Pregnancy is an exciting time for many women, but it can also be filled with questions and concerns. One of the most common questions that pregnant women have is “How much weight will I gain during pregnancy?”
The Factors
The amount of weight you should gain during your pregnancy depends on several factors, including your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI).
Generally speaking, if you were at a healthy BMI before becoming pregnant (between 18.5 – 24.9), then you should aim to gain between 25-35 pounds throughout the course of your pregnancy. If you had a lower BMI prior to getting pregnant (below 18.5) then gaining 28-40 pounds may be more appropriate; while if you had a higher BMI prior to getting pregnant (above 24.9) then aiming for 15-25 pound total weight gain would likely be best for both mother and baby’s health outcomes..
Seeking Guidance
It’s important to note that these are just general guidelines as everyone has different needs when it comes to their own personal health journey through pregnancy! Your doctor or midwife can provide more specific guidance about how much weight they recommend gaining based on individual circumstances such as age, activity level and any existing medical conditions or complications from previous pregnancies.
Tracking Your Weight
Additionally, some healthcare providers may suggest tracking weekly changes in order to help ensure proper nutrition and growth patterns throughout the gestation period, so make sure to speak with them about this option too.
Overall though, remember that every woman’s experience will differ slightly when it comes down to what their ideal amount of overall prenatal gains should look like.
Don’t get discouraged by trying to meet certain arbitrary standards set by others around us! Instead, focus on maintaining good eating habits along with regular exercise routines designed specifically tailored towards expecting mothers in order achieve best possible results.