Weight during pregnancy

While it isn’t true that you need to ‘eat for two’ in pregnancy, you might feel hungrier or crave certain foods. To stay healthy, listen to your body, stay active when possible, and eat nutritious foods. Being overweight or obese can increase pregnancy risks.

Your midwife can estimate your body fat using your height and weight. This is called your body mass index (BMI). This will be calculated at your first pregnancy appointment, and your weight might be checked later.

  • A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is considered healthy.
  • A BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.
  • A BMI under 18.5 is considered underweight.

If your BMI is under 20, your midwife will discuss the risks of being underweight during pregnancy. If you have any concerns, ask for advice and help.

 

 

The advice for pregnancy is simple:

  • You don't need to eat for two. In the last few months, you only need an extra 200 calories a day (e.g., two slices of wholemeal toast or an apple and a banana).
  • Aim for 150 minutes of moderate physical activity, like walking, each week until the baby is born. Gradually build up to daily exercise if you're not used to it. Consult your midwife if you have health concerns.
  • If you're already overweight, you don't need to gain more weight during pregnancy.
  • Keeping active is a great way to keep fit, but if there are health reasons that prevent exercise or if you're struggling to stay active. talk to your midwife.
These short films on what to eat and keeping active were produced for Our Chance, a campaign by the charities Sands and Best Beginnings to raise awareness of health issues in pregnancy
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