Our conservative intervention significantly reduced excessive weight gain among normal-weight women but not among overweight women. Given that the majority of childbearing women are normal weight, and that our results were achieved in a low-SES population with considerable barriers, this intervention shows promise as a behavioral method of promoting appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, and helping to prevent the development of long-term weight problems. Further research is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this type of behavioral intervention for preventing excessive weight gain in normal-weight women and to define the key components of the intervention that are required for its success. In addition, it is important to develop a more effective way to prevent excessive pregnancy-related weight gain in overweight women.