A pregnancy weight gain chart shows how much weight is considered healthy to gain during pregnancy, based on your pre‑pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and how far along you are in weeks. Below is a simple, HTML‑style chart summarizing the widely used Institute of Medicine (IOM)–style guidelines.

Quick Scoop: Pregnancy Weight Gain Chart

html

<table border="1" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Pre‑pregnancy BMI category</th>
      <th>Total recommended gain (pounds)</th>
      <th>Total recommended gain (kg)</th>
      <th>Typical weekly gain after 1st trimester</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Underweight (BMI &lt; 18.5)</td>
      <td>28–40 lbs</td>
      <td>12.5–18 kg</td>
      <td>≈1 lb (0.4–0.5 kg) per week</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9)</td>
      <td>25–35 lbs</td>
      <td>11–16 kg</td>
      <td>≈1 lb (0.4–0.5 kg) per week</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Overweight (BMI 25–29.9)</td>
      <td>15–25 lbs</td>
      <td>7–11 kg</td>
      <td>≈0.6 lb (0.3 kg) per week</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Obese (BMI ≥ 30)</td>
      <td>11–20 lbs</td>
      <td>5–9 kg</td>
      <td>≈0.5 lb (0.2–0.3 kg) per week</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

These ranges are for singleton (one‑baby) pregnancies ; twins and multiples usually require higher gains, which your provider will tailor to you.

How weight gain breaks down

Most of the extra pounds are not fat on you ; they’re the baby, fluids, and supporting tissues. In a typical normal‑weight pregnancy, the roughly 30‑pound gain often includes:

  • Baby: about 7–8 lbs
  • Placenta: about 1–1.5 lbs
  • Amniotic fluid: about 2 lbs
  • Enlarged uterus: about 2 lbs
  • Enlarged breasts: about 1–3 lbs
  • Increased blood volume: about 3–4 lbs
  • Extra fluid and fat stores: about 6–8 lbs

Trimester‑by‑trimester pattern

For a woman starting at a normal pre‑pregnancy weight , a common pattern looks like this:

  • First trimester (weeks 0–13):
    • Gain about 1–4.5 lbs total (often only 1–2 lbs in the first few weeks).
  • Second trimester (weeks 14–27):
    • Aim for about 1 lb per week on average.
  • Third trimester (weeks 28–40):
    • Continue about 1 lb per week , though some weeks may be more or less.

If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, your weekly target will be adjusted up or down within the ranges above.

Why this matters now (2026 context)

Pregnancy‑weight‑gain guidelines have not changed dramatically in recent years, but there is growing emphasis on individualized care , especially for people with higher BMIs or chronic conditions like diabetes. Many new online calculators and apps now generate week‑by‑week charts based on your BMI and due date, which can help you track progress without obsessing over the scale.

If you share your pre‑pregnancy BMI or current trimester and weight , a more tailored mini‑chart can be laid out in the same HTML‑table style. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.