Healthy Weight Gain during Pregnancy
This is a consensus document by Queensland Dietitians. Last reviewed: June 2013
Disclaimer: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/masters/copyright.asp Review: June 2015
Healthy weight gain during pregnancy
It is important for your and your baby’s
health to eat well during pregnancy.
Keeping track of your weight is also
important. You should balance your
nutritional needs with healthy weight
gain and eating to appetite.
Women who do not gain enough weight
have a risk of preterm birth. Women who
are overweight or gain too much weight
during pregnancy have a higher risk of:
• high blood pressure
• gestational diabetes
• a large baby (macrosomia)
• caesarean sections
• birth defects
• difficultly losing weight after their baby is
born.
This can also increase your long-term risk
of diabetes, heart disease and some
cancers.
How much weight should I gain?
The weight you should aim to gain depends
on what your weight (and body mass index
- BMI) was before you became pregnant.
BMI is the number used to work out the
recommended amount for you. If you were
given a handheld record from antenatal
clinic you may find your BMI in here. If not,
you can work it out using the steps in the
box below.
Use this table as a general guide to what
you should gain during pregnancy.
If your pre-pregnancy
BMI was…
You should gain…
Less than 18.5 kg/m²
18.5 to 24.9 kg/m²
25 to 29.9 kg/m²
Above 30 kg/m²
12½ to 18kg
11½ to 16kg
7 to 11½ kg
5 to 9kg
How do I work out my BMI?
1. My pre-pregnancy weight: _______kg
My height: ____________ m
(e.g. 165cm would be 1.65m)
BMI = weight/(height x height) = _____kg/m²
2. Another way to find your BMI is to use the
graph below. From your height and weight
trace your fingers along the lines until they
meet. That is your BMI. Your dietitian or
midwife could help if you are unsure of how to
do this.
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
140.0
0.0
160.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
140cm 150cm 160cm 170cm 180cm 190cm 200cm
Height in centimetres
Weight (kg)
11
12
13
15
17
18
19
20
BMI 3 5
BMI 3 0
BMI 2 5
BMI 1 8 .5
BMI 1 7
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