The Big Problem with Gaining too Much Weight During Pregnancy

I was thin when I first became pregnant. In fact, I was the healthiest I had ever been.

I weighed a cool 125lbs, which i felt was perfect for my frame, and I ate a healthy vegan diet loaded with nourshing foods.

Then I got pregnant…..

Within 2 months into my pregnancy, my hormones made feel a bit crazy about food, and I lost my “filter.”

I ended up gaining too much weight during my pregnancy. (Seriously, wayy too much) While I tried to still eat lots of healthy foods, I also ate lots of not so healthy foods too.

I ended up gained nearly 80lbs in that 9 month period!

If you have made it this far into this post, I can only assume your a bit worried you might gain too much weight during your pregnancy too!

Here are a few things I learned from that first pregnancy, to prevent the extreme weight gain the second time around.

First, though let’s go over some pregnancy weight gain basics.

Contents

What is healthy weight gain during pregnancy?

Although weight gain recommendations during pregnancy have varied from year to year, the current weight gain recommended for pregnant women is 25-30 pounds.

This number is based on how much your body needs to gain for a healthy pregnancy and baby and is split up into several categories.

(*Before we go too deep, don’t think of this as a how to avoid gaining weight during pregnancy post. Instead, it’s more of a how to keep healthy and protect your body post. We DO NOT want any malnourished babies or mamas! Just wanted to clarify that here and now.)

This post also may contain affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but won’t cost you a penny more)! You can read the full disclosure here.

*Make sure to grab our Printable Pregnancy Weight Tracker!

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Normal Weight Gain Distribution During Pregnancy

Babies weight at birth: 7.5 pounds
Placenta: 2 pounds
Uterus: 2 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds
Extra blood volume: 2.5 pounds
Extra body fluid: 2.5 pounds
Breasts Tissue: 2 pounds
Fat storage gain for breastfeeding: 8 pounds

Of course, every pregnancy is different and the recommended weight gain depends on your starting weight and other factors such as carrying more than one baby.

It’s best to talk to your doctor about how much weight is healthy for you to gain.

Shouldn’t I Listen To My Body?

I’m sort of a naturalist when it comes to listening to our bodies.

All those cravings you get when pregnant are messages to your body to increase your nutrients for your growing baby.

But, the problem is we often don’t eat the way nature intended.

With so many processed and convenience foods at our constant fingertips, its easier than ever to overdo it.

If you were satisfying those cravings with extra apples or carrot sticks, that would be fine!

However, reaching for your third Twinkie isn’t the same thing, and this is what leads to that excess weight gain.

Reasons to Avoid Gaining Too Much Weight in Pregnancy

If your pregnant, it can be tempting to not worry about weight gain at all.

After all, your eating for two, and if you can gain weight without the extra worry now, when can you?

No! Don’t do this. I say from experience. Not because of any vanity metrics either.

All that excess weight gain gave me long-term issues to deal with, and I’m not talking about permanent weight gain either.

I lost the weight very quickly after birth. In fact, I lost all 80 lbs within 6 weeks.

Instead, the excess weight gain caused me to have other issues.

I really think I would have had an easier labor had I gained less weight.

I also ended up with a very large gap in my abdominal muscles called diastasis recti, which I am still trying to heal years later.

I also can’t help but wonder, if I hadn’t gained so much weight so fast, maybe I could have prevented the stretch marks and extra skin that now graces my belly.

None of this is to scare you, of course, that is not my goal here.

I simply warn that gaining too much weight during pregnancy can cause you real problems, that aren’t solved by losing the weight after baby is born.

Recommended Calories in Pregnancy

For the first and second trimester (up to 28 weeks), you don’t need to eat any more calories than you normally would.

For an average woman, this means eating about 2,000 calories per day.

I don’t recommend counting calories if you aren’t already doing so, just be mindful of your eating habits.

A lot of women make the mistake of gaining too much weight in the beginning of the pregnancy (like me) when the baby actually weighs very little.

For a frame of reference, a baby at 20 weeks gestation weighs only about 10 ounces.

That’s less than a pound.

At the beginning of your third trimester (28 weeks) the average fetal weight is only 2.2 pounds.

Once you reach your third trimester, it is recommended that you eat only 200 extra calories per day or about 2,200 calories per day.

This is an estimate, as there are a variety of factors that come into play, such as your starting weight and body mass index, metabolism and your level of physical activity.

