Not every pregnant woman is going to gain the same amount of weight, nor will they gain at the same rate. Obviously every woman -- and pregnancy -- is unique! However, it's important to follow a few guidelines to help keep you on track and aware.

Maintaining a healthy weight will not only be beneficial to you, but also to your baby. It will also help to avoid certain illnesses related to pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes.

How Much Weight Should Be Gained During Pregnancy?

An average-weight woman should gain between 25 and 35 pounds throughout the entire pregnancy. Overweight Women should aim to gain a little less -- about 15 pounds, and underweight women should aim for a little more -- about 35-45 pounds.

Pregnant women expecting multiples will probably gain more weight than those carrying only one baby.

How Should the Weight Be Gained?

The term "eating for two" is misleading, and unhealthy. Despite the fact that there is another human growing inside of you, you do not require twice the amount of food you once did prior to being pregnant. Following this method will only put much more weight on than necessary. In general, an extra 300 calories per day is recommended. Make these calories count by focusing on healthier food choices.

Where Does the Weight Go?

The pounds gained throughout the entire pregnancy are distributed as follows:

Baby -- 7-8 pounds
Placenta -- 2-3 pounds
Amniotic Fluid -- 2-3 pounds
Breast Tissue -- 2-3 pounds
Blood Supply -- 2-3 pounds
Uterus -- 4 pounds
Fat -- 2-5 pounds
Total -- 25-35 pounds

Some women may not actually gain any weight during the first trimester, especially if they are nauseous. Others may gain quite a bit at first. Trimester 2 and 3 will (or should!) have a more even weight gain rate.

Weekly Weight Gain Rate

Follow this guide to see how much weight gained per week is ideal. Remember that this is only an average! The numbers stated below are a range:

2 weeks -- 1-4 pounds
4 weeks -- 3-6 pounds
6 weeks -- 3-7 pounds
8 weeks -- 4-9 pounds
10 weeks -- 4-11 pounds
12 weeks -- 5-12 pounds
14 weeks -- 5-14 pounds
16 weeks -- 6-15 pounds
18 weeks -- 7-16 pounds
20 weeks -- 7-18 pounds
22 weeks -- 8-19 pounds
24 weeks -- 9-20 pounds
26 weeks -- 10-21 pounds
28 weeks -- 11-22 pounds
30 weeks -- 13-24 pounds
32 weeks -- 15-26 pounds
34 weeks -- 17-28 pounds
36 weeks -- 19-30 pounds
38 weeks -- 21-32 pounds
40 weeks -- 23-35 pounds

You'll probably gain about 3 or 4 pounds per month, with a little weight gained near the end. Don't be alarmed if no weight is gained in the last couple of weeks -- this is common.