How much weight should I gain now?
Aim to gain about 12 to 14 pounds this trimester (toward a total of 25 to 35 for your whole pregnancy) if you started your pregnancy at a healthy weight. Your caregiver may advise that you gain a little more or less if you started your pregnancy over- or underweight or you're carrying twins or more.
How can I keep my weight gain on track?
During pregnancy, most women need to eat about 300 calories a day more than their usual daily intake. (The total amount of calories you'll need depends on your weight and activity level.)
If you're gaining too much: Some women find that they're gaining weight too quickly. It's not a good idea to go on a low-calorie diet or skip meals during pregnancy, though. Instead, try these suggestions to help slow your weight gain:
Start your day with a nutritious breakfast that includes adequate protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and a small amount of healthy fat.
Eat vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, and low-fat dairy products, and skip processed foods, packaged snacks, and sugar-loaded desserts.
Keep healthy, filling snacks around, such as low-fat cheese and yogurt, baby carrots, and fresh fruit such as apples or bananas. You'll be less susceptible to junk-food snack attacks.
Choose a tasty alternative to a fatty food. For example: Low-fat frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, a bagel instead of a doughnut, or air-popped popcorn instead of potato chips. (Get more ideas.)
Drink water instead of reaching for a glass of juice.
With your caregiver's okay, get regular exercise. If you have trouble getting started or keeping to a routine, find an exercise buddy who'll go for a daily walk or swim with you. This will help to keep you motivated. Even a 20-minute daily walk at lunchtime will make a difference.
If you're having a hard time gaining enough: Some women find themselves struggling to budge the scale. Here are a few tips to help you put on the pounds:
Drink a milkshake every day (add in fresh fruit for vitamins). You'll get a calorie boost and you'll benefit from the calcium in the ice cream.
Eat nutrient-dense foods with good fats, such as avocados and nuts.
Try eating dried fruit. It's not as filling as fresh fruit, so you tend to eat more of it and pack in more healthy calories.
In addition to your meals, eat frequent snacks.
Remind yourself that you're supposed to be putting on weight now, for yourself and for your baby's well-being. Then chow down!