2. Managing your weight

2. Managing your weight

Everyone puts on weight in pregnancy, and it's vital that you do so. Managing your weight gain will help look after yourself and your baby...

There are no official guidelines for how much weight you should put on in pregnancy. Weight gain varies greatly. Most pregnant women gain between 10kg (22lb) and 12.5kg (28lb). Most of the weight is gained after week 20. This weight includes your baby, the placenta, the extra fluid in your bloodstream, the water around your baby, your growing breasts and some extra fat stores to protect your baby. All these changes are important for the health of your baby and the pregnancy.

Putting on too much weight isn't good for you or your baby though, and may be harder to shed after giving birth.

Managing your weight doesn't mean dieting. This is definitely not the time for a weight-loss diet! Eating well and keeping active can help you to achieve a healthier pregnancy, a safer birth and a healthier baby.

BMI and pregnancy

Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation that health professionals use to work out whether you are a healthy weight for your height (weight (kg)/ height (m²)).

  • Less than 18.5 is considered underweight
  • 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy
  • 25 to 29.9 is considered ‘overweight’
  • Over 30 is considered ‘obese’

The BMI calculation is for use before and after pregnancy, although your midwife may measure you to calculate a BMI at your first appointment. Your BMI before you became pregnant may highlight the need for some additional care or support during your pregnancy.

If you are concerned about your BMI, always speak to your GP or midwife for appropriate advice.

Why it matters

It’s important to manage your weight during pregnancy especially if your Body Mass Index (BMI) was 30 or more before you became pregnant. There are important benefits.

Be more comfortable

You'll be able to stay more mobile, and less likely to suffer problems with your skin, or with pelvic pain.

Reduce the risk of complications

Some of the complications aggravated by excess weight are serious, including miscarriage and birth defects; gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia ; complications in labour including the need for a caesarean delivery; stillbirth and short and long-term health problems for the baby.

Protect your baby's health

Your child will be less likely to develop obesity during his/her life.
If you feel you need help managing your weight in pregnancy make an appointment to talk to your doctor who will be able to advise you.

A midwife’s view

“It’s really important that we work closely with clients who have a BMI of 30 or more because they may need extra special care and advice to help them have a healthy pregnancy, and special facilities during the birth. For example a woman who is obese should have the opportunity to see an Obstetrician (a doctor specialist in pregnancy) who will work with her midwife to monitor her health and will talk to her about the options for her antenatal care and the birth. The services on offer differ according to the needs of the woman and what is available in her local area. But if a midwife or doctor ask you to step on the scales please do not feel they are judging you, they just want to make sure you get the care that is right for you.”

Janet - 8 months pregnant:

"If I'd been told that I didn't need those extra calories, that would have been a help because I honestly thought from day one you need extra calories.

My mum goes, 'Oh, go on, you're pregnant! Come on, you're eating for two!'. But I'm not. I know it is better for me and the baby to be careful about not eating too much..."

Get your FREE Tommy’s guide: Managing Your Weight in Pregnancy

Tommy’s has developed a new guide for pregnant women with a BMI of 30 or more, who want to know more about managing their weight in pregnancy.

It’s all about looking after yourself and your growing baby by eating well and keeping active. It has some great ideas for simple things you can do that will make a big difference to your health and your baby’s health. Order your free copy of Managing your weight in pregnancy from Tommy’s shop.

For more expert information visit http://www.tommys.org, call the Tommy’s PregnancyLine to speak to a midwife or email info@tommys.org

