GHK | Healthy Weight Gain in Pregnancy

Healthy Weight Gain in Pregnancy

It is normal to gain weight during pregnancy, but you don’t want to gain too much. Keeping track of your weight during your pregnancy is important for your health and the health of your baby.

healthy weight gain infographic

How much?

How much weight you should gain during pregnancy depends on your weight before falling pregnant. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) provides a general indicator to healthy weight gain during pregnancy. Use this calculator on the Health Direct website to calculate your BMI.

	Overall weight gain during pregnancy (kg)
Pre–pregnancy BMI (kg)	One baby	More than one baby
<18.5	12.5-18.0	Talk to your dietitian or obstetrician
18.5-24.9	11.5-16.0	17-25
25-29.9	7.0-11.5	14-23
30+	5.0-9.0	11-19

Achieving a healthy weight after pregnancy is also important for your health. It helps decrease the chance of developing diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

Why am I gaining weight?

During pregnancy, your whole body goes through changes, some more visible than others. Not only is your baby growing, but your are also developing extra body tissue. Extra weight gain can come from:

increased breast size
increased size of the uterus
amniotic fluid around the baby
development of the placenta
extra blood and fluid to support the baby’s growth

Your weight gain should be regularly checked by your doctor during antenatal appointments. If you gain more than 16kg, you are at greater risk of complications such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, and C-section. Your baby would also be more likely to be overweight in later life and at greater risk of developing health problems.