Conversations about weight gain during pregnancy are often far less nuanced than they should be. The focus tends to be on the numbers rather than on how to nourish and love your body. If you’ve found yourself wondering how much weight you “should” be gaining, here are some things to think about:

Consider your starting point

Traditional advice has been to gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy, but new research supports widening that range based on where you start. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends gaining as little as 11 pounds or as much as 40 pounds, depending on your BMI before you got pregnant. 

Caloric needs increase throughout pregnancy

Even with a nutritious diet, not eating enough calories can lead to preterm birth and/or low birthweight. Undereating can also make starting breastfeeding more difficult. 

Keep in mind that women who start out underweight are more likely to gain less weight than recommended. And women who start out overweight or obese are more likely to gain more weight than recommended according to stats from the CDC. 

Focus on nutrition, not on pounds

Responding to your body’s hunger cues and eating nutrient dense foods may be better than tracking your weight gain. If weight is a sticking point for you, consider skipping the scale at home and only weighing during doctor visits.

Expect your rate of weight gain to fluctuate

Weight gain during pregnancy typically isn’t linear. You may gain a lot one week, even more the next week, and very little the next. Trying to follow a chart or expecting an even weight gain over your pregnancy may needlessly stress you out.