Height, skinfold, and circumference measurements were obtained from 29 normal weight and 17 overweight (>110% of desirable weight for height) healthy pregnant women every four weeks during their second trimester of pregnancy. The mean weight gain and food intake values were not significantly different for both groups. Measurements increased at a greater rate for the normal weight gravidas than for the overweight gravidas in almost every case. For both groups, increases in fat stores were greater in the central sites than in the peripheral sites. No clear relationship between age, prepregnant weight, and weight gain during the second trimester with the birthweight of the baby was found. The infant birthweights of both groups were at an optimal level ( >2500 grams) except for one (born to the mother 151% of her desirable weight for height). The similarity in results for the two groups is greatly due to there not being a large enough difference in prepregnant weights between the two groups. Nevertheless, the results do lend support to a 20 to 30 pound weight gain for an optimal outcome of pregnancy for healthy pregnant women with a wide range of prepregnancy weights. Those women 150% or more of their desirable weight for height may need to gain on the lower end of the spectrum due to their excess endogenous reserves and to possible harm to the fetus with large gains. / Master of Science