Weight gain and pregnancy

Weight gain pregnancy scales
Average rating: 4 out of 5 star rating
Having a baby is one of the few times when many women don't feel self-conscious about their weight.

But how much should you put on during pregnancy? Midwife Anne Richley has all the answers...


How much weight will I actually gain?

When you see your midwife at your antenatal appointment, she'll make a note of your weight and height, from which she can work out your BMI (Body Mass Index). The normal range is 20-25. Women who are considerably under or overweight may have additional risks, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or premature labour, and will probably need closer antenatal care.

The average weight gain during pregnancy is 9kg to 13.5kg (20-30lbs). In the first 12 weeks, most women don't gain much, if any, weight; by 20 weeks they've put on 25% of their total weight gain; by 30 weeks another 25%; and the remainder in the last 10 weeks.

You must eat a healthy, balanced diet. Some mums-to-be have no appetite in the first three months of pregnancy because of sickness, but others say they're always hungry. You may feel better eating little and often, but make sure your diet is rich in vitamins and minerals.

Is my bump too big?

Women often compare their bumps with each other and then worry that theirs is 'too big' or 'too small'. The size is dictated by many things, not just how big or small your baby is. It may be the position in which he's lying, how tall you are, how many babies you've had before and, obviously, how many you're carrying!

We don't all have average-sized babies. By talking with other pregnant women, you'll discover that you're all secretly preoccupied with each other's bumps!

- Next: More on weight gain during pregnancy

More help and advice

- Food and pregnancy: what should I be eating?
- Try our Superfood pregnancy diet
- What should I avoid when pregnant? Read our checklist
- Should you drink when pregnant? Read our expert's advice

- Want advice from other mums? Talk about it in Chat?

By Anne Richley, midwife

Your rating

Average rating:

4 out of 5 star rating

All pages in this article

  1. 1. Weight gain and pregnancy
  1. 2. Weight gain and pregnancy continued

Your comments

If you want to comment on this article, leave a tip or a story, please fill in the box below.

Be the first to leave a comment!

Add a comment

Please enter the characters in the image:

IPC Media Limited, owner of goodtoknow.co.uk, will collect your personal information solely to process your request


Search

Latest family videos

Video index

Free pregnancy newsletter

We'll help you through your pregnancy week by week. Sign up now!

Today's poll

How hands-on is your partner or husband when it comes to looking after the kids?


  • Very, he helps me out all the time 43%
  • Not very. I do most of the cleaning up after them, cooking and homework nagging! 25%
  • He helps out a bit when I've asked him to, and then it's playing football or computer games with them 18%
  • I do everything single-handedly 14%

Thanks, your vote has been counted!