Hi - I’m feeling a little anxious about weight gain in pregnancy. I didn’t gain a ton during my first trimester but my second trimester hit and I’ve been gaining much quicker! Is that normal?
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Hi Trat,
Weight gain during pregnancy is something that is so individual and multifactorial - I’m sorry it’s causing you feelings of anxiety!
I can’t provide personalized medical advice through this forum, and I’d encourage you to bring any concerns about your weight gain to your pregnancy care provider. That said, based on the general pattern you’ve described, this sounds like very normal weight gain during pregnancy!
Weight gain during pregnancy is not linear! Generally, weight gain is slow in the first trimester and increases during the second and third trimesters. It is not unusual for the rate of weight gain to peak in the second trimester (when the baby’s growth accelerates, the placenta grows, amniotic fluid increases, blood volume increases, etc.).
If you’d like more information, Health Canada has a pregnancy weight gain calculator that can help estimate a general healthy weight gain range based on your pre-pregnancy height and weight: https://health.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/prenatal-nutrition/pregnancy-weight-gain-calculator.html. Keep in mind that there is no single “right” amount of weight gain. Your pregnancy care provider can help interpret what is appropriate for you.
You should also check in with your provider if weight gain is:
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Very rapid, especially when accompanied by sudden swelling/severe headaches/vision changes/high blood pressure
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Consistently much higher or lower than expected over time.
Wishing you all the best for the remainder of your pregnancy! 