Hello! Are you pregnant or thinking about having a baby? If so, please come with me to talk about gaining the right amount of weight during your pregnancy so that both you and your baby will have a healthy start together.
Being healthy is a topic that is on everyone’s minds these days. If you are pregnant or may become pregnant in the future, it’s really important. In 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published new guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy that enhance your ability to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Use this form to calculate your body mass index (BMI) and get recommendations on the right amount of weight to gain during pregnancy and steps you can take to maintain a healthy weight for you and your baby.
Your BMI
Your BMI is
Your weight of lbs puts you in the for adults in your height range.
To get started, go to the 'What Is a Healthy Weight?' tab to calculate your BMI, or select a weight category from the options on the left.
Click a question to find the answer
It is best to have gradual weight gain in pregnancy. Early in pregnancy your body is changing and you put on weight related to increased blood, fluids, and breast size, etc. Then, once your baby is fully formed, it begins to grow and gain fat so that after 28 weeks most of the weight that you gain is related to your baby. So after about 13 weeks of pregnancy, a slow and steady gain produces the best outcome for you and your baby. See your chart below.
The lighter you are, the more you need to gain when you are pregnancy. A nutritionist or dietician can help you gain weight in a healthy way.
Click a question to find the answer
It is best to have gradual weight gain in pregnancy [see the chart below]. Early in pregnancy your body is changing and you put on weight related to increased blood, fluids and breast size, etc. Then, once your baby is fully formed, it begins to grow and gain fat so that after 28 weeks most of the weight that you gain is related to your baby. So after about 13 weeks of pregnancy, a slow and steady gain produces the best outcome for you and your baby.
See the chart below
Click a question to find the answer
It is best to have gradual weight gain in pregnancy. Early in pregnancy your body is changing and you put on weight related to increased blood, fluids and breast size, etc. Then, once your baby is fully formed, it begins to grow and gain fat so that after 28 weeks most of the weight that you gain is related to your baby. So after about 13 weeks of pregnancy, a slow and steady gain produces the best outcome for you and your baby. See your chart below.
No, you won’t become heavier if you gain within the guidelines for overweight of 15 to 25 pounds during pregnancy. Then after the baby is born being physically active, watching those extra calories and breastfeeding will be important so that you can shed the pounds that you gained during pregnancy. It’s best to be at a healthy weight before you become pregnant.
Click a question to find the answer
It is best to have gradual weight gain in pregnancy [see the chart below]. Early in pregnancy your body is changing and you put on weight related to increased blood, fluids and breast size, etc. Then, once your baby is fully formed, it begins to grow and gain fat so that after 28 weeks most of the weight that you gain is related to your baby. So after about 13 weeks of pregnancy, a slow and steady gain produces the best outcome for you and your baby.
If you are not pregnant, it is important to plan your pregnancy so that you can be at a healthier weight when you conceive. Eating healthy food and having a lifestyle that includes regular exercise will help you achieve your goal of reaching a healthier weight. [ more ]
To get started, go to the 'What Is a Healthy Weight?' tab to calculate your BMI, or select a weight category from the options on the left.
Click a question
to find the answer
to find the answer
Yes, your baby is likely to be affected in many different ways by your weight when you become pregnant. Women who are underweight are more likely to have a baby who is too small than women who are normal weight when they become pregnant. Women who overweight when they become pregnant are more likely to have a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes... [ more ]
Yes, you can try this approach, but it is not the best idea for you or your baby. It makes more sense to gain at the lower end of the amount recommended for your size and then, after delivery, to change your diet, increase your physical activity, and breastfeed, or all of these to fit back into your jeans. See your chart below.
Click a question
to find the answer
to find the answer
Yes, your baby is likely to be affected in many different ways by your weight when you become pregnant. Women who are underweight are more likely to have a baby who is too small than women who are normal weight when they become pregnant. Women who overweight when they become pregnant are more likely to have a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes... [ more ]
Congratulations on being in such great shape. We still recommend that you gain within the guidelines for your BMI category during your pregnancy, because we know that this is related to the best outcome for the baby now and in the future. It also provides you with the right amount of stored fat to support breastfeeding and less weight to lose after the baby is born. See your chart below.
Yes, you can try this approach, but it is not the best idea for you or your baby. It makes more sense to gain at the lower end of the amount recommended for your size and then, after delivery, to change your diet, increase your physical activity, and breastfeed, or all of these to fit back into your jeans.
Click a question
to find the answer
to find the answer
It’s good that your last pregnancy went well, but each pregnancy is different and, of course, you are different too. At the very least, you are older and already have at least one child at home. It’s safer for you and your developing baby to be at a healthy weight through eating the right foods, being physically active and, taking good care of yourself. That way, when you become pregnant again, you will have another opportunity to have a good birth outcome. See your chart below.
Some women are really successful at losing weight after pregnancy by watching what they eat, being physically active, breastfeeding, and getting enough sleep or, all of these together. While dealing with a baby at home, many women find that it’s just easier to have gained within the guidelines while they were pregnant so they don’t have such a big weight loss challenge after delivery.