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Comments

Submitted by Karli28 on Sun, 15/04/2012 - 08:43.
i have been going to a dieting club and have lost 3 stone since october, i was so pleased with my new shape. i then found out i was pregnant and my group leader tried to convince me to stay at group to monitor my gains but the next time i went i had them all telling me that my goal was to maintain the same weight through the whole pregnancy!!! how on earth that is supposed to be safe the baby i dont know, needless to say im just trying to eat healthily now and not worrying about gains and losses and i will go back to group after baby has arrived
Submitted by ljbellamy78 on Fri, 16/03/2012 - 11:54.
Having been on a permanent diet program for the last 3 years I knew as soon as I stopped (not allowed to do it in preganancy) and started eating normally I would gain weight. I am 7 weeks and quit the program as soon as I found out at 4 weeks, I have gained 3lb and although this is a lot in early pregnancy I'm OK about it. My weight appears to have stabilized and I have gained nothing this past week. This is my first pregnancy other than 1 very early miscarriage, should I be more concerned with this gain or am I being sensible expecting a sudden gain?
Submitted by stephsmithxx on Wed, 14/03/2012 - 19:30.
i was weighed at booking app and said i was 59kg and weighed myself today at 31wks and 2days and i am now 68.4kg. so i have gained nearly 10kg in 31 weeks just started getting stretch marks on my tum. no weight gain anywhere else on body xx very happy with this xx
Submitted by Jennieh4th on Tue, 21/02/2012 - 21:35.
Ladies, this is my 4th, my first I ate way too much because "my body wanted it" lol, the next two I was so sick all the way through that by the end I had only put on a few lb's, yet my 1st baby was 8lb9 and the other two were 9lb9 each. Eat well but try not to over eat, forget about the numbers, your midwife would say if they thought things were not okay.
Submitted by Jennieh4th on Tue, 21/02/2012 - 21:35.
Ladies, this is my 4th, my first I ate way too much because "my body wanted it" lol, the next two I was so sick all the way through that by the end I had only put on a few lb's, yet my 1st baby was 8lb9 and the other two were 9lb9 each. Eat well but try not to over eat, forget about the numbers, your midwife would say if they thought things were not okay.
Submitted by Jennieh4th on Tue, 21/02/2012 - 21:34.
Ladies, this is my 4th, my first I ate way too much because "my body wanted it" lol, the next two I was so sick all the way through that by the end I had only put on a few lb's, yet my 1st baby was 8lb9 and the other two were 9lb9 each. Eat well but try not to over eat, forget about the numbers, your midwife would say if they thought things were not okay.
Submitted by skipy24 on Sat, 18/02/2012 - 11:35.
Thank you for this information but really it doesnt tell really how much weight gaining is healthy towards giving birth.how much is too much to gain as the months goes by?thanx
Submitted by Morgie1016 on Thu, 12/01/2012 - 20:02.
I am sure that this is meant to estimate your BMI at the time you got pregnant. Depending on your BMI at that time, you may have been advised to gain more weight if you had a very low BMI, or to watch your weight gain if you had a very high one. I don't think you are meant to enter your current weight.
Submitted by mahirah on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:41.
wow i really am doing well just think this is my 3rd (unexpected) child yet I didnt know about all this available USEFUL information its great i love it and I will tell everyone, just as well my sis is expecting her 1st.
Submitted by mamachunk on Mon, 05/12/2011 - 20:48.
at 32 weeks I have put on 19kg. I am perfectly healthy and am not overweight! I was a size 10 to start with and am wearing size 10 maternity clothes. my midwife says I am absolutely fine. I can't understand these figures, they don't make any sense. If I had only gained 10kg I would have a tiny bump!
Submitted by JoshuaD on Mon, 28/11/2011 - 22:43.
I dont think this calculator can determine if I am healthy because it doesnt ask how many weeks pregnant I am too so there's no way it can be accurate and give anyone a vote of confidence. It says I'm overweight and my doctor and midwife say I am absolutely perfect weight for my height and for being 14 weeks pregnant
Submitted by bonsterbabyyeah on Mon, 07/11/2011 - 22:12.
hi, does anyone know where the tommy shop is on the web page so i can order the managing weight in pregnancy x
Submitted by Zaragoza on Fri, 21/10/2011 - 16:10.
There seem to exist contradictions on this matter. I am 24 weeks pregnant and have gained 7 kilos already. I personally think it is a bit too much. According to the above article, my weight gain is also too much. However, I have been told both by the hospital consultant and by my midwife that it os ok and totally normal. Who's right then?
Submitted by eunice16 on Fri, 21/10/2011 - 14:56.
my bmi is 31141,is this risky or too bad