Day 50 of 280, first trimester
You are 7 weeks and 1 day
As your body starts to change shape, you may start worrying about gaining too much weight.
230 days until your due date
You're meant to gain weight in pregnancy. It's not a time to overeat, but it's not a time for fad or restrictive diets either. If you eat sensibly and exercise moderately, you should gain a healthy amount.
How much you should gain depends on your starting weight: if you're underweight when you conceive, you should gain more than someone who's overweight.
Your starting weight is assessed using your BMI, a measure of weight in relation to height, which gives a rough idea of how much you should gain.
If your BMI is normal, aim to gain 25–35 lb (11–14.5 kg). If you're underweight, gain 28–40 lb (12.5–18 kg); if you're overweight, 15–25 lb (7–11 kg); and if you're obese, at least 15 lb (7 kg). Women carrying twins should expect to gain about 35–45 lb (16–20 kg).
As a rough guide, aim to gain no more than 5 lb (2.2 kg) in the first trimester, 12–19 lb (5.5–9 kg) in the second, and 8–11 lb (3.5–5 kg) in the third. Remember that not all of this is fat.
Good to know
How much weight will you gain?
Over the 40 weeks, you'll probably gain very little in the first trimester, then gain steadily at around 1½–2 lb a week. It's normal to put on a few more pounds in the final weeks.
These figures are averages. How much you gain, and where, depends on many individual factors. Always talk to your doctor if you're worried about your weight gain or diet.
Explainer
Where the weight goes
Pregnancy weight is made up of your baby and its support system, bigger breasts and uterus, essential fat reserves, and extra fluid and blood. Roughly:
- Baby: 7–9 lb
- Placenta: 1.5 lb
- Amniotic fluid: 2 lb
- Larger uterus: 2 lb
- Larger breasts: 1 lb
- Increased blood and fluid: 3 lb
- Water retention: 5.5 lb
- Maternal fat: 5.5 lb
Read the full 7 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.