Weight concerns

Pregnant women often ask how much weight they should gain during pregnancy. They want to gain sufficient weight to assure their baby's health, but do not want to have excess weight after delivery.

Women who do not gain sufficient weight during pregnancy have a greater chance to have a low birth weight baby, i.e. less than 2500 g (5.5 lbs.). Low birth weight babies tend to contract more infections, diseases or have a greater potential for slower learning and growth development.

Recommended weight gains for pregnant women vary according to pre-pregnancy weight and height. The general recommendation ranges from 11.5 to 16 kg (25 - 35 lbs.) according to the Body Mass Index (BMI).

The BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies for both adult men and women.

To calculate your BMI

Take your weight (in kilograms) and divide by your height (in square metres).

For example, a woman who is 1.65 m and weighs 61.4 kg has an BMI of 23 (i.e. 61.4 divided by 1.65²). This woman should gain between 11.5 and 16 kg (25-35 lbs.) as shown in the table below:

Most women want to avoid gaining weight too fast or too early in pregnancy. Here is the recommended weight gain per trimester.

Women often wonder how the pregnancy weight gain is distributed throughout the body and how much of the weight is due to the baby itself. A pregnant woman's weight is distributed as follows:

If you have further questions about your weight, do not hesitate to consult with your physician or healthcare professional.