How much weight should you gain during pregnancy?
How much weight you should gain during pregnancy can be generally worked out from your height, weight and body frame type. In New Zealand, your health care professional will probably take these measurements for you to work out your Body Mass Index (BMI) which is a helpful guide.
It’s great to aim for a steady, gradual pregnancy weigh gain but everyone has a different pattern so don’t worry if you gain more one week and a bit less the next – nobody is the same!
Table: Weight gain in a single pregnancy
| PRE-PREGNANCY BMI |
BMI (kg/m2) |
TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN (kg) |
Underweight
|
<18.5 |
12.7 - 18.14 |
Normal weight
|
18.5 - 24.9 |
11.3 - 15.9 |
| Overweight |
25.0 - 29.9 |
6.9 - 11.3 |
| Obese (includes all classes) |
> 30 |
4.9 - 9.1 |
Source: Institute of Medicine 2009
Is it safe to try and lose weight during pregnancy?
In a word – no. It’s true that being overweight may increase your risk of complications, but it’s not wise to consider dieting for weight loss as an option during pregnancy. You should just aim for a well balanced diet.
Sorting out your weight before you get pregnant is a good thing to do but strict dieting once you get pregnant could reduce your baby’s birth weight and put them at risk. If you miss vital nutrients, you’ll be denying them the healthiest and happiest possible start in life.
Being underweight during pregnancy
Being underweight can also cause problems during pregnancy so if you fall into this category you should also try and get up to a recommended weight before you conceive. Or, if you are already pregnant, speak to your health care professional about a well balanced diet that will help you achieve a recommended pregnancy weight gain.
Special Diets
If you require specific dietary needs, discuss these with your health care professional as they may need to be watched throughout your pregnancy.
A properly balanced vegetarian diet can be healthy for pregnancy however you must ensure both your energy and nutritional needs are met for your baby’s best growth and health. You need to have enough iron and calcium rich foods and ensure you are getting enough vitamin B12 either from food products or supplements. Vegans especially may require additional vitamins and calcium.