Now that you’re pregnant, your body is changing to get ready for your baby. Gaining weight is an important part of pregnancy.
If you gain too little or too much weight during pregnancy, you’re more likely than other women to have certain complications, such as a premature birth. This is when your baby’s born too soon, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
You may be wondering where all the weight goes? If you’re at a healthy weight before pregnancy and gain 30 pounds during pregnancy, here’s where you carry the weight:
- Baby = 7.5 pounds
- Amniotic fluid = 2 pounds. Amniotic fluid surrounds the baby in the womb.
- Blood = 4 pounds
- Body fluids = 4 pounds
- Breasts = 2 pounds
- Fat, protein and other nutrients = 7 pounds
- Placenta = 1.5 pounds. The placenta grows in your uterus (also called womb) and supplies the baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord.
- Uterus = 2 pounds. The uterus is the place inside you where your baby grows
Gaining weight slowly and steadily during pregnancy is best. You may not gain any weight in the first trimester. And don’t worry if you gain a little more or a little less than you think you should in any week. If you’re worried about your weight during pregnancy, tell your health care provider.
To learn more about weight gain during pregnancy, visit: marchofdimes.org
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