How much weight should my partner gain during pregnancy?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends an average weight gain of 25 to 30 pounds during pregnancy. But the amount of weight your partner should gain depends on her weight before she became pregnant and her height.
According to ACOG:
- If she was underweight before becoming pregnant, she should gain between 28 and 40 pounds
- If she was overweight before becoming pregnant, she should gain between 15 and 25 pounds
Check with your doctor to find out how much weight gain during pregnancy is healthy for your partner. Pregnant women should gain weight gradually during her pregnancy, with most of the weight gained in the last trimester.
Doctors suggest women gain weight at the following rate:
- 2 to 4 pounds during the first trimester
- 3 to 4 pounds per month for the second and third trimesters
Recent research shows that women who gain more than the recommended amount during pregnancy and who fail to lose this weight within six months after giving birth are at much higher risk of being obese nearly 10 years later.
Total weight gained during pregnancy includes six to eight pounds for the weight of the baby. The remaining weight consists of fluid, larger breasts, larger uterus, amniotic fluid, and the placenta. Make sure to visit your doctor with your partner throughout the pregnancy so he or she can check on her weight gain.