Naturally, you gain weight as your baby grows. However, you may gain less or more than recommended in pregnancy which can have adverse effects on both you and your unborn baby.
What is the normal weight gain?
Normal weight gain in pregnancy depends on your weight or body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy. Recommended weight gain based on your BMI is listed below:
|BMI||Recommended weight gain|
|Less than 18.5kg/m²||12.5-18kg|
|18.5 to 24.9kg/m²||11.5-16kg|
|25 to 29.9kg/m²||7- 11.5kg|
Typically, you gain 1-2kg in the first 3 months of your pregnancy and then 300-400g per week afterwards. Your weight gain can be affected by:
- Your diet.
- How many babies you are carrying. The expected weight gain for a woman having twins or triplets is 11-24kg depending on your pre-pregnancy weight.
- Your health status, for example, morning sickness.
- Your level of physical activity
Effects of gaining less or much weight in pregnancy
Gaining less than the recommended weight in pregnancy can result in having a baby who is too small for their gestational age. Babies who are born too small are at a higher risk for infections, feeding difficulties, and developmental challenges.
Excess weight gain can affect both mother and child. The adverse effects include:
- Gestational diabetes
- Hypertension and pre-eclampsia
- Having a baby that is too large (macrosomia)
- Caesarean section
- Increased risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease for the child.
Tips to gain healthy weight
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Limit added sugars and solid fats in your diet, including soft drinks, sweetened foods, cooking oils, etc.
- Eat small meals and fluids often.
- Exercise or have adequate amounts of physical activity daily (as recommended by your healthcare provider and tolerated by your body).
If you are concerned about weight gain during pregnancy, it is important to speak with your doctor or a nutritionist about your weight concerns.
You can make an appointment with Dr Kenny on 07 3188 5000.
This article is written to be informative and does not substitute seeking a professional consultation from a medical professional.