Weight Gain Simulator Game
Sherman Desrosiers
A variety of factors can make it difficult for women to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. But recent NICHD supported research affirms the importance of not gaining too much weight during pregnancy to reduce the risk for complications.
New findings from an NICHD-supported study of more than 8,000 women nationwide found that first-time mothers who gained more weight than recommended were at increased risk for high blood pressure during pregnancy, cesarean delivery, and delivering a larger-than-gestational-age (LGA) infant.
These findings reaffirm the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) regarding weight gain during pregnancy. Those recommendations, released in 2009, were based on research from the NICHD, other NIH Institutes, and the March of Dimes.
The newly released findings came from researchers in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network, which is supported through the NICHD's Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch (PPB). Using data that had been collected previously for a Network preeclampsia prevention study, MFMU researchers evaluated pregnancy outcomes for more than 8,000 pregnancies, including first-time mothers. For this secondary analysis, the researchers looked at outcomes based on total weight gain above and below the 2009 IOM guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy.
Among women who gained more than the recommended amount, the researchers found an increased risk of gestational high blood pressure in all of the BMI categories; that is, even if a woman was underweight before pregnancy, she was still at increased risk for high blood pressure during pregnancy if she gained more than the recommended weight. High blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to preeclampsia, a life-threatening condition that can cause serious short- and long-term health problems for the mother and her fetus.
The study also found that women who were normal pre-pregnancy weight and those who were overweight were also at increased risk for cesarean delivery and for having an LGA infant. Previous research showed that LGA babies are at higher risk for birth injury and may have low blood sugar and other problems related to glucose regulation at birth.
Cathy Spong, M.D., the Associate Director of the NICHD Extramural Research Program and one of the authors of the study said that part of the problem may stem from the mistaken belief that a woman is "eating for two" during pregnancy. In fact, pregnant women should eat only around 300 additional calories per day during pregnancy.
The knowledge gained from this and other research adds to the spectrum on evidence-based information on promoting healthy pregnancies. By understanding more about potential pregnancy complications, including those related to weight, researchers can help minimize risks and improve outcomes for mothers and their babies.
This tool will calculate your pre-pregnancy BMI (body mass index), give you a recommendation for pregnancy weight gain, and generate a pregnancy weight gain chart to show how you're tracking toward your target weight range.
But keep in mind that your recommended weight gain may be different depending on your health needs and any pregnancy complications. Especially if you're overweight, obese, or underweight, it's important to talk to your doctor or midwife and use pregnancy weight gain information that's customized for you.
IMPORTANT: The Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator is a general educational aid only and should not be relied on as a substitute for the monitoring of your weight by your doctor, midwife, or other healthcare providers.
BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.
ACOG. 2020. Weight gain during pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. -guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2013/01/weight-gain-during-pregnancyOpens a new window [Accessed May 2022]
Pregnancy can lead to significant changes to women's bodies and daily routines. One such change is weight gain to ensure that there are enough nutrients for the development of the fetus as well as to store enough nutrients in preparation for breastfeeding. While weight gain during pregnancy is normal and necessary, studies have shown that certain ranges of weight gain given a specific body mass index (BMI) result in more positive outcomes for both fetus and mother.1
The Institute of Medicine provides a weight gain guideline based on Prepregnancy BMI, which is shown in the table below. But note that these are only recommendations and that weight gain between women varies. As such, a health care provider should be consulted to more accurately determine each person's specific needs.
Weight gain during pregnancy is not just attributed to the weight of the fetus. Most of the weight gain goes to the development of tissues that allow fetal development, growth, and prepare the body for breastfeeding. The table below is a list.
There are adverse effects for either insufficient or excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Insufficient weight gain can compromise the health of the fetus and cause preterm, or premature birth; excessive weight gain can cause labor complications, giving birth to significantly larger than average fetuses, postpartum weight retention, as well as increase the risk of requiring a cesarean section (C-section).
What a person eats, or doesn't eat, during pregnancy can significantly affect the health of their baby. Although what a person should or shouldn't eat during their pregnancy is often heavily debated, and can be different between cultures, there is no particular formula that guarantees a healthy baby, and though a parent should be careful and cognizant of what they choose to put in their bodies, it is not absolutely necessary to follow some heavily strict, nutritional guideline during pregnancy. General advice for eating healthy applies, such as eating a balance of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Certain nutrients can, however, be particularly helpful for the growth and development of a healthy baby. Some of these will be discussed below.
Folate and folic acid can help prevent birth defects. Folate, in particular, protects against neural tube defects as well as potential abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord. It has also been shown to decrease the risk of premature birth. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin, and can be consumed in the form of supplements, or fortified foods. Aside from using supplements, folic acid can be consumed through eating certain leafy green vegetables (spinach), citrus fruits (oranges), dried beans, and peas.
Calcium helps support strong bones and teeth, and is also necessary for the proper day-to-day functioning of the body's circulatory, muscular, and nervous systems. Calcium can be found in dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. It can also be found in non-dairy foods such as spinach, salmon, broccoli, and kale.
Protein, while being important for your own health, is also highly important for the growth of the baby throughout pregnancy. Good sources of protein include lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, and soy products, among others.
Iron is another nutrient that is highly important for the development of your baby. A pregnant person should consume double the amount of iron than they otherwise would, because iron is essential for the body to produce more blood to supply oxygen to the baby. In the case where the mother is not consuming sufficient iron, the mother could suffer from iron deficiency anemia, resulting in fatigue, and increasing the risk of having a premature birth. Iron can be found in lean red meat, poultry, fish, iron-fortified foods, beans, and vegetables, among other foods. Iron from animal products is most easily absorbed through pairing iron from plant sources with foods or drinks that contain high amounts of vitamin C can increase the absorption of iron.
Most of the nutrients listed above can be obtained through some form of supplements, and taking prenatal vitamins is fairly common. Depending on your diet, you may consider speaking to a healthcare professional to determine if you should take a prenatal vitamin or any other special supplements.
It is as important to avoid certain foods and activities during pregnancy as it is to consume foods with specific nutrients. Some of these include foods that are high in mercury, like many kinds of seafood. Generally, the bigger and the older a fish is, the more mercury it likely contains. The FDA recommends that pregnant women avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. The kinds of seafood that are generally considered safe include shrimp, salmon, pollock, catfish, anchovies, trout, cod, tilapia, and light canned tuna, among others.
Pregnant women should also avoid consuming foods that are raw, undercooked, or of course, contaminated. These include foods such as sushi, sashimi, and raw shellfish like oysters, scallops, and clams. Similarly, undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs should also be avoided, since pregnant women are at higher risk of food poisoning due to bacteria in undercooked foods.
Pregnant women also should not eat unwashed fruits and vegetables, again because of the potential for consuming harmful bacteria. Certain sprouts like alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean can contain disease-causing bacteria, and should be cooked thoroughly and not eaten raw.
Excess caffeine should also be avoided, since it can cross the placenta, and the effects on the baby are not well known. Herbal teas are also not well studied, and the effects they may have on the baby are not well known.
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