Pregnancy weight gain calculator

The Pregnancy weight gain calculator estimates a schedule for healthy weight gain based on guidelines from the Institute of Medicine

Your result:

BMI: {bmi_result} (underweight)

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Your result:

BMI: {bmi_result} (normal)

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Your result:

BMI: {bmi_result} (overweight)

Track your pregnancy
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Your result:

BMI: {bmi_result} (obese)

Track your pregnancy
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Here’s a look at your key health stats

Recommended weight range for week {current_week}
{range_current_week}
Recommended weight range when delivering
{range_week_40th} kg
Your BMI before pregnancy
{bmi_before} 🚨
Your baby's weight
{baby_weight}
Your weight gain is in the recommended range for your stage of pregnancy. Great job! 👏
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What's inside the Femia app:

  • Personalized weight guidance for YOUR body 🎯
  • Tips on nutrition & exercise 🥑
  • Weekly updates on your little one's growth 🌱
  • Symptom checker with AI analysis 🧐
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    Your current weight is a bit different from the typical range, but every pregnancy is unique 💎
    Worried about your pregnancy weight? 🤔
    Femia helps you stay on track, stress-free!

    What's inside the Femia app:

  • Personalized weight guidance for YOUR body 🎯
  • Tips on nutrition & exercise 🥑
  • Weekly updates on your little one's growth 🌱
  • Symptom checker with AI analysis 🧐
    • Try Femia
    Week Recommended Weight Range Recommended Weight Gain
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    Created with Natallia Yermolovich, Obstetrician-gynecologist

    • Updated
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    We don’t collect, process, or store any of the data that you enter while using this tool. All calculations are done exclusively in your browser, and we don’t have access to the results. All data will be permanently erased after leaving or closing the page.

    Pregnancy weight gain calculator

    The calculator analyzes the unique data you insert to provide personalized measurements. Considering individual weight and height indicators, as well as your pregnancy term, the tool can tell whether your current weight is within the healthy range. 

    Additionally, it will provide you with a visual graph of your weight progression and a chart that contains healthy weight gain recommendations.

    Pregnancy weight calculator: What is it, and how does it help?

    A weight gain pregnancy calculator is a tool designed to make tracking weight gain simple and seamless. 

    During pregnancy, your body accumulates more liquids and fat to ensure the baby’s optimal growth and health. Hence, weight gain is a natural and important part of a healthy pregnancy. But both excessive and insufficient weight gain might have adverse effects for both mother and baby, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and delivery complications. That’s why using a specialized weight gain calculator in pregnancy is so beneficial.

    How do you use a pregnancy weight calculator?

    Thanks to its intuitiveness, using our weight gain during pregnancy calculator only takes a few clicks:

    1. Pick your preferred measurement system.
    2. Select your current week of pregnancy.
    3. Enter your height, pre-pregnancy weight, and current weight into the relevant boxes.
    4. Indicate if you’re carrying twins or multiples.
    5. Click “Calculate” to see the chart.

    In just a few moments, our pregnancy weight tracker will analyze the data. Here are a few tips to help you interpret the results correctly:

    • First, look at your recommended weight gain for the current pregnancy week—the calculator will specify whether the weight you input fits the healthy range.
    • Take a look at the target total weight gain you should strive for by your delivery date.
    • Analyze the graph for a visual presentation of your predicted week-by-week weight gain.
    • Check out your personalized weight gain chart to see the recommended weight range and weight gain for each week.

    How much weight should you gain during pregnancy?

    Adding extra pounds through your pregnancy is an absolutely natural and healthy process. It takes place both due to your baby’s growth and your own body storing extra fat to nurture and feed them. Besides, the weight you gain during pregnancy directly affects breastfeeding by determining the level of fat in your milk and, respectively, the amount of nutrients your newborn receives. 

    On average, mothers-to-be gain between 22–28 lb before labor, though the amount of healthy weight is directly linked to several factors, including pre-pregnancy weight and height.

    Here’s an overview of the recommended weight gain based on pre-pregnancy BMI suggested by the U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM):

    Pre-pregnancy BMICategoryRecommended total weight gainRecommended weight gain in twin pregnancies
    Under 18.5Underweight28–40 lb –
    Between 18.5 and 24.9Normal25–35 lb37–54 lb
    Between 25 and 29.9Overweight15–25 lb31–50 lb
    30 and greaterObese11–20 lb25–42 lb

    Typically, pregnancy weight gain progresses very mildly during the first trimester (weeks 1–12). During this period, you may gain just 1–5 lbs. 

    The second and third trimesters, however, mark a much more rapid weight gain period, during which you should gain 0.5–1 lb per week, depending on your pre-pregnancy BMI.

    It’s worth noting that gestational weight gain doesn’t solely mean fat!
    Baby weight7–8 lb
    Placenta1.5 lb
    Amniotic fluid2 lb
    Larger uterus2 lb
    Larger breasts1-3 lb
    Increased fluid volume2–3 lb
    Increased blood volume3–4 lb
    Fat stores6–8 lb

    Interpreting the pregnancy BMI chart

    Unlike total weight, BMI is a common medical screening metric that evaluates the ratio of height to weight in order to estimate the amount of body fat. 