Yes, your baby is likely to be affected in many different ways by your weight when you become pregnant. Women who are underweight are more likely to have a baby who is too small than women who are normal weight when they become pregnant. Women who overweight when they become pregnant are more likely to have a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes... [ more ]
If you are too heavy when you become pregnant, you are at risk of several conditions during pregnancy that threaten your baby’s health and survival. These include gestational diabetes, hypertension, and/or pre-eclampsia. These conditions may affect the health of your child in the future. That is why it is so important to be at a healthy weight when you become pregnant.
Yes, being too heavy may make it more difficult to become pregnant, and also to complete your pregnancy without complications for you and your baby. It’s much safer for you both to conceive when you are at a healthy weight.
Click a question
to find the answer
to find the answer
It’s good that your last pregnancy went well, but each pregnancy is different and, of course, you are different too. At the very least, you are older and already have at least one child at home. It’s safer for you and your developing baby to be at a healthy weight through eating the right foods, being physically active and, taking good care of yourself. That way, when you become pregnant again, you will have another opportunity to have a good birth outcome. See your chart below.
Some women are really successful at losing weight after pregnancy by watching what they eat, being physically active, breastfeeding, and getting enough sleep or, all of these together. While dealing with a baby at home, many women find that it’s just easier to have gained within the guidelines while they were pregnant so they don’t have such a big weight loss challenge after delivery.
Yes, your baby is likely to be affected in many different ways by your weight when you become pregnant. Women who are underweight are more likely to have a baby who is too small than women who are normal weight when they become pregnant. Women who overweight when they become pregnant are more likely to have a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes... [ more ]
If you are too heavy when you become pregnant, you are at risk of several conditions during pregnancy that threaten your baby’s health and survival. These include gestational diabetes, hypertension, and/or pre-eclampsia. These conditions may affect the health of your child in the future. That is why it is so important to be at a healthy weight when you become pregnant.
Yes, being too heavy may make it more difficult to become pregnant, and also to complete your pregnancy without complications for you and your baby. It’s much safer for you both to conceive when you are at a healthy weight.
To get started, go to the 'What Is a Healthy Weight?' tab to calculate your BMI, or select a weight category from the options on the left.
Click a question to find the answer
That all depends on how heavy you are. If your weight is still normal, having over-gained previously is not a problem. If you have become overweight or obese with those extra 10 pounds, then getting back to a normal weight would be better for your own health and that of your next baby. See your chart below.
It may depend on why you lost weight recently and how much you weigh now. If your BMI is still within the normal range, then you should be fine at this new weight. If you are underweight, then bringing your weight up to be within the normal range is best. However, if you have a BMI > 25, then you should not worry about trying to regain any weight that was lost. Ideally, it is better to be at a stable weight before you become pregnant again.
Click a question to find the answer
That all depends on how heavy you are. If your weight is still normal, having over-gained previously is not a problem. If you have become overweight or obese with those extra 10 pounds, then getting back to a normal weight would be better for your own health and that of your next baby. See your chart below.
It may depend on why you lost weight recently and how much you weigh now. If your BMI is still within the normal range, then you should be fine at this new weight. If you are underweight, then bringing your weight up to be within the normal range is best. However, if you have a BMI > 25, then you should not worry about trying to regain any weight that was lost. Ideally, it is better to be at a stable weight before you become pregnant again.
Click a question to find the answer
That all depends on how heavy you are. If your weight is still normal, having over-gained previously is not a problem. If you have become overweight or obese with those extra 10 pounds, then getting back to a normal weight would be better for your own health and that of your next baby. See your chart below.
It may depend on why you lost weight recently and how much you weigh now. If your BMI is still within the normal range, then you should be fine at this new weight. If you are underweight, then bringing your weight up to be within the normal range is best. However, if you have a BMI > 25, then you should not worry about trying to regain any weight that was lost. Ideally, it is better to be at a stable weight before you become pregnant again.
Click a question to find the answer
That all depends on how heavy you are. If your weight is still normal, having over-gained previously is not a problem. If you have become overweight or obese with those extra 10 pounds, then getting back to a normal weight would be better for your own health and that of your next baby. See your chart below.
It may depend on why you lost weight recently and how much you weigh now. If your BMI is still within the normal range, then you should be fine at this new weight. If you are underweight, then bringing your weight up to be within the normal range is best. However, if you have a BMI > 25, then you should not worry about trying to regain any weight that was lost. Ideally, it is better to be at a stable weight before you become pregnant again.
Let’s get practical. Getting all the way to normal weight may take some time and effort, but you may be able to lose enough weight for you to fall within the overweight category. Any weight loss that is done safely to move your BMI down would be an improvement. Achieving this lower weight will make you feel better, and improve your chances of conceiving and of having a healthier pregnancy outcome.
Read the
consensus report
consensus report
Thank you for visiting the IOM to learn about healthy weight gain during pregnancy. For more information and helpful resources, go to www.iom.edu/healthypregnancy or check out the organizations below.
American Academy of Family Physicians
www.aafp.org
www.aafp.org
American Public Health Association
www.apha.org
www.apha.org
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
www.awhonn.org www.health4mom.org
www.health4women.org
www.awhonn.org www.health4mom.org
www.health4women.org
Healthpartners Institute For Education And Research
www.hprf.org
www.hprf.org
March of Dimes
www.marchofdimes.com
www.marchofdimes.com
National WIC Association
www.nwica.org
www.nwica.org
Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
www.smfm.org
www.smfm.org