Weight gain during your pregnancy is the third part in our five-part series on pregnancy health. If you would like more in-depth information on weight gain during your pregnancy, please visit the Adoption STAR website. You may also want to review the pregnancy nutrition section on the website, which we reviewed on the blog earlier.
While pregnant, it is healthy to gain weight slowly and steadily. In the first trimester, it is more than adequate to gain only 1-5 pounds, and one pound-per-week in the second and third trimesters. In total a woman who started at an average weight should expect to gain between 25-35 pounds during her pregnancy.
If you gain too much weight or gain weight rapidly you may be at risk for a miscarriage, a pre-term delivery or a very large baby. Women who do not gain enough weight could be at risk for a very low birth weight baby.
Of course, every pregnancy is different, and it is important to use this information only as a guideline. If you have questions about weight gain or nutrition during pregnancy, contact your primary healthcare provider. Adoption STAR provides information as well as counseling and support throughout your adoption journey. If you would like more information on making an adoption plan please contact our birth parent specialist at [email protected].