Whether you like it or not, you will gain weight during pregnancy and this is inevitable. It is your body's way of accommodating the life that you are carrying in your womb. Your baby's proper nourishment will depend on it and there is nothing you can do to prevent it from happening.

This is not an excuse to eat for two. A normal intake of food is still imperative along with healthy lifestyle habits to keep your weight gain in check. Too much of anything will be bad for you and your baby. Besides, it will be easier for you to shed a few pounds after your pregnancy if you have controlled your weight gain.

Simple Guidelines:

Average weight gain during pregnancy can be difficult to determine as there is no one rule that governs pregnancy weight gain. It is the interplay of several factors such as pre-pregnancy weight, body mass index (BMI), your overall health, and your baby's health. Your doctor can walk you through what is proper for your pregnancy.

However, here is a simple guideline that you can refer to for your pregnancy weight gain:

There are two major factors considered to determine healthy weight gain during pregnancy, namely pre-pregnancy weight and BMI.

If you are underweight with a BMI of less than 18.5, the recommended weight gain should be around 34 pounds on the average. If you have a normal weight with a BMI of 21.7, the recommended weight gain should be 30 pounds. If you are overweight with an average BMI of 27.5, the recommended weight gain should be around 20 pounds. If you are obese with BMI more than 30, the recommended weight gain should be around 15.5 pounds.

Note: If you are carrying twins or more, you will obviously put on more weight than when you are carrying a singleton.

Breakdown of Pregnancy Weight Gain:

Typically, babies weigh about 7 to 8 pounds or around 3-3.6 kilograms. That alone accounts for a fair percentage of your weight gain. Your breasts will naturally get bigger to accommodate the milk, which accounts for about 1-3 pounds of the weight. Your bigger uterus accounts for around 2 pounds of your weight. In addition to that, the placenta will weigh around 1 and a half pounds. The amniotic fluid will also account for around 2 pounds of your total weight gain with the addition of increased blood volume of around 3-4 pounds. Your total body fluid volume will also account 3-4 pounds of your weight gain and fat storage, which is about 6-8 pounds.

You need to work closely with your health care provider or your physician during your pregnancy. He or she will be able to keep tabs on your weight gain and will be able to tell you whether you are experiencing average weight gain during pregnancy or otherwise.