Does Weight Matter during Pregnancy?
How do I weight myself properly?
The amount of weight you gain during pregnancy can affect the health of your pregnancy.1,2 To accurately monitor your weight, weigh yourself first thing in the morning, after emptying your bladder and wear as little clothing as possible or get naked.3 Use a quality digital weighing scale and ensure that it is placed on a hard, flat surface.3
How much weight should I gain?
According to experts, your ideal weight gain should be based on your body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy.1,2,4 The general guidelines for pregnancy weight gain is listed in the table below:
|
Pre-pregnancy weight category |
BMI |
Recommended range of total weight (kg) |
|
Underweight |
< 18.5 |
12.5 – 18 |
|
Normal weight |
18.5 – 24.9 |
11.5 – 16 |
|
Overweight |
25 – 29.9 |
7 – 11 |
|
Obese |
≥ 30 |
5 – 9 |
Adapted from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol. 2013; Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Mayo Clinic.
Is it normal to gain excessive weight?
Excessive weight gain in pregnancy can increase your risk of having health problems such as pre-eclampsia; a condition characterised by high blood pressure in pregnancy. 5,6 Other symptoms of pre-eclampsia include sudden swelling in the legs, hands, face and around the eyes.7,8 Pre-eclampsia can cause complications to both you and your foetus, and needs to be treated as soon as possible.5-7
Pre-eclampsia should not be confused with normal swelling (also known as oedema). Normal swelling / oedema is expected during pregnancy due to fluid retention and is commonly noticeable in the hands, face, legs, ankles and feet.7
What does a healthy pregnancy diet comprise of?
One of the ways to meet pregnancy weight gain recommendations is to eat a healthy, balanced diet comprising of 50% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 20% fats.2,9,10 Healthy food for pregnant women include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy products and lean protein.2,9,11 Before getting pregnant, it is advisable that you have an adequate daily folic acid supplementation (400 µg per day) and consume folic acid-rich foods.12,13 Folic acid (also known as vitamin B9) helps form the developing baby’s neural tube and prevent defects of the brain and spine.12-15 Hence, good pregnancy nutrition from a healthy pregnancy diet is important as it helps to handle the extra demands on the body, support the growth of the foetus and maintain a healthy weight.16
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pregnancy-weight-gain.htm Accessed on 9 June 2021.
https://www.healthline.com/health/best-time-to-weigh-yourself Accessed on 9 June 2021.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-weight-gain/art-20044360 Accessed on 9 June 2021.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279575/ Accessed on 9 June 2021.
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/swelling-during-pregnancy-1017/ Accessed on 9 June 2021.
https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/intermountain-moms/2018/01/signs-and-symptoms-of-preeclampsia-and-why-its-important-to-monitor/ Accessed on 23 June 2021.
https://www.medstarhealth.org/medstar-blog/how-to-maintain-a-healthy-weight-during-pregnancy/ Accessed on 9 June 2021.
http://nutrition.moh.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FA-Buku-RNI.pdf Accessed on 9 June 2021.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000603.htm Accessed on 9 June 2021.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/about.html Accessed on 9 June 2021.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/ Accessed on 9 June 2021.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy Accessed on 23 June 2021.
