With cravings for all things salty, sweet and unhealthy for you, it's hard not to indulge during pregnancy. And weight gain is natural. After all, you're growing a baby. However, gaining too much weight can put you and your baby at risk for a number of serious health conditions.

So how much weight should you gain? Consider the following information and tips for determining how much you should gain and how to manage the weight.

The amount of weight that is considered healthy for your pregnancy will depend on how much you weigh when you're not pregnant. And that's different for everyone.

"Healthy weight gain in pregnancy depends primarily on where you're starting from," says Janice Henderson, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "If you're underweight, expect to gain 28 to 40 pounds. If you're normal weight, expect to gain 25 to 35 pounds. And if you're overweight, expect to gain 15 to 25 pounds."

If you're carrying multiples, your weight gain will be greater. Talk to your doctor about how much of a weight gain is right for you and your body type.

Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy experience a number of side effects. "One of the negative effects of gaining too much weight is general discomfort and fatigue," says Henderson. Carrying extra weight is hard work and it takes a toll on your body and stamina. Keeping your weight gain within the normal range will help ease some of the physical difficulties often associated with pregnancy.

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