The average weight of the newborns (3,293 g; SD = 460) was studied in 513 normal pregnancies (free of clinical and obstetrical intercorrencies) and it was correlated to: a) maternal average weight gain (12,355 g; SD - 4,067) and b) maternal average weight at the onset of pregnancy, both with positive linear relation. It was noted too that the relation between maternal weight gain and weight of newborns gradually decreased as the comparison involved higher initial weight of the mothers. Actually, in the group of average initial weight above 79 kg no relation was found between maternal weight gain and the weight of the newborn. Results were compared to those in the literature and it was concluded that the influence of maternal weight gain upon that of the newborn varies with the maternal initial weight: 1) in the group of lower and normal initial average maternal weight there is an important influence on the average weight of the newborn; 2) in the group of initially overweight mothers (above 70 kg) the average weight of the newborn was high, but independent of maternal weight gain. Thus, caloric restriction in the latter group should be revised.