So always check with your doctor that you are gaining enough weight!

If you’re curious what your body mass index (BMI) is, you can use the following formula:

Take your weight in pounds and divide it by your height squared, then multiply this by 703. Or you can use the calculator below:

Supplied by BMI Calculator US

The body mass index can be interpreted as follows:

Underweight: the BMI is 19 or less.
Normal weight: the BMI is more than 19 but less than 25.
Overweight: the BMI is 25 to 30.
Obese: the BMI is greater than 30.

If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, your OB/GYN may make different recommendations as to how much weight you should gain during the pregnancy.

Your BMI can also be affected by the amount of muscle you have.

None of this is an exact science. It’s more to give you a frame of reference and help give you a starting point and a general picture of where you should be.

Now for the good stuff!

How To Avoid Gaining Too Much Weight During Pregnancy

Here are some tips to keep in mind when eating while pregnant:

It’s hard to gain too much weight if you are eating high-quality foods

This is the good news. If you are eating high quality, real foods, it’s hard to gain “too much.” You want a good balance of protein, fats and healthy carbs (Like fruits and veggies!)

You’re not actually eating for two

Especially in the first and second trimester.

Try not to eat too much differently from before you got pregnant (although if you plan on eating healthier, nows a great time to start) unless you are underweight or overweight.

In such cases, your doctor may ask you to eat more or less than normal in order to normalize your weight.

Stick to a healthy diet rich in whole foods, veggies, whole grains & lean meats

Try to focus on extra fruits and veggies as they are particularly high in nutrients without giving you empty calories.

Avoid the high-calorie cravings

This one may be hard! I went from 100% vegan, to craving Jack in The Box’s jalapeno poppers and fried chicken sandwiches all-the-time.

I seriously woke up every single morning feeling like I “needed” those tasty fried morsels to “survive.”

The struggle was real and the cravings won a lot of the time.

The second time, I stayed ahead of the curve and made sure to eat lots of nutrient dense foods before my cravings hit. I was too full to want junk!

Stay active during pregnancy

Find your favorite pregnancy safe fitness activities and make a commitment to do something daily!

There are also pregnancy fitness programs that help keep you motivated and accountable.

One of my favorites is this very affordable belly only pregnancy program.

It shows you the best workouts for each trimester and gives you a bunch of recipes perfect for keeping you at a healthy weight during pregnancy.

Avoid eating out too much

It’s just too easy to overdo it when eating out.

Eating at restaurants often comes with eating a large number of calories, partly due to large portion sizes.

Always ask for a take-home box and eat only about half the entrée, packing up the rest for a tasty leftover lunch!

Take a great prenatal

A great prenatal is incredibly important to the health of you and your baby. Without the right nutrients, you run the risk of your baby having long-term problems like Spina Bifida or other health issues.

I wrote all about my favorite prenatals over at this post. They are a bit pricey, but they are very high quality.

No fillers, and made with real ingredients so that your body actually absorbs them.

Also, take DHA to help your baby’s brain grow and prevent postpartum depression!

I recommend this brand, as they ensure the fish they use are low in mercury.

When in doubt about what to eat, ask your doctor or midwife to refer you to see a qualified nutritionist or a dietitian who can map out a diet plan for you to follow while you are pregnant.

Weigh yourself weekly during pregnancy

It’s a good idea to keep track just to make sure you are staying where you should be.

If you have a sudden weight gain, you can try to figure out what the cause may be, and how to prevent from blowing your whole plan.

You can grab our free printable weight tracker by signing up below!

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The Easy Way to Avoid Excessive Weight Gain During Pregnancy

If you are looking for a super easy way to stay healthy and fit, and avoid too much weight gain during pregnancy, you should check out this Belly Only Pregnancy Program. It’s so awesome!

It’s super affordable and gives you tons of healthy pregnancy recipes and gives you trimester specific workouts that will keep you and your baby safe, while getting your body ready to rock your birth.

This is an easy and simple way to have a super healthy pregnancy and a way easier time recovering postpartum. So give yourself (and your baby) a big gift this pregnancy and try out this awesome program.

Check out Our Pregnancy Planner & Other Printables

If your looking for a great pregnancy printable, check out our big pregnancy planner (80+ printable pages) in the Pregnant Mama Shop! We’ve got lots of fun things in there you’ll love!

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