aspect of pregnancy. I was overweight for a few years and then lost 23 lbs before my wedding last year (over the course of 18 months with exercise, personal trainer, and a very healthy diet-- I ate all the time, but good choices). I maintained my healthy weight for a year after the wedding. Now that I am pregnant I am so afraid of getting out of control again and gaining too much weight. I am still exercising 5 to 6 times a week, and monitoring my weight gain every day. My midwife said 10 lbs by 20 weeks. I am at 16.5 weeks and I've already gained about 8, so I am a little freaked out because I'm afraid I will be over 10 lbs by week 20 :( I am eating SOOOOO healthy. Like the other day I was craving a fried chicken sandwhich with mayonaise. So instead I had a salad with grilled chicken breast and non fat dressing. But the weight is coming on no matter what I do!!! It's SCARY! I am aiming to gain 25- 30 by the time I deliver, but not more. I know how hard it is to lose weight, and I just don't want to go through that torture again like I did before the wedding!! The worst part of this is that I think about it all the time and it keeps me from really fully enjoying the pregnancy. I use the chart on this page to make sure that I am not gaining too much to fast. The good part is it helps me stay on track. The bad part is that if I get ahead of the chart, even by a pound, I get depressed :( But if I am on target, or a little under what the chart says I should be, than I feel happy. Not good :-\

julie84 - 170 days ago.
Tonie, that's exactly how I was with my first pregnancy so I know exactly how you feel. Try swimming. That was really the only activity that I could do and I would go a few times a week and swim laps. It really helped. Try to walk if you can too, it will help you to build up your energy so you can handle more and have more energy when baby comes. Good luck!

tonie - 170 days ago.
I'm 17.4 wks and I have gained 17 lbs since becoming pregnant. Healthy foods like salads make me nauseous, so I eat whatever I can keep down, which is not really healthy. I worked out alot b4 pregnancy, but now have no energy for anything. I feel like I'm turning into the Goodyear blimp!!!

julie84 - 170 days ago.
I'm trying really hard this pregnancy. I gained about 20 lbs after I got married (when I needed to loose a good 40-50 lbs to be at an ideal weight). Then I got pregnant at that heavier weight. I ate whatever and didn't pay attention to exercise and gained 40 lbs! After the baby (last October) I was determined to loose it. I joined Weight Watchers when my baby was 2 weeks old (wasn't nursing past 4 weeks unfortunately) and lost the 40 lbs in about 6 months. Then, I got pregnant again. I'm still way heavier than I'd ever want to be but this time around I'm trying to be smarter about it so I'm at a more realistic weight when I deliver and am able to get to an even more realistic weight before I get pregnant again. We want a large family. I've gained about 5 lbs so far and I'm 16 weeks pregnant. I'd like to keep the weight gain to about 23 lbs which I hope is possible as I have a tendency to put on weight easily when I'm not pregnant. I've been exercising and trying to keep my eating under control. I hope I'm successful. No matter what, it's still really hard to watch the scale go up every week even though I know it's normal.

LittleMurph - 172 days ago.
Hi everyone! I'm 9 weeks pregnant and I've gained about 10 lbs already, I have a tendency to gain weight quickly without being pregnant and I was dieting before I got pregnant, but now it's piling on like nothing. None of my pants fit me and I'm not even done with my 1st trimester. I started the pregnancy at about 151lbs...and i'm over 160 now. I'm only 5'2'.

MistyBlue - 174 days ago.
I'm 24 weeks and I've gained about 17lbs. I feel like a COW. I've got stretch marks from my boobs to my butt and I just don't know what to do.

darkhairedbelle - 174 days ago.
So I was doing just fine with my weight, in fact a little bit under. As off 22 weeks I had gained 9 lbs, but this last month I gain almost 10 lbs! I haven't changed my eating habits or done any less of my daily physical routine. My doctor said that one month you may just gain more, but I still think that it seems like a lot for only one month. I probably shouldn't be freaking out but I am concerned about it.....

2babys-under2 - 186 days ago.
Before I ever had kids my weight ranged from 130-140. I had my son in September 2008 and when I delivered him I weighed 190. I am now pregnant with number 2, she is due November 2009. I started this pregnancy off at 169 and so far I'm only up to 178. (I'm 25 weeks) Do you ladies think I can make it to delivery without getting over 190? lol I wonder if I'll ever be 135 again, hell I'd take 145 at this point.

littlesean - 188 days ago.
im 36 .1 weeks today and I have gained a total of 20lbs this morning. Yesterday it was a total of 18lbs. I went from 112 to 132 im 5'2' I look teeny but Dr. says everything looks great :). This is my 3rd baby in 2 years, My oldest is 2 on 8/7 and my youngest was 1 on 7/22. I gained 38lbs with my son (my first born) and 18lbs with my daughter( the second born) I lost all but 7lbs with both children weird, i must have been reallll swollen with my son or something.

manda-may - 195 days ago.
We don't own a scale, so I have no idea how much weight I gained or lost over my pregnancy... in fact we still don't have one.. lol! The midwife never weighed me either. All I can say is that it all worked out ok. I have 11 month old twins who are healthy busy little babies. It seems to me that everyone is a bit obsessed about weight, with or without pregnancy. I think generally your body knows what to do and your appetite picks up a bit when it needs to then wanes again after you stop breast feeding. I can kind of fit my pre-pregnancy jeans... but my body is carrying my weight differently now. All the best to everyone out there.

littlemissfatty!! - 196 days ago.
im in week 29 and have gained just 9lbs...goin from 67kilos to 71kilos....apparently this is too small weight gain and unhealthy...wot do u think??