    Pregnancy BMI and total weight gain are both important to keep track of, because the weight you gain should be distributed equally between the causes discussed above. Without calculating BMI, it can be hard to tell whether your weight gain is healthy or too much.

    A pregnancy BMI calculator is designed to help expectant mothers estimate their BMI at different stages of pregnancy to ensure maternal and fetal health. Unlike standard BMI calculators, it takes your pre-pregnancy weight as the starting point for calculations instead of your current weight. Also, a BMI calculator pregnancy tool provides you with additional guidelines on maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy.

    To calculate your BMI, you will need to insert your pre-pregnancy weight and height into the calculator, and it will suggest your body mass index number.

    Here’s how to interpret the result:
    Underweight18.5 or less
    Healthy weight18.5 to 24.9
    Overweight25 to 29.9
    Obese30 to 39.9
    Severely obese40 or above

    You can also use a pregnancy BMI chart to estimate. The chart comes in the form of a graph with weight measurements (typically duplicated both in kg and lb) on top and height measurements (in cm and ft/in) on the left. The graph is filled with BMI numbers from 9 to 65 and colors that indicate five BMI categories:

    • Underweight
    • Normal weight
    • Overweight
    • Obese
    • Extremely obese

    You need to find where your height and your weight intersect on the graph to determine your BMI and which category it’s in.

    Factors influencing weight gain during pregnancy

    Every expectant mother’s journey is unique, and this includes how much weight you gain during pregnancy. Key factors affecting pregnancy weight gain:

    • Pre-pregnancy BMI
    • Diet and nutrition
    • Physical activity level
    • Pre-existing health conditions

    Additional influencing factors:

    • Age and height
    • Number of previous pregnancies
    • Lifestyle habits
    • Ethnicity and socioeconomic status (indirect impact).

    Don’t hesitate to ask questions or share concerns with your healthcare team. They’re there to support you in having a healthy pregnancy and baby!

    Potential complications of suboptimal weight gain

    Understanding healthy weight gain during pregnancy is important for both you and your baby. Gaining too much or too little can lead to different challenges.

    Excessive weight gain may increase your risk of:

    • High blood pressure during pregnancy;
    • Gestational diabetes;
    • Difficulty losing weight after pregnancy.

    For your baby, it could mean:

    • A higher birth weight;
    • Increased risk of childhood obesity.

    On the other hand, not gaining enough weight might lead to:

    • Lower birth weight;
    • Increased chance of premature birth.

    Your doctor can help you understand what’s right for you and your baby. Regular check-ups are a great way to stay on track and address any concerns you might have about your weight gain.

    How does weight gain during pregnancy affect labor and delivery?

    Any kind of suboptimal gestational weight gain can lead to certain complications in labor and delivery.

    For example, excessive weight gain can result in your baby being born with higher-than-average weight. This can result in shoulder dystocia, preterm birth, and cesarean section.

    Low birth weight, on the other hand, can also lead to preterm birth and potential postnatal complications, such as low oxygen levels at birth, trouble feeding and gaining weight, and more.

    How to track pregnancy symptoms?

    Femia offers the most accurate tool for tracking your health indicators during pregnancy

    Try Femia now

    Questions from the Femia community

    • Is it possible for me to lose weight safely during pregnancy?

      Although minor weight loss might occur naturally due to changes in your hormones, metabolism, eating habits, or baby’s calorie consumption, purposeful weight loss is generally not recommended during pregnancy. The exception is when recommended otherwise by your healthcare provider due to health concerns. If you weren’t advised to lose weight, it’s better to focus on maintaining a healthy diet to ensure optimal weight gain.

    • What if I have twins or triplets?

      Typically, women pregnant with multiples need to put on more gestational weight to ensure the optimal growth of all babies. The total amount of recommended weight gain depends on multiple factors, including the number of fetuses, pre-pregnancy BMI, and maternal health conditions. If you’re carrying multiples, it’s recommended to gain personalized advice from a healthcare specialist.

    • How can I manage weight gain if I have gestational diabetes?

      Mothers-to-be with gestational diabetes typically need to closely track their blood sugar levels and follow a well-balanced diet plan to ensure healthy weight gain. Additionally, managing weight gain with gestational diabetes might require incorporating regular physical activity based on healthcare providers’ recommendations.

    • Is it normal to gain weight rapidly at certain points during pregnancy?

      Rapid weight gain can occur naturally due to the baby’s growth and increase in bodily fluid levels. Most quick gain takes place in the second and third trimesters. However, if you notice sudden or significant weight fluctuations, it’s recommended to get advice from your healthcare provider.

    The bottom line

    Pregnancy weight gain is a natural process that tends to be unique to every expectant mother and determined by a range of individual factors. However, general guidelines for healthy weight gain exist, which  directly affects the progression of your pregnancy and the long-term health of you and your baby. 

    Luckily, you can usually manage gestational weight by yourself or with the aid of a healthcare provider.

    Using a pregnant weight gain calculator is an easy way to closely monitor your BMI throughout the entire pregnancy and ensure it remains within the healthy range. Don’t hesitate to use the available tools and receive personalized medical advice to ensure optimal health for you and your baby.